Speak to me of full chaps

[PaintPony]

I had suede Barnstable ones in the 90’s too. They were navy with gray piping and monogrammed on the belt. Everyone wore them - so I of course I did too. I’m such a lemming. :lol: (What’s great about suede chaps is that when they stretch or get dirty you can throw them in the washer with PePeDe and they will shrink/get clean)

My college graduation present was a pair of smooth leather custom chaps - I think the company was called MyChaps or something like that. I still have them, but once I discovered half chaps I have never gone back to them. I really don’t miss them AT ALL!

[EmJ628]

I have a pair of Larocque’s too. They were one of her “off the rack” pairs that were given to me by a friend, I sent her the chaps back with my measurements and she altered them for me. They are lovely leather, very soft and very grippy. They’ve already saved my butt a couple of times teaching the greenie to jump! Her non-custom chaps are pretty reasonable and you can add a few touches like trim and monogram to make them more personalized.

[Eleanor]

I got my full chaps back in '92 I think it was. I had mine custom made. they are still like new and I would still be wearing them but my legs got to big. To be a 20 something again.

[relocatedTXjumpr]

I love full chaps with fringe. Ive tried the off the rack ovation ones and hated them but have had several pairs of the Barnstable suede ones.

I’ve only had semi customs once, as a teen, and the days of being able to fit into those again have long since passed. I routinely scour ebay for customs that someone no longer needs but haven’t had much luck!

ybiaw, I grew up riding in Texas, in full chaps, in the summer. It can be done…of course, we worse shorts under them, lol!!

[JenEM]

I have an old pair of the suede Barnstables you linked to. I believe the last time I wore them was the day this picture was taken–in 2012! They live in my locker at the barn and come out when I need a little extra sticky, and that day was the horse’s first time back under saddle after a leg injury (hence the wrap still on at her knee). They’ve shrunk a bit from being poorly cared for and left in my locker year round. I think perhaps last time I tried them on I had trouble getting them zipped around my calves. But they’re at least 10 years old, maybe older, and have held up well to admitted neglect.

[salymandar]

I have a pair of custom top grain full chaps that I loved. I wore them all the time until I stopped riding. When I started back up 6+ years later, they did not fit and I begrudgingly bought half chaps. I now definitely prefer half chaps and breeches because, like comingback and 2tempe, I like to minimize the differences in feel between schooling and home.

I do appreciate, however, that full chaps never seem to die, unlike half chaps that need to be replaced or repaired every year or two. They are also warmer in winter and nicely grippy for green bean moments. However, they do wear out your jeans and your saddle way quicker.

[Nickelodian]

I have a pair of journeyman’s that I love. I used to ride in full chaps full time even in august in Texas. Now I use them when it’s cold. Which reminds me…need to go pull them out for my rides this week!

[ParadoxFarm]

I haven’t ridden in mine lately, but a few years back when I was on a western drill team, I used them all the time. And mine were not even fringed. :). But I just cleaned them up and while it is cold out, I am going to go ahead and wear them. I had a coach a few years ago that would not allow you to lesson in chaps, so I got accustomed to riding in breeches.

[RLastInstallment]

Glad I’ve gotten lots of good responses!

I’m debating leather vs. suede… I feel like suede will be harder to take care of…

[jn4jenny]

For those saying “I’d wear my chaps if they would zip up”…there’s an app for that. Zip-in chap extenders 1.5" to 7" wide.

http://www.chapinserts.com/

[Zu_Zu]

Suede or leather ``both are great fun ! and wear well !

[I][B]
Suede or leather both are great fun and wear well !

Enjoy ~ you’ll wonder what took you so long to buy them ! :lol:[/B][/I]

[mortgagemyhorse]

I got my full custom Journeyman chaps in late middle school or early high school. Fringe and awesome. Then the half chap became popular and I felt like the weirdo wearing full chaps…went to college with said full chaps but since I rode NCAA I had to ride in my britches and tall boots anyway. Gained a bit of weight (cough cough full chaps no longer fit…) and finally caved and got a pair of custom half chaps for when I was home riding (journeyman as well). I have honestly never been a fan of them and recently switched back to my full chaps which fit (tee hee! back to High School weight as an old person). I just love them, and they are MUCH warmer than half chaps/tall boots in this freezing fall/winter we have upon us.

[PNWjumper]

It’s all in the fit.

i have several pairs of custom chaps from over the years. Never ended up with a pair that fit exactly right (that’s 3 pairs of fully custom chaps and 3 pairs that never fit quite right). I have a gorgeous pair of smooth navy chaps with red and silver fringe (they look a lot prettier and lot more subtle than they sound!) that are almost right, but one leg is a little twisted. All of mine have been smooth leather because I think they look a lot nicer. I did have a suede pair as a kid, though, that I loved (ironically they were not custom but fit better than any of my later-in-life custom pairs).

i was a happy camper when half chaps became popular! It’s so much easier to find a properly fitted pair! So I guess I will be the lone dissenter here who says that I love half chaps a lot more than full chaps!

[Trixie]

Holy hell, Barnstables have gotten expensive. I seem to remember them being $50-60. Maybe I’m dating myself. They were always the less expensive of the options, but back in the day they were more popular so there were more options.

I ride in mine all winter but I have two pairs - both older custom chaps made for someone else. One is a pair of Journeymans and one I don’t recall. If you know your measurements you can keep an eye out for people consigning theirs on ebay or whatever.

[DMK]

PNW, you are totally in the majority, it’s just a few of us that have the full chap love.

Funny, when I was younger, I had a pair of what was known back then as “gaitors”, the precursor to half chaps. They were just marginally better than riding with polos wrapped around your leg (but mine did have fringe!) When I could finally afford full chaps I never looked back! And they have fringe. Double layer, extra thin, extra long under layer in metallic leather fringe as a matter of fact. Somebody once told me that if you Google full chaps, they come up as a picture.

[Blinky]

Half chaps in the summer.
Full chaps in the winter.
Both are smooth leather with pinkish fringe.
Love my fringe! and yes, I’m the only one at the barn with fringe. Yahoo.

[stillknotreel]

[QUOTE=DMK;7275354]
PNW, you are totally in the majority, it’s just a few of us that have the full chap love.

Funny, when I was younger, I had a pair of what was known back then as “gaitors”, the precursor to half chaps. They were just marginally better than riding with polos wrapped around your leg (but mine did have fringe!) When I could finally afford full chaps I never looked back! And they have fringe. Double layer, extra thin, extra long under layer in metallic leather fringe as a matter of fact. Somebody once told me that if you Google full chaps, they come up as a picture.[/QUOTE]

One day I’ll have a pair of DMK designed full chaps when I’m good and ready to be broke. I remember seeing pictures of them years ago… Off to test Google out now

[SweetMutt]

I happened to wear mine tonight and checked the brand - they’re Ovation. I also remembered that they’ve been worn in pouring rain a couple of times and came through no worse for the wear.

[kmwines01]

I had custom journeymans about 10 years ago (yay mom working at a tack store) that I loved. Wore through the calves and had them patched but the holes in the knees couldn’t be fixed.

I loved mine and desperately want another pair but they were a very different feel than boots and breeches. And the jeans didn’t do much for my saddle. Some of my favorite memories are of being green legged at summer horse camp from my green suede chaps

[DMK]

[QUOTE=stillknotreel;7276313]
One day I’ll have a pair of DMK designed full chaps when I’m good and ready to be broke. I remember seeing pictures of them years ago… Off to test Google out now :D[/QUOTE]

LOL - apparently now you have to add the word “fringe”… I’m fading from internet infamy.