What Size Half Chaps to Order? need quick answer.

[supaflyskye]

Dover is having a sale on the Tredstep Custom Fit half chaps! $65 marked down from $150!
I’m wanting to take advantage of this sale, 'cause I have kind of freakish calves apparently, and it’s VERY hard for me to find anything that fits.
I’m just wondering what size to get?? At this moment, my left calf measures 12" on the dot, but my right calf is more like 12 1/4-3/8". =/
Should I get the 12" or the 13"??
I DEFINITELY do NOT want them to be too big…I have enough things that are too big. But I certainly don’t want to be unable to get them on either.
I’m imagining that a) they will have a bit of stretch to them & that b) they will stretch out a little over time anyway. Also, I have gained a little weight recently, and am quite out of shape, both things which I am planning to rectify in the near future. When my weight has been a little lower & I’ve been in better shape, my calf measurements have been more like 11 1/2 - 11 3/4". Sooo…kind of leaning toward the 12"? But I’m really not sure. I want to be able to actually wear them, and don’t want them to give me cramps or anything from being too tight.

what do you guys think??

[supaflyskye]

I got some opinions on an FB group I’m in & the general consensus based off the experience of those who’ve actually owned Tredstep half chaps (though not this particular model) seems to be that I should go w/ the smaller size, because apparently they tend to stretch a LOT.
So that’s what I’m inclined toward at the moment. Placing the order tomorrow; if anyone here has any further insight to provide, it would of course be appreciated. =)

[awaywego]

Did you end up getting these? What size did you go with and how do you like them? I am looking at same, still in the closeouts, since my old Tredsteps died on me the other day and now I urgently need new half chaps but don’t really want to spend the $ for anything right now.

[TheHotSensitiveType]

I ordered those exact half chaps late last year because of the too hard to pass up sale, and IME the Tredstep Custom Fit half chaps run quite small. The half chaps did not even come close to zipping up on my larger calf!!! I ended up having to return them as there was just no way I was going to be able to get these on. I would order a size up or two…

I have owned both Tredstep Deluxe and Tredstep Original Suede and loved both. IMO they run true to size (i.e. do not order up a size).

[silver_charm]

Agreed, I got my normal calf size and had to have the tack store lady help me zip them. Proceeded to do the water method, thin breeches, anything I could think of - they’ve been sitting in storage with a busted zipper because I’m not sure they will ever be big enough to wear comfortably. Gorgeous, but I’m sticking with chaps with a stretch panel.

[stb]

Can you return them? If so, I would order both sizes and send back the ones that don’t fit.

[supaflyskye]

@awaywego

Did you end up getting these? What size did you go with and how do you like them? I am looking at same, still in the closeouts, since my old Tredsteps died on me the other day and now I urgently need new half chaps but don’t really want to spend the $ for anything right now.

I got the smaller ones. Size XXS/XX-Tall.
Circumference wise, they fit me pretty well; and they’re comfortable, w/ a good amount of “grip” to them (they’re not slippery at all, but not really excessively tacky). I like them. They’re definitely snug over breeches/socks, but not uncomfortably so; and based off what I’ve heard from others, I figure they’ll stretch out somewhat over time.
I imagine they’ll be even better once I have a proper pair of boots to go under them. x_x I’ve been riding in mid-calf height inside zip “fashion” boots from Walmart lately, as I’ve been having trouble finding the right pair of paddock/barn boots (apparently I have almost impossible standards, hah).

One thing though that I perhaps didn’t take into account…the XXS/XX-Tall height measures 18 1/2", which I thought would be perfectly fine, seeing as that’s just about exactly the height of my calves from the bottom of my heel to the back of my knee…
However, I didn’t factor in that these are not tall boots, they’re half chaps, and so the bottom of the leather (which is where the 18 1/2" measurement starts, clearly not at the bottom of the elastic strap) sits on my ankle, not the bottom of my heel.
They’re too tall! :no:
And I’m sure they probably won’t drop the way tall boots do either. ugh.
I’ve only ridden in them a couple times thus far, but I’ve had to have them unzipped about 1/2"-1" at the top for them to be comfortable while I’m riding & not dig into the backs of my knees.
…if it’s not obvious, I have very little experience w/ purchasing half chaps …historically I’ve almost always ridden in tall boots. In fact, I think these may be the very first pair of half chaps I’ve ever bought. So I just didn’t think of the measurements being different.
I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to look into sending them back/exchanging them or try to make this pair work. Need to do some thinking on that, as I’m sure I’ll have to make a decision one way or another quite soon.

[supaflyskye]

@silver_charm

Agreed, I got my normal calf size and had to have the tack store lady help me zip them. Proceeded to do the water method, thin breeches, anything I could think of - they’ve been sitting in storage with a busted zipper because I’m not sure they will ever be big enough to wear comfortably. Gorgeous, but I’m sticking with chaps with a stretch panel.

The Custom Fit half chaps I got do have a stretch panel. I’m not sure I’d be able to comfortably get them on otherwise! xP

[awaywego]

Thanks for the update! It sounds like the sizes they have left will not fit me since I fit the actual measurements.

I have 2 pairs of pull-on boots so I realized, duh, why don’t I just use them instead of worrying about buying half chaps, and save my $ towards maybe one day getting updated with the zipper boots.

[supaflyskye]

@awaywego

Thanks for the update! It sounds like the sizes they have left will not fit me since I fit the actual measurements.

I have 2 pairs of pull-on boots so I realized, duh, why don’t I just use them instead of worrying about buying half chaps, and save my $ towards maybe one day getting updated with the zipper boots.

I’m sorry if I’m being ignorant here & missed something obvious…but what exactly do you mean by the “actual” measurements?

Because my calves (currently) both measure 11 7/8" in circumference (I’m not sure why I got 12" + 12 1/4" on the day I posted the OP…maybe because I measured late in the afternoon after taking a long walk? and/or maybe I’ve lost a bit of weight since then?? I don’t know, I haven’t been on the scale recently), and the half chaps w/ the 12" calf measurement fit me pretty decently, as I’d think they should.
Or are you referring to the height measurements? Because I think my half chaps being too tall for me was purely the result of a misunderstanding/lack of common sense on my part – I should have measured from my ankle bone up, instead of my heel/the floor.
I do think the measurements given for the half chaps are indeed accurate.

[awaywego]

@supaflyskye

I’m sorry if I’m being ignorant here & missed something obvious…but what exactly do you mean by the “actual” measurements?

Because my calves (currently) both measure 11 7/8" in circumference (I’m not sure why I got 12" + 12 1/4" on the day I posted the OP…maybe because I measured late in the afternoon after taking a long walk? and/or maybe I’ve lost a bit of weight since then?? I don’t know, I haven’t been on the scale recently), and the half chaps w/ the 12" calf measurement fit me pretty decently, as I’d think they should.
Or are you referring to the height measurements? Because I think my half chaps being too tall for me was purely the result of a misunderstanding/lack of common sense on my part – I should have measured from my ankle bone up, instead of my heel/the floor.
I do think the measurements given for the half chaps are indeed accurate.

Just meant that I measure exactly what the measurements are identified as (15" for calf size) 2 out of 3 replies (yours plus 2 other responses) said they felt they ran small, so if I’m right on the dot (or a hair off to the wrong side of incorrect), then they might be too tight for me.