The half chaps were a gift from the same person who gave me the breastplate for free, and they are a very snug fit. They're older Ariats. I mostly took them because she was trying to get rid of her stuff and I thought "why not?" My previous experience with half chaps hasn't been great; for the past 6-8 years I have been a 100% tall boots rider.
I'm really, really liking these, though. I pair them with my Ariat Terrains, which I have long loved for trail rides, and they're light and yet still a bit grippy. They're ideal for the hill walking we're doing right now.
After a few people commented that they love half chaps, I decided to investigate my options for polling and it turns out that Blogger has a gadget for that now!
SO! Visit the blog page, look on the right-hand side, and cast your vote. Do you prefer half chaps, tall boots, a little bit of both, or neither? Comment on this post if you have some specific additional feedback to give.
When I first started riding, I rode in paddocks and half chaps. However, it was suggested to me by my trainer to ride in what you plan to show in, so I switched to exclusively riding in tall boots and haven't ridden in my half chaps in about 3 years. Personally, I think my tall boots feel better, but to each his own :)
ReplyDeleteI had never heard that reasoning! I think it's a sound one for sure. It can throw you totally off to switch to entirely new equipment for showing - I've never understood the "show tack only" mentality.
DeleteI rode in full chaps forever, then half chaps, then switched to tall boots and have never looked back. I think comfort level depends a great deal on having nice, comfortable tall boots.
ReplyDeleteI have never actually ridden in full chaps, though friends have sworn by them. I've eyed some on sale now and then.
DeleteAgree totally on the comfortable tall boots thing - dreading putting them on is the worst.
I ride in tredstep half chaps all the time. They're comfortable and easy to use and they fit great. Plus, there's nothing I particularly want to compete in that requires tall boots and I have an impossible time finding any that fit, so it's pretty win win.
ReplyDeletePS I voted in your poll, but my vote didn't show up.
I have a really tough foot to fit into half chaps, hence why I ended up with "cheap" synthetic tall boots the last time I bought them rather than some nicer tall boots - which were actually in the budget, I literally tried on everything under $500 at the store!
DeleteI think the poll is just surprisingly slow on the refresh. When I tested it with my vote it took a few refreshes to show up. I see a vote now for half chaps all the time that I'm guessing is you?
Thanks for the feedback though. :)
Whoops, a tough time fitting into *tall boots*, sorry!
DeletePrefer half chaps to boots any day!
ReplyDeletei ride in my half chaps almost exclusively, with occasional schooling in new tredsteps (thank YOU tackoftheday.com) just to break them in and get used to them for shows... but i hate the thought of trekking all over the place and exposing them to so much grime.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a half chaps girl, until I got new show boots then I decided to ride in my old show boots all the time and then they died. Then I realized paddocks + half chaps = about the same as a pair of tall boots, so tall boots for me all the time!
ReplyDeleteWhen I have shows coming up I tend to stick to the tall boots so I don't lose any of my feel, but during quiet times (especially winter) I like half chaps for ease factor.
ReplyDelete