What is everyone’s feeling on Silicone full seat breeches VS. traditional full seat? I feel like most companies are going towards a silicone grip or sticky seat instead of a traditional full seat. Do people like the new sticky breeches, or do you wish they would keep the traditional breeches in production?
I have not personally purchased any of the silicone breeches yet.
Thank you! 
I like the extra protection of a suede or faux suede full seat. I don’t think silicon on fabric would provide that.
I haven’t tried the silicone, doesn’t sound appealing to me, seems it would be too much stick which I don’t like. I still prefer leather or faux suede. I thought I had read a thread or post that said some of the silicone seats were hard on specific types of leather seats? Maybe someone could clarify that.
I have some of the new seats and they were ok. Definitely a bit more grip than clarino but no problem for me and no damage to my saddle
I don’t care for the silicon because, for me, it is too much tackiness when posting. Perhaps if I was only posting for warm up I might appreciate the extra grip but at the moment it is more of an annoyance than a perk.
I love the silicone full seats. My favorites are the Smart Pak Piper Knit breeches with silicone full seat. They are super comfy with great stick, but not too sticky. And they are inexpensive. But keep in mind, I’m a lower level (1st, training 2nd) rider who posts a lot. I’ve been using silicone for around a year with no ill effects to my saddle.
I ordered some of the Kerrits Ice Fil tights and the silicone didn’t seem very tacky. Haven’t had a chance to ride in them yet since I had to exchange sizes. I went for these instead of Tropical Rider Enduracools because it seemed they’d be cooler without a solid layer of seat fabric, but I plan to stick (haha) with clarino full seats most of the year and just use the silicone tights when it’s really hot.
It really depends on the type you get. If you buy cheaper breeches like the smartpak piper ones the silicone is very tacky and they will stick to the saddle while you are trying to post.
However, if you buy a higher end brand like Pikeur they use a silicone that is not sticky. It provides you the grip of a full seat breech, maybe slightly more than suede, but without any saddle sticking issues. I actually am a hunter rider but have these and quite enjoy them (and having a little extra grip in the saddle on the youngster)
https://www.argentoeq.com/collection…-seat-breeches
I tried the SmartPak Knit silicone full seats. I didn’t like them. I found them heavy and a bit diaper-y feeling 
I haven’t ventured out to try the Piper full seat silicone ones or any other brands yet…
I have the Horze Supreme HZ silicone breeches as well as the Horze silicone tights for summer and like them. I haven’t found them any more tacky that leather full seats which I normally ride in. I think it depends on the thickness of the silicone. I do find that the silicone is a bit squeaky after you have used saddle soap. I sure hope they don’t damage the leather on my saddle - I would be pretty upset since I paid a ton of money for it.
I like the silicone dots on the StickySeat eventer tights (which are heavier than tights, btw). They are the perfect breech for me. The silicone is sticky, but they are more of an extended patch…no silicone on your actual bum, but plenty up the inside leg, inside thigh, and back of thigh. So no feeling like you’re stuck and can’t get out of the saddle, but great stick through antics (first-hand experience).
A few of my students have bought the silicone full seats for jumping. The Arista Chevron Breeches seem very nice. I am not sure which other brands they have tried. They seem like they might be less hot in summer. No squeaking or saddle damage.
I do like the increased breathability and flexibility that silicon offers, but I’ve yet to find a brand/model that I like more than a traditional full seat. I’ve found them to be too sticky, like it would stick to the saddle and pull away from my leg and cause chaffing, - but its possible its just the smartpak model I tried.
Well, I’m not a fan of full seats anyway. But I’ve been riding with silicon knee patches for years - and I love them! My preference is a “Euro seat” with silicon knee patches - still looks like a full seat, but without all the stickiness. I think they feel lighter then leather - and so far, they’ve held up - my oldest pair is a few years old now…
I bought a pair of silicon breaches from Buckwild. And while I love the way they are made and the way they fit I really dislike the sticky silicon. I am ridding first level and when I rise they stick to the saddle and pull the waist down. I am starting to work on my sitting trot but it is a long road due to back issues. I can however see how the silicon seat would maybe be better sitting than rising.
I’m surprised with how many people dislike the silicone seats! I love them and feel they are the best thing for getting breeches to fit comfortably. I am much more curvy - small waist, wide hips, big thighs - than breeches are cut for. Full seat clarino material doesn’t stretch nearly enough to fit correctly so the silicone on top of stretch material is so much more comfortable for me. I was so happy when SmartPak came out with a more affordable option to the German and Italian brands. I’ve never felt the silicone sticks too much. I wonder if some baby powder would help people with this problem?
IME, they are hot and do not breathe as well as leather. I have the silicon seat version of FITS and they are crazy sticky and crazy hot. I much prefer the perforated deer skin seats. Did I mention the silicon seats were hot?
With different brands, YMMV. The piper knit ones were waaaay too sticky and I literally posted out of my pants. The kerrits icefil are hardly sticky, though I like the icefil fabric in the summer. Stickyseat eventers- okay stick but the fabric to me runs hot, and no silicone on the seat, just the thighs. Horze - I have their active silicone breech and really love them - perfect level of sticky…i wish the breech fabric was better but hey they are a cheap breech. I havent tried any of their other options, but I will eventually - their breeches seem to fit me best (curvy).
For summer schooling, the magic combination would be icefil fabric with Horze active silicone dots
I love the Piper Knit Mid Rise full seats! Mine aren’t sticky at all. I have grip in the saddle without my breeches sticking to it when I post. No marks on my saddle either. I haven’t owned them over the summer yet so I don’t know how hot they’ll be.
I have a couple of pairs of Pikeur silicone grip breeches, and although they are not horrible, I do prefer the traditional “fake suede” clarino seats. I find the silicone almost too grippy and the pants stick to the saddle and my seat slides around in them, causing some chafing. Also, if the seat of my pants is even slightly dusty or dirty, the pants will leave a little dusty imprint of the silicone dots on my saddle.
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