Is it time to buy new riding breeches? We get a lot of questions about which riding breeches to wear. There is a jungle of different breeches on the market. No wonder it is difficult to find the right one. Here are some points to consider, which will help you understand what is right for your needs.

1. What season and in what environment do you plan to use your pants?

The first thing you need to ask yourself is when you plan to use the pants. In the summer you might want airy, thin, breathable pants, perhaps with mesh. The winter months require warmer pants with moisture-wicking features - softshell, goretex, water-repellent, warm and lined. You might want to wear base layers underneath? Are you going to wear the pants for competitions or for everyday, dirtier stable wear. If you have this clear, it will give you the answers to many of the factors described below.

2.Which fit is best for you?

Do you feel best in high or low waist, with pants that are straight or more flared at the waist? Often the unisex models (and those for men) are a little straighter at the waist. With or without zippers, i.e. pants or tights? Stretch or solid? You can get with or without a cut (a seam) over the butt/waist which can be good if you are a little curvier. There are so-called plus sizes that are even more tailored for women with a little shape.

What length do you need, extra long, normal or extra short? And do you want breeches with elastic bands that you thread under your foot, so that the breeches don't ride up when you ride? Almost obvious, but still worth mentioning, is that riding breeches should not have any seams on the inside of the leg (which is why it is not advisable to ride in regular breeches). This can cause unpleasant chafing when riding.

3. What material do you feel most comfortable in?

There are several options, denim, softshell, cotton, polyester. But the same material can also differ from each other. They can give a slightly different feel, have different luster and the surface can be glossy or matte. Do you want a slightly thicker material or a thin one? Often a thicker fabric is a little less elastic than a thin one? There are also pants that have a compression function and/or have a ventilation function (breathe). If you want pants with maximum airiness, there are pants with sewn-in mesh sections (a thin net).

4.What type of shoes/boots would you like to be able to wear with the pants?

Do you wear low shoes or high boots? And do you want to have your trousers tucked into, or on the outside of, your shoes/boots? There are jodphur/bootcut legs or the more classic ones that run along the legs. The wider legs can be a bit bulky to fit into a pair of boots. Even among jodphur trousers there are variants with wider and narrower leg widths. If you want to wear them on the outside of the boot, it is important that the foot strap is attached high enough up on the inside of the trouser legs, so that the attachment is above where the shoe/boot shaft ends.

5. What kind of pockets should the pants have?

What will you use the pockets for? Do you want to be able to carry horse treats, mobs, keys, etc.? How many pockets? Should they be closable (zipper, buttons, Velcro)? How easily accessible do you want the contents of the pockets to be? Where do you want the pockets to be, front or back or along the legs?

6. What color should the pants be?

This is mostly a matter of taste, and the range of color variations is not huge. Black is the most common, but there are also blue, brown, beige, white and similar shades of denim.

7. Which shoe works best for you?

Full-shoeing means that the breeches have shods on both the inside of the legs and on the butt. Full-shoeed breeches provide a firmer grip in the saddle and can help you as a rider to have a more stable seat. Half-shoeed breeches, or knee-shoeing, only have shods on the inside of the legs. The fact that the breeches lack shods on the butt means that your seat as a rider becomes more mobile. However, the shods on the inside of the legs still provide stability for the knees and shins.

If you choose silicone, you will get a firmer grip in the saddle, as the friction will be higher and you will "sit tight" and get more feeling in the seat. It can vary how "sticky" the silicone is, so it may be worth feeling and comparing. The risk with silicone is that it can wear down the leather surface of the saddle a little. If you instead get a pair with leather/imitation leather shoes, you will instead be a little more mobile in the saddle.

8. High quality or low price?

As with everything else, there is a whole range of prices for riding breeches. The more features, designs and the higher the quality, the higher the price. Sometimes, simple is enough, and then you shouldn't pay more than necessary. The tip is to first answer the questions in the points above, and then compare the price of different breeches that all give you what you want. For example, compare softshell with other softshell, summer tights with other summer tights, etc.

TIP! Measure your body and compare with the size guide to give you the best chance of getting the right size. Different brands and models may vary slightly in size. However, unique size guides for each model give you a better idea of ​​the model you are considering.

To make it easy for you, we at Tölta have chosen to have a wide range of riding breeches. This gives you the opportunity to find and compare many different variants in one place.

If you want to see Tölta's entire range of riding breeches , they are available here.

If you would like advice and help choosing trousers, you are welcome to contact Tölta's customer service using the form on the website or via the chat (a round circle in the bottom right corner of the website). We are here to help you!

What do your favorite breeches look like and what do you think is most important when buying new ones? What kind of breeches are you missing on the market and at Tölta today?

It would be exciting to hear your views and best tips in the comments below.