Stirrup Leathers

[One_Two_Three]

anyone who’s had to purchase new leathers on an older saddle knows the horror. How do you match color? How do you know if you like them? What kind do I have NOW?!

My saddle came with the set I have, and also came with the flaw that whomever owned it prior rode in 2 different holes, very lop sided, causing the leathers to stretch unevenly, and leaving me in a hard spot to figure out the best configuration. I’m ready to buy new ones.

What are your favorite types? This is for an M Toulouse Annice saddle, which is going to be a bit tricky to match. I’m looking for low bulk, comfort, and PRICE. I don’t really want to spend $130 on a pair of leathers. I plan to get a new saddle soon, and while perhaps the new leathers will work on it, I will be matching the leathers to my current saddle…

ANNNND, go!

[JenEM]

I wouldn’t worry about exactly matching the saddle. Obviously you don’t want like, newmarket leathers on a havana saddle, but close is fine, no one can really see them anyway.

If you won’t want weird stretching, buy lined leathers. I refuse to use anything else. I really love the pair of Beval’s lined leathers I have, they’ve held up very well, and run about $100.

[mfglickman]

I second the Beval ones, I think I paid around $90 for them on one of their sales and they came in a couple of colors. They are thick, though, and sticky (calfskin) making it a bit hard to take them off/put them back on. The fact that they don’t stretch makes the trouble worth it.

[vxf111]

Hands down I like the Prestige calf lined no-stretch ones the best. Hands down.

[paintjumper63]

Gary Mundy custom leathers. My pair was $70 and I got one of his more expensive pairs. Many options to choose from. I have had them for a month and they are breaking in quite nicely.

[One_Two_Three]

Forgive my stupidness, I think I read somewhere that certain types of leather don’t mesh well together, causing wear marks. I mean, my saddle is WELL WORN around the leathers area already, so I’m not concerned, but is there something I need to watch out for on my quest? Looking up all suggested so far. Do like the idea of lined ones!

[eclipse]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8482370]
Hands down I like the Prestige calf lined no-stretch ones the best. Hands down.[/QUOTE]

seconded… I’ve had other no stretch leathers including expensive Antares, and my current Prestige ones are the best and thinnest

[touchstone]

I am a huge fan of the Gary Mundy leathers. Great quality and a great price. I keep buying them for people as gifts, and they all rave too. He will dye to match the color of your saddle–just send a picture.

[fordtraktor]

I agree that I like the Prestige ones the best but they aren’t cheap.

I have some Courbette microfiber ones that are pretty awesome and thin too and were quite inexpensive.

[lmlacross]

I bought the Smartpak lined leathers. They’re on the darker side, but they work well on my saddle. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, and they’re doing the job. Accordingly, I don’t expect them to last forever, but I wouldn’t expect any pair of thin leather-over-nylon leathers to last forever regardless of what I paid for them.

[Due_s_Mom]

I just bought my second pair of Gary Mundy’s and won’t buy anything else. Great leathers that wear like iron esp if you care for them the way he tells you.

[BAC]

CWD lined calfskin are my favorites but they are expensive. Mine didn’t stretch at all and not bulky so they are easier to put on and adjust then some others. Don’t worry so much about matching, as long as they are approximately the same color family.

Gary Mundy didn’t used to do lined leathers, has that changed? I know his are great value for the money but they will stretch and a number of people, including a friend I recommended to buy them, ended up with colors that weren’t a close match at all.

[Dewey]

Gary Mundy definitely. I have two pair, and they are the best leathers I’ve ever owned.

[OnDeck]

[QUOTE=One Two Three;8482557]
Forgive my stupidness, I think I read somewhere that certain types of leather don’t mesh well together, causing wear marks. I mean, my saddle is WELL WORN around the leathers area already, so I’m not concerned, but is there something I need to watch out for on my quest? Looking up all suggested so far. Do like the idea of lined ones![/QUOTE]

You don’t really want to put stiff, cheap, leathers on a really soft calfskin saddle. Some of the french saddles were known to become shredded a few years back. You shouldn’t have a problem with an M Toulouse.

I use Beval lined leathers. They’re not bulky, they don’t stretch, and they’re a good color. That’s all I need. I am personally not so particular about my leathers to justify spending much more. To each their own.

[173north]

I really like the Schockemohle Chantilly leathers. They’re super soft, triple lined but not bulky at all, have half holes, and run around $100. Their retail manager told me he spent years designing them and sourcing materials to get the best possible quality at a low price and I think he succeeded - they’re nicer than lots of $$ leathers I’ve seen.