I have purchased one pair of the full seat with Silicone and actually I dont like them maybe if it was just on the knee patch it would be good but the full seat yikes they are LOUD when you post, which I still do a lot. I think sitting the trot all the time isn’t that good for encouraging a horse to come over their back (especially if they are young) so Im still posting too much for these breaches last tiem I wore them my trainer asked if my saddle was ok I reminded her its the breeches. Not only the sound but I guess I am used to a small amount of natural movement when in the saddle that’s part of following the horses motion and I think they kinda stifle that I talking small not “bouncing” movement. I wont be getting another pair.
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I have the Sticki Vicki silicone full-seats from Fuller Fillies and I love them. They are the breech I’ve been waiting for my whole life. They are more breathable, better stick, and better fitting through my thighs/hips. The stick through the crotch and upper thigh tends to wear down to a nice grip after some initial over-stick.
Granted, I event, so there are situations where that extra grip has literally saved my butt
I have one pair. They are fine on one horse - who is not a big mover. On Bravo, I find my leg moves inside the breech, the breech sticks to the saddle, and it irritates my inner thigh. ALso, in the heat, I sweat under the silicon but the fabric areas breathe… feels weird. I’ll “stick” with clarino or FITS leather…
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I tried silicone full seats. Having a hot/sensitive horse who can be a bit reactive I thought extra grip might be good for those moments when my horse gets a little spirited. Nope. I hate them so so much. Pretty sure my horse also curses quietly when I show up at the barn wearing them.
Like lorilu and others above, I find that the only way for my body to move properly with my horse when wearing them is for my seat/leg to move inside of the breeches. I may have the world’s most sensitive skin, but I swear that much rubbing would chafe even a hard-hided rhino. My horse isn’t the world’s biggest mover, but riding her is all seat. With the silicone my choice is either to move with the pants and let the friction screw up the timing and control of my seat, or to move with the horse and let friction wreak havoc on my inner upper thighs.
I don’t think they provide any more security for yee-haw moments than regular full-seats do, either. If anything, feeling stuck (or even raw) means I don’t ride as effectively and prevent silliness by keeping my horse really organized and focused.
I haven’t had any real saddle damage, but there are areas where the finish looks dull/rubbed when I dismount. I am picky about leather care so I always clean/condition it when this happens and it always looks fine afterward. But again, riding in faux suede seats and not having to worry about leather care every ride seems like the obvious better option on this count too.
ETA: I’m also on the curvy side, but even magical perfect-fitting breeches (a mythical thing I have yet to find) wouldn’t make silicone worth it for me.
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ME TOO and they came out with them in white! I have a horse who can be “expressive” and that extra grip is sure nice. I have a wintec so no worry right now about the saddle.
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I like Kerrits Griptek technology. Not silicone, but “Non-Woven Polyurethane-Coated Polyester.” Everything else feels too slippery now.
At first they seemed more or less sticky depending on temperature. The first really hot summer day in them I felt they were TOO sticky. After that day I guess I got used to it or it was never that hot again, because they always seem just right.
ETA: I don’t think there’s much danger of the suede types disappearing. I think it will always be available in the higher-end, especially European and Show breeches.
I love the silicon full seat breeches. But not the big wodges of silicon - rather the small mesh design like metal industrial flooring. I have the Cavallo Cosima Grip full seats in brown, and the Pikeur Latina grips in taupe. I prefer these to the fake suede full seat which go all ‘nappy-ish’ on you you after a few washes and shrink, so you can’t get both seat bones down. The subtle European grip actually ‘spreads more’ like a FITS segmented panel design. No twisting, pulling around or leg plonking out and down needed. Perfect. My fave breech is paradoxically the BVertigo Melissa full seat, which is a fake suede seat but the fabric is just like silk. Sorry, but of purist and fanatic here.
I love the silicon full seat breeches. But not the ones with the big wodges of silicon - rather the ones with small mesh ‘ticking’ pattern like metal industrial flooring. I have the Cavallo Cosima Grip full seats in brown, and the Pikeur Latina grips in taupe. I prefer these to the fake suede full seat which go all ‘nappy-ish’ on you you after a few washes and shrink, so you can’t get both seat bones down into the saddle without ‘warming up’ your breeches. The subtle European grip actually ‘spreads more’ like a FITS segmented panel design. No twisting, pulling around or leg plonking out and down needed. Perfect. My fave breech is paradoxically the BVertigo Melissa full seat, which is a fake suede seat but the fabric is just like silk. Sorry, bit of breech purist and fanatic here.
It really depends on the breeches and your personal preference. I ride in both and mostly prefer the clarino seats but especially if you have a big mover or a spooky horse, the extra grip from silicone isn’t a bad thing!
The Romfh Isabella, Pikeur Candela Grip and Harcour Katchina are my favorite silicone full seats.
http://www.centerlinestyle.com/harcour-katchina-full-seat-breeches/ (these fit like a dream, it’s weird how good they are)
http://www.centerlinestyle.com/romfh-isabella-full-grip-breeches/ (just a little something extra)
http://www.centerlinestyle.com/Pikeur-Candela-Grip-Full-Seat-Breeches (gotta love Pikeur)
Update on the Kerritts breeches now that I’m riding in them. They are really comfy, and once I’m in the saddle I don’t really notice a difference between the silicone and my Clarino seat Pipers. I mean, if you asked me, I’d be able to tell the difference, but it’s not distracting, and doesn’t change my ride enough that I give it a second thought while in the saddle.
I have the mid rise Pipers with silicone. They are very grippy, and I like full seats, but not this much grip. They seem to "roll" inwards on my legs when posting. They are a bit large and that may be why. I will stick with my Kerrits.