Who makes good half chaps for tall muscular people these days?

[Renn_aissance]

I have a 21" lower leg that’s 17" around. I can fit a 19 x 16.5 if the chaps have a good elastic gusset. I prefer primarily grain leather (as opposed to suede or to the style that is at least 50% elastic panel- I don’t mind the ventilation swoosh that Tredstep and Ariat have built into some of their models in the last few years.) I prefer the zipper at the back rather than at the side. I know I’m going to need to compromise on at least one of these things.

Grand Prix seems to now think that a 16" is a wide calf, which is a shame. Tredstep and Ariat have gotten lousy reviews on the zippers on their new models so I want to branch out… Who else is making good half chaps? Anyone have Dyon’s?

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

Have you found half chaps in the past that I worked for you? Or are you looking to add half chaps to your footwear options?

My calves aren’t quite the same circumference as yours, but they are still large, long and they are VERY muscular. I find that no matter what brand or style that I try, the muscle works the zipper down as I ride. I don’t have that problem with tall boots, so I don’t believe that it has anything to do with elastic panels, zippers, or zipper placement. I just think that muscular legs really need the stability that occurs when the shaft is attached to the footbed.

[BlueDrifter]

Millbrook makes nice ones in whatever size you need.

[17hTBmare]

Pro Chaps Fit has an amazing array of sizes. They offer 19/17 and 19/16. A bit hard to find, but check Amazon, and various tack shops. I have a pair and love them.

[Scribbler]

Should half chaps be stiff like stand-alone boot shafts, or just soft leather? I’ve got a couple of pair of half chaps that fit and I enjoy wearing, but they are just soft flexible leather. Is there such a thing as a stiffer more boot like half chap, and if there was, would I like it? I’ve given much more thought to boots than to half chaps, the ones I’m wearing most often now were just a giveaway from a barn friend, they’re fairly old but sturdy Ariats of some description.

[Willesdon]

Back in the dark ages, “gaiters” were the half chaps that are made from stiff leather. They are designed to look like a tall boot. “Half chaps”, made from softer materials, first appeared in the the UK in the early 1980s. Initially they were popular in racing. FEI rules are incomprehensible without understanding the difference since the word “gaiter” has disappeared.

[Scribbler]

@Willesdon

Back in the dark ages, “gaiters” were the half chaps that are made from stiff leather. They are designed to look like a tall boot. “Half chaps”, made from softer materials, first appeared in the the UK in the early 1980s. Initially they were popular in racing. FEI rules are incomprehensible without understanding the difference since the word “gaiter” has disappeared.

Ah, very interesting. So being a half chap rather than a half boot, they are soft like a full chap would be! And people did ride English in full chaps for a while. So half chaps descend from full chaps!

Does anyone make gaiters now?

[alternate_universe]

If you can’t find something off the rack, I had a nice pair made by Tenney’s last year. I got tired of trying to find pairs tall enough.

[SolarFlare]

@17hTBmare

Pro Chaps Fit has an amazing array of sizes. They offer 19/17 and 19/16. A bit hard to find, but check Amazon, and various tack shops. I have a pair and love them.

I’ll second the ProChaps. I just replaced my last pair that served me about 10 years. The zipper is on the outside but it does go top to bottom so you won’t have the issue of it working its way down while you ride.

[RacetrackReject]

@SolarFlare

I’ll second the ProChaps. I just replaced my last pair that served me about 10 years. The zipper is on the outside but it does go top to bottom so you won’t have the issue of it working its way down while you ride.

They have a version that zips in the back. Competition and Competition II

[BlueDrifter]

I will third the ProChaps, but I haven’t been able to find an 18M for over a year – even the mfgr website doesn’t offer it as a choice, even if you accept a backorder… 18M is pretty normal – I am 5’9, 140#

[Renn_aissance]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have an old pair of Grand Prix chaps that no longer seem to be made. They’ve held up just OK over time. I’d consider the brand again if I could find them in my size, but it doesn’t seem that they operate by the same definition of “wide calf” as I do!

I’ll take a look at the ProChaps. I’d written them off because every time I found them in stock the size range was slim, so I thought they were going out of stock. Sounds like they’d be worth looking at if I could find the right pair.

I’ve decided I totally covet the Dy’on Excel style, if I can find anyone in the US who can order it in for me… or I might just take a flying leap and order it from somebody overseas.

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