I’m about to purchase a new saddle and now need to pick new leathers as well! What is everyone using these days? Any recommendations for good quality, or brands to stay away from? How do people find the Bates Webbers?
I always ride with webbers. Much prefer not having the bulk of traditional leathers.
I REALLY love webbers for exactly the reason Bogie cited.
I like the Prestige webbers. They seem to last longer than the Bates webbers. I love the lack of bulk.
I second the prestige–my last pair lasted close to 10 years before I had to replace them! My trainer has the bates webbers on her saddle (that I’ve had to use the last few months while waiting on my saddle to come in) and while she loves them, I hate them. I don’t really feel a huge difference in bulk, and there’s been a few times where I’ve been mounting and the hook comes out of the hole–leaving me ungracefully jumping to the ground or almost falling on my butt…
I ordered “webbers” from Gary Mundy - LOVE them!
I rode a friend’s horse with the webber style leathers (I don’t know the make) and I wasn’t a fan. They had a cover for the t-hook part that hit my shin awkwardly and uncomfortably. Obviously, someone with a different hole setting might not have that issue.
I have been riding with Webbers for a long time now, and I love them. I couldn’t find calf skin webbers that didn’t break the bank for my calf skin jump saddle…and man do I feel the difference. Not to mention the annoyance of having to wiggle around in the saddle to adjust the darn things. Webbers all the way.
I don’t like webbers but do use Perrin leathers…good price and quality
honestly I love just the simple ole WIntec Webbers. Super comfortable, long lasting, and no ill effects on my nice leather saddle. I thought about getting the Prestige brand, but decided to save myself the $$ and go wintec.
Love my leather webbers, mine are Frank Baines and they can be run up. I contacted Gary Mundy for a pair, but he said he’s can’t be run up.
I have Bates and my frequently adjusted pair I have had for 4 1/2 years is holding up well. I really hate traditional style leathers, and I like that the Bates webbers have the t-hook which doesn’t go all the way through. There are now more other brands with the same but I only found that in Bates at the time.
Love my Stubben mono leathers!!
I ride webbers only, though not the Wintec ones - I have both Bates and Prestige versions. I am a princess-and-the-pea type who tends to fuss about little ergonomic discomforts like lumpy buckles under my thigh.
Prestige “webbers”. WOnderful. COmbine with the stirrups with the 90 degree turned eye - heaven for my knees.
Are those stirrups without hinges, just the rotating eye? I am looking for that…
I actually bought the cheap Ovation webbers (nylon core, T-buckle doesn’t go all the way through/covered) with the thought of buying nicer ones if I liked the style. When they arrived I thought they felt a little cheap and stiff so I soaked them overnight in oil, I wiped them down and started using them the next and love them. I haven’t bought the more expensive pair yet because the Ovations have been really comfortable and have held up well for the last 2 years. I love not having the buckle under my leg.
I used a pair of webbers a couple of years ago and liked the design a lot. However, I tend to prefer half-hole leathers for those minute adjustments we sometimes like to make :winkgrin: and I haven’t seen a pair of half-hole webbers offered. So for that reason, I went back to my regular half holes. I have used several different brands from the Dover store brand, to the Passiers, to a nice affordable pair that I found in the Bit o’ Britain catalog. Of those three the Passiers wore out the fastest.
I ended up getting a pair of leather Wintec/Bates webbers ! I have ridden in them just a couple of times (they arrived with my new-to-me Barnsby saddle a couple days ago) and already love them. Thanks everyone for the recommendation! The quality seems fine for now but I will keep the Prestige option in mind for the future!