I am getting back into recognized shows after a number of years away. Can anyone recommend a show jacket that is good in hot weather? I am hoping that technical fabrics have improved since I’ve been away so jackets won’t be so oppressively hot in the summer! I don’t need a shadbelly, just a regular short jacket.
AA Motionlite! It’s all mesh and super breathable. It’s not going to hide much if you’re like me and have a few extra pounds, but that is a trade off I will happily make!
2 Likes
The AA platinum show coat from horseware is super. Very lightweight, flattering, and amazingly not transparent. I am so glad I got mine. And I just ordered their shadbelly!
1 Like
Thank you all!! I had worried the Motion Lite would look too obviously like mesh, but it looks nice in those pictures!
1 Like
Another vote for that jacket. I bought it in green and love how it fits. Haven’t had a chance to show in it yet, but it seems like it will be really comfortable on hot days, plus it is way more stretchy than my Pikeur jacket.
1 Like
hahha came to recommend the same thing!! I love mine, nicest show jacket I have ever worn.
1 Like
Kind of depends on your body type. I love the Motionlite jacket on a hanger - it is beautiful! But it is made for a longer, leaner body (aka not too busty, and not too short waisted). If you are busty, or short bodied (or as I like to say, I’m short coupled and broad chested ;)), it isn’t the best fit. I tried one on, and longed for it - the color selection, yummmmm.
For someone who is shorter bodied, or big chested, I recommend the Kerrits Competitor jacket - it isn’t mesh, but it is super lightweight and stretchy, and breathes well. And the cost is - less then a pair of breeches!!!
If you have a bigger budget, there are a LOT of options, and the technical fabrics have come a long ways. There are a lot of nice options now - you just need to find one that fits your body type.
1 Like
Similar to the AA Motionlite is the RJ Harmony, which is mostly mesh with softshell front panels, so it looks pretty traditional head-on. I tried both of them on, and just liked how the RJ fit me better.
Remember too that in hot weather, coats are often waived 
1 Like
Interesting, I am both very short (5’2) and big chested, and mine fits amazing, better than anything I haev ever worn! Just shows how different we all are :lol:
Love that colour!
I’m surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet, but the FITS Zephyr is incredibly lightweight, hangs great and definitely doesn’t look like mesh layers when it’s worn. I sold mine to stick to my Kerrits Kompetitor jacket, but only because of the color (I wear the blue in the Kerrits and my Zephyr was black).
I’m envious, because two of us (both short bodied and big chested) tried them on last year at a show, and were disappointed at the fit. Are you short bodied, or just short? We are both (kind of twinsies - except I’m 20 years older) - not just short, but short in the body. A third friend, also short, but longer waisted, wore it beautifully. All of us were in the 5.3 to 5.4 range. Yes, fit varies dramatically - and luckily, there are several nice options now! Gone are the days when we all attempted to wear a Pikeur Diana wool frock coat :eek:
