I like the sock bottoms. But with that being said, most of my breeches are velcro bottom. While I love having the SmartPak Pipers to school in, I’m not a fan of their half sock/half breech bottom. They make my legs VERY itchy after taking them off, and they leave a killer indent in my (soccer) legs.
Sock bottoms!
As a tall person, I actually like them because I don’t end up with a weird velcro lump mid-calf; at least if those are too short, they’re not bulky and painful. The only brand of sock bottom I’ve found problematic to get on/off are the Romfhs I have, which have very tight elastic at the ankle (I’ve got a size 8 foot, so no Bigfoot issue). But still worth it for the comfort factor of the elastic vs velcro.
Oh, and elastic bottoms don’t end up coming undone or snagging on something else mid-laundry and ruining some other garment in the wash!
I HATE HATE HATE velcro! It’s always snagging my nice sun shirts and I don’t understand the point of needing adjustability at the cuff?? Socks or elastic bottoms, but no velcro!!
[QUOTE=BK6756;8226756]
I don’t understand the point of needing adjustability at the cuff?? [/QUOTE]
Because not everyone has the same circumference around their lower leg.
Velcro as I have large feet and high arch so often cannot even get the sock bottoms over my foot.
Sock bottoms all the way. Not just elastic at the cuff but an actual different softer fabric at the bottom. I have relatively skinny ankles and I ALWAYS have way too much Velcro overlapping which is uncomfortable too.
[QUOTE=snaffle635;8226822]
Because not everyone has the same circumference around their lower leg.[/QUOTE]
Yes! I need Velcro…I have the scrawniest calves, I have never tried on a sock bottom breech that wasn’t extremely loose and baggy, even if the rest of the breech fit well.
You know, I like the IDEA of sock bottoms. But, I’m not very coordinated, and I find that hopping around on one foot to get my breeches on much more difficult with sock bottoms. With velcro, I have more room to put my foot through, and it’s easier. 
And like poster above mentioned, I flip them back up after riding in the heat as well.
Velcro all the way, because I always pull the bottoms up to just below the knee in the summer. It’s so much cooler, and it kind of looks like capris if I have to stop by the store on the way home.
It doesn’t make any difference at all to me. Either is totally comfortable for me and I always wear tall socks over my breeches anyways. I never undo the velcro when taking my breeches on and off.
Team Velcro :yes:
I like sock bottoms (and I cannot lie). (sorry, bad joke)
I have both, but like Squirt I have bony little ankles and the velcro bottoms NEVER fit, so I have a lot of extra fabric- sort of like a wrap shirt for my leg. The velcro parts usually don’t even touch each other so they are useless as closures.
OK, maybe I’m the only one that does this, but for schooling, when I’m wearing paddocks and half chaps, I want my socks to be UNDER my breeches. With Velcro this is fairly easily accomplished - fold up the bottoms, pull up the socks, unfold bottoms.
With sock bottoms, I have to try and put my socks on BEFORE my breeches, and sometimes that isn’t terribly successful and/or comfortable, depending on how hot and sweaty I am before changing into my riding clothes.
That being said, I have one or two pairs of schooling breeches with sock bottoms, and when I need to ride in my still-breaking-in tight field boots, I wear them just so I have less bulk under my boots.
So for me, although I wear TS for schooling and showing, I wish I could have show pairs with sock bottoms to go under my boots, and velcro for schooling for the convenience factor (I also second the capri thing in hot weather!)…
How’s that for splitting the difference!
Velcro, my legs get claustrophobic. As soon as I get my boots off I can undo the velcro and flip it up like others have said.
I want to know where all you sock bottom people are finding these baggy sock bottoms! lol…I find most of mine to be TIGHT and can’t wait to get my breeches off after riding or a long day in them.
My Pipers are tight on my legs…and I have skinny calves (and a big foot…size 9). I wear x-slim in tall boots and the sock bottoms on them are tight. But in a pair of Ariats I have, the sock is ok. I think there should be a bit more give in the “stretchy elastic” part of the Pipers. That way they won’t have to alter the fit of the size but for those of us that it’s tighter maybe it can stretch out a little more.
If I could afford to ride in nothing but Tailoreds, I would. I like the velcro…my only issue is it catching and pulling on my socks. I like to flip them up when done too and of course they are easier in and out…especially when sweaty.
And whoever said less euro seats, I’m with them. I just want mid-rise side zips please.
Team sock bottom!
I like sock bottoms when they fit, but most of the time they are way too big and loose on me, so I have to go with velcro as my preferred type.
I like Velcro but I have big feet and tiny ankles. The sock bottoms are too hard to get over my heal. I really like the concept on sock bottoms but they are always too loose around my leg and way too hard to get off. I’ll stick with my Velcro.
Eta also why a am extremely thankful for zipper boots 
I can’t believe Tailored Sportsman is still doing the Velcro. It seems like most other brands are switching over to the sock bottom. I wish they would get with the program because I love their breeches… Except the Velcro!
I’m glad I’m not the only person who was thinking of writing the company… Haha!
Sock bottoms. :yes:
