Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Review of Three Budget-Friendly Breeches

breeches make a difference
I may be a tack ho of the best variety, but that does not extend to the breech collection. It KILLS ME to pay $200+ for pants that I will wear out in the sun and rain and mud and snow and destroy. Kills me. I can't do it.

I'm told that more expensive pants wear better, but I'm pretty sure the law of diminishing returns comes in to play in a hurry. Plus it seems that people who are most impressed by durability actually do the least things, you know? Like "omg these breeches lasted me 10 years!" but they only ride one horse for 20 minutes twice a week.

Full disclosure: I spent the past couple years working in a pro situation, which meant 8+ hour days on the regular, all in breeches. I'm currently LOVING the ammy life and I ride my one horse 5-6x a week and do practically no barn chores.

I want a breech to be stretchy enough to not unduly restrict me, firm enough that any unacceptable lumps are smoothed out, durable enough that I can use them for 1-2 years, AREN'T LOW RISE, are front zip, and have sock bottoms. Need normal rise. Hate velcro bottoms. Don't need hips looking wider/more awkward (here's looking at you, side zip).

Tredstep breeches in action
Bachelor #1: Tredstep Symphony Nero Breech in smokie pearl

List price: $89.95
What I paid: ~$75

I was in desperate need of breeches last year and hit a 20% off sale at Bit of Britain. I like Tredstep half chaps, the breeches were well reviewed, and I needed SOMETHING.

I'm normally a 34, I got the 34 and they fit fine. These breeches have a nice sock bottom and an ok rise. The color is fine. They are definitely pants.

That said, they are my least favorite breeches of the lot. The fabric doesn't really have any give to it, which means it's constantly pulling at my knees. It "stretches" out quickly and looks unattractive. The breeches slide down even with a belt on. And despite being stiff and uncomfortable, they really don't flatter anything. I guess the durability is fine, in that I only use them when I desperately need to do laundry, so they're unlikely to wear out soon.

I would not buy these again. It's possible the top fo the line tredsteps are much improved, but if you can't impress me at $90, I'm not shelling out $200.

Equine Couture in action
Bachelor #2: Equine Couture Brittni Knee Patch Breeches in chocolate

List price: $89.95
What I paid: ~$75

These are the product of the same Bit of Britain sale. I basically picked things with a price I could stomach and color I could deal with and clicked order.

Again, got 34 and the 34 fit fine. These breeches also have a sock bottom. It's double layered and doesn't really have a seam at the bottom, which makes them smooth under paddock boots, but it's a minor PITA to put on. Not a deal breaker.

I actually quite like these breeches--they smooth what needs smoothing, give where it matters, and look sharp day in and day out. They don't sag or wear strangely and I really love the grippy silicone knee patch thingy. It grips without making me hotter, which is fantastic.

That said. They are low rise. Not the lowest rise ever, but HELLOOOOOOO MUFFIN TOP. You'll note I only ever wear them with baggy shirts because wow yeah, no one needs to see that. If you are a short-waisted low-rise-loving person, these are the pants for you.

I might buy these again, but I wouldn't pay full price. They do come in nice colors. They have also started to pill somewhat, but since they work twice as hard at the Tredsteps (at least), I'm not too concerned.

sadly no fantastic in action shots yet
Bachelor #3: Smartpak Equine Piper Knee Patch Breeches in ALL THE COLORS

List price: $79.95
What I paid: ~$64

I'm the queen of the 20% off sale. What can I say? Even with cheap breeches, I can't stomach full price.

I have reviewed the Piper breeches before. I kind of liked them. After I wrote the initial review, I liked them less because I was working in a barn and the pipers definitely have a crotch sag issue (no bueno) and they wore out pretty fast.

old pipers in action
But hey! That was almost two years ago.

So here's the updated review.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors. Who doesn't? Fun colors, good price point. My objection to the old fasteners is gone--they covered the painful metal things with fabric and it's all good there.

The Pipers hit every single one of my must have list in breeches--the rise actually works for my long-waisted self, the sock bottoms are spot on, etc.

So what's not to like?

another old piper shot.
Well, the crotch sag is still a thing. It doesn't matter when I'm riding because obviously there's a whole horse+saddle to hold them up. Since my habits no longer include long working barn days, I'm not really concerned about it. And yeah, they'll wear out eventually, but again, riding one horse means that I'm not putting a ton of wear on them.

I will also say that while this fabric is fantastic for the first few hours, it does sort of stretch out and look less flattering after a while on long days. It snaps back when you wash it, but if you're an industry pro, I wouldn't choose these breeches.

As a one horse adult ammy, I pretty much love them.

also not buying more of these
As a size 34, I don't expect breeches to make me look like a 24. I just want them not to make it worse. Maybe someday I'll cave and buy really, truly expensive breeches. Until then, I remain the budget breeches queen and I am not ashamed.

So there you have it. Three kinds of breeches under $100 each. It can be done.

39 comments:

  1. I like the Pipers a lot too. The only thing I don't like is my lack of thigh gap means my legs rub together and the fabric pills there. Not a deal breaker for me, but I worry about how long they will last. At $80 a pair, I guess I can't complain too much, and I know they have their 20% off sale once a year.

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    1. Thigh gap is for people who are afraid to really test out breeches. I did nab a full seat pair this time to see if that improves durability at all. I'll keep you posted!

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    2. Please do! #closethethighgap! :-)

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  2. Pipers are my go to! It's killing me not to buy any of the new colors because well...baby! I've really wanted to snag a pair of the ridiculously bright neon tuff riders as well, anyone with experience with that brand??? I'm 5'2 short waisted, normally a 30.

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    1. I was a Tuff Rider wearer for a long time, but had some bad luck recently with their wide waistband breeches, so I switched to the Pipers and never looked back. I'm 5'3", short-waisted and kinda short all over, and the while the Tuff Riders fit me fine, they did NOT last at all....holes along the rear seam after 1 ride is soooo not ok. I returned them immediately, I guess you get what you pay for!

      With that said, I do still have 1 pair of the Tuff Rider plaid bamboo breeches, and I like them a lot. I would suggest going up a size with the bamboo breeches though, as the fabric really doesn't stretch that much.

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    2. I'm 5'3" and totally love TuffRider low rise breeches (which hit at a good spot on us short kids, rather than coming up to my boobs). I ride 3-5 times a week and have breeches that are at least 3 years old. I'm eying the neon ones, too, but my trainer might faint :)

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    3. Yes! I want the bright pink Tuff Riders, comfort be damned!

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    4. Thanks all!!! I might just pull the trigger on the peach ones and make them my motivation to get back in the saddle (and in pants with a real waistband closure, haha) after Baby Boy arrives! Annie's has a really cute pair of peach as well that I'm oogling...decisions decisions for a gal who isn't riding again really until winter most likely, haha!

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    5. Annie's are super cute too. When you get them, make sure you review them for us! :-)

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  3. When I was looking for new show breeches I bought three different types of Tredsteps, the Neros (90), the Rosas (120), and the Azzuras (160). By far and away the Rosas were way way better then the Neros. They felt like 200 breeches and were made of a really nice material that did stretch. The Azzuras were nice too but I didn't see any big difference between those and the Rosas, definitely not for the price difference. I would not recommend the Neros. I would recommend the Rosas.

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    1. Hm, very interesting. Next time I'm at a real tack store, I'll have to try them on.

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  4. You are the only person that can make a breeches review funny. Was dying at: "They are definitely pants." Haven't pulled the trigger on a pair of Pipers yet but OMG THE COLORS!!! They are the only breech to rival TS in the awesome color department and I think I need them.

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  5. It's funny, I haven't tried ANY of these breeches! Doesn't sound like I will either. Thanks for the review!

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  6. SO GLAD you're back to loving the Pipers! All the colors FTW :)

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  7. I've been debating buying a pair of the pipers. They come in fun colors and I like the look of them. I was hesitating on the price, because I'm even more resistant than you on paying that much money for pants I am knowingly going to get dirty and eventually wreck enough that I have to throw them out. I just might change my mind now, so thanks for this post!

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    1. I ride 4-5 times a week and wash my pipers every other ride usually and they've held up great, despite not being pricey breeches. I was on delicate and air dry.

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  8. I really like my Pipers - more on the horse than around the barn, because I get a bit of the slippage. Not as much though, my ass is huge. :P I'm with you, though, $80 is my absolute max for breeches.

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  9. I've tried all 3 of these too but disliked them all for various reasons. Of course, I don't even like the $300 Pikeurs I just got, so there's that. Pipers win the color war, I wish I didn't hate everything else about them.

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  10. I love to buy breeches. I have at least 23 pair ... maybe more. :0) With that said, most of them are fairly cheap, and some of them I WON'T wear. I have 4 pair of Pipers and love them except for the sag, and they'll be too hot this summer. For summer wear, I'll go back to my super cheap, not very fun, but very comfortable Tuff Riders. I also just bought three of the Piper T-shirts and LOVE them - very comfortable and very cute!

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  11. Thank you :)
    I think I'll stick to my Kerrits and maybe try a pair of Pipers at the next sale....

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  12. Since I'm riding western lately, I haven't had to worry about it, but if we start to dabble back into hunter, I'll have to buy breeches, so this is super helpful. I've never paid more than $30 for breeches though because I only show in them. Stock horse hunters school a lot in western tack, so I just wear jeans except to show in. Plus I have a knack for spilling things, so I try not to spend a lot on individual items. haha

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  13. i actually pretty much love my tredsteps (and have three pairs) - but your comments on them are pretty accurate all the same. nice roundup!

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  14. Ha! I had a Piper breeches review drafted and queued up for posting this week - I think I'll delay it a week now so I don't bore our mutual readers to tears! Anyway I love the Pipers too. And that was a great sale!

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    1. Next I'm going to steal that saddle fit girth review RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER YOU.

      Just you watch. ;-)

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  15. I like the equine couture, I don't think I have the same model, but close enough. They have worn well for over a year of at least one ride a week in them. I think they are my current favorite pair that I own. I would buy them again, and I might have to....I am lacking a pair of navy breeches

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  16. Interesting about the equine couture breeches- I have one of their show shirts and it seems pretty cheapo so I'm hesitant to get anything else from there.
    My absolute favorite breeches: Riding Sport. 4 realz, they don't sag, material is stretchy and comfy, not too low rise, and fun colors all for less than $70 where I found them. Amazeballs.

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  17. I have the Piper breeches in full seat, they don't bag in the crotch. I also wear a belt with them, so that helps, too, especially with the stretching out during the day problem. I haven't noticed much wear and tear, but then I also ride in cheap Old Navy Skinny jeans 90% of the time, which really reduces wear and tear on my breeches. My only complaint with them is the synthetic material is kind of sweaty in the summer, but I usually ride in old ripped up jeans when it's hot, anyway. The only high end breeches I own are my show breeches, because I only wear them 5 times a year at most.

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  18. I literally just bought a pair of pipers this morning (My third) I wear full seats mostly (because dressage) and I think I've had my two other pairs for at least a year and they seem to be holding up very well. I've never noticed any crotch sag...but I will totally be looking for it now lol!

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    1. Update: you are totally right about the crotch sag. I guess it doesn't really bother me too much, but it is definitely a thing.

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  19. So glad to know the crotch sag thing isn't just me. I would really like the Piper breeches if it weren't for that.

    Great review. I have to add I really love my Fits breeches but I found a consignment pair for more than half price. I don't think I could ever pay the full price but man I do love them!

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  20. Love the triple whammy review! =) I want the same exact things out of breeches, so this was great.

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  21. I refuse to buy expensive breeches, I spend most of my barn time shoveling poo, hauling water, and filling hay nets. So as you can imagine I'm a mess when I'm done. I do have nice breeches, but the most I have even spent on breeches is $50! For at home riding I'll go out and buy yoga pants from old navy, they are comfy as hell, stretch nicely and don't cut me In half. If I'm going places I'll wear my breeches from Robinsons Equestrian, I order from the UK. Even with shipping I'm paying half the price. There are some breeches that If I had to cash to throw around I would buy. Oh well, old navy has my back ;)

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  22. I like Kerrits. The fit is slimming on me (dez hip bones don't lie), the fabric doesn't hold on to pet hair (I remind you, TWO siberian huskies and a shedding horse...), and the seats seem to last forever. I ride 7-12x a week (multiple horses added in there). They hold up. They wash well. They dry fast.

    I love them.

    If the Pipers fit anything like the old Bradleys, gross. No way. If that pair of Bradleys hadn't been $20 with free shipping, I'd feel cheated.

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  23. I need to do a review come spring

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  24. Love all the Piper colors .. I'm up to 4 pairs now lol

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  25. I'm fond of the Pipers but they're definitely situational breeches. Summer they are not as good since they're so thick! But I like them as winter breeches and they are moderately flattering on me.

    I do find the zipper likes to fall down though. Especially on my black pair... not sure why that is. And the crotch sag issue is a real pain!

    I have the top of the line Tredstep breeches (the Argenta) and wear them as my show breeches. I mostly bought them for the fabric. They are a little long in the waist for me but they're not bad. The crotch bunches up slightly when I ride, which is annoying... but they're super flattering on my legs, for whatever reason. I dunno, I like them and keep buying them and am extremely unamused they're being discontinued.

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  26. I'm fond of the Pipers but they're definitely situational breeches. Summer they are not as good since they're so thick! But I like them as winter breeches and they are moderately flattering on me.

    I do find the zipper likes to fall down though. Especially on my black pair... not sure why that is. And the crotch sag issue is a real pain!

    I have the top of the line Tredstep breeches (the Argenta) and wear them as my show breeches. I mostly bought them for the fabric. They are a little long in the waist for me but they're not bad. The crotch bunches up slightly when I ride, which is annoying... but they're super flattering on my legs, for whatever reason. I dunno, I like them and keep buying them and am extremely unamused they're being discontinued.

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  27. I loved seeing the photos of everyone's major Piper haul on IG. I'm going to bet that Smarpak is going to need to anniversary that sale!

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