Mountain Horse or Dover Thermal Breeches?

[Brigitte]

Ok, every year I look longingly at the Mountain Horse Polar full seat pants. Dover also has their own for quite a bit less $. I guess I'm tired of trying to layer or ride in bulky Carharts. (No indoor here, or I trailer to one, most of my riding is outside, lots of frisky hacking in very cold weather)

Anyone use them, like them, etc?
The other thing that keeps me from ordering is that I'm 5'1" and the inseams on them are quite long. With a full zipper I'm thinking that shortening them would be nearly impossible.

[Brigitte]

Bumping up since I'm freezing this year more than usual!

Just hoping someone has used either of these and had an opinion on them.

[IFG]

I am not in Illinois, but I am in Massachusetts and ride all winter with no indoor. I love the Boink Polarfleece lined Boinks.

www.boinkcatalog.com

[Trixie]

I have a similar pair, I think they're tuffrider's or something: same concept, full seat sort of snowpant things, and they are the BEST THING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD and I absolutely positively cannot live without them.

[hayisforhorsesss]

What about the Mountain Horse Sarek Thermo Breeches? They're just a bit over $100, I think. I LOVE them. I'm 5'3", though, so you'll probably have to roll the top.

[Brigitte]

I saw the Sarek, they look really nice. Good to hear you like them. It is hard to tell from the catalog just what the difference is between them and the older version Polars. I know the Boink and others are nice, but I really want something more like the Mountain Horse. Just the breeches aren't enough.

Not to get too personal, but what do you put under your Mountain Horse?

Maybe I'm mistaken with the Tuff Riders or Boinks, but I keep thinking that they are different from the Mountain Horse, more of just a really warm breech? I want to be warm enough to ride, but also to throw Brigitte on the trailer at night and not be frozen when we get home and need to finish up in the barn. (Ok, it sounds like I should be in Florida)

I think a trip to the tack shop might be in order to compare, but I really just wanted to order online and be done.

[Lori]

I have a pair of both. I am not absolutely sure my MH are Sarek, but the size ran so large I have not worn them (think michelan man!). I bought the Dover ones in navy and love them! Used them in Iowa (freezing and below as regular temps) layered over polar fleece and extreme underwear and it worked great. I think they are also more comfy and softer than the MH.

[vbunny]

Love the Sarek. I did have a local seamstress add microsuede to the lower leg as I don't wear full boots or 1/2 chaps with them and they were slick before that but I love them. Sooo warm and waterproof. Seriously, why not get waterproof instead of water resistant when you know you are going to need it sometime?

[happyhaffiehaley]

I have a pair of Mountain Horse Sarek breeches and I love them. I live in Wisconsin where we had over 100" of snow last year and some very cold days, but I have never been cold in these pants. The elastic on the bottom to keep them from riding up does tend to break and need replacing, but that's pretty minor and I survive even when it breaks.

Depending on the weather, I may wear long underwear and winter breeches underneath them or sometimes just long underwear or jeans. They're great for doing chores and riding outside in the winter. They are certainly stiffer than normal breeches but it's not a problem at all for riding and they are certainly better than many other snowpant options.

Haley

[applechick]

I'm really interested in what people are recommending on this thread.

I also look longingly at the winter riding breeches, fleece-lined, outer snow/waterproof layer, etc. For the other three seasons I ride in my breeches with half chaps and winter switch to full. How does everyone layer up for winter? For years I've just accepted being cold. Sort of over it and ready for more comfort. But with bulkier breeches do the half chaps still zip over? With half chaps do your thighs get cold? I know you're rarely cold when mounted it's all the before and after I'm thinking about. Trying to minimize how many times I have to deal with zippers (my hands blister with exposure to excessive cold--I hate it).

What's your cold weather riding clothing "system?"

I'm talking about the 12-25 degree range.

[kdow]

I'm really interested in what people are recommending on this thread.Trying to minimize how many times I have to deal with zippers (my hands blister with exposure to excessive cold--I hate it).


For your hands, have you tried those gloves which are fingerless gloves with a mitten-top that flips back? I'm wondering if they'd give more protection and still allow dexterity when necessary. (Since they tend to be quite stretchy, you could probably layer them over riding gloves for extra warmth. I never had trouble with zippers/buckles when wearing normal riding gloves, unless the buckle was being particularly stiff.)

[IFG]

The Boink are breeches. They are polarfleece lined with a cotton shell. The cotton cuts the wind. They are really warm. I use just them to ride down into the 20's. If it's in the teens, I read a book or ride bareback in flannel lined jeans.;). I do have an old, ratty, pair of half chaps that fit over the lined breeches. My every day ones will do it, but it ain't easy.

For the person who asked for a system, on the top, I wear polarfleece or silk long johns, a cotton or wicking turtleneck, a polarfleece vest, a heavy fleece, and a wind shell. I have a heavy jacket to throw on while I am getting ready.

[Brigitte]

I have problems with my hands getting really numb in the cold. I use the little mini Hot Hands hand warmers (from Menards, Farm and Fleet or sporting goods stores. I put them inside my gloves and my hands stay toasty. I haven't tried them for riding, just for barn work.

[McVillesMom]

I have a couple pairs of the Boinks, and they are warm, but I don't find them adequate for outdoors in the winter. They're fine in an indoor, but they really don't do much to block the wind. For that, I really love my Irideon Wind Pro breeches. I have 2 pairs and they have held up very well.

There are days here that those aren't quite enough, so I'm thinking about the Sarek or something similar for Christmas. Those of you who have them, how does the sizing run? Not sure what size to ask for.

For really super cold days, I have been known to ride in my coveralls. Not ideal riding wear, but they sure are warm! I got a balaclava a couple of years ago from an online ski gear shop that is windproof fleece, with a thinner layer on top, designed to fit under a helmet. That does a pretty good job of keeping my face and ears warm.

I'm also a big fan of my Muck Boots. I have the low, paddock boot style version and they have kept me really warm. I get cold feet very easily, so they have been a big help. Plus they aren't too bulky to fit in my stirrups!

[Trixie]

The ones I have (tuffrider, I THINK? no more tag) are definitely more than just average warm breeches - they're the poufy full seat snow pant things. Believe me, they are HIDEOUS but I'd die without them. I'm not actually sure if they're making them this year, though, but they're very similar to the mountain horse ones mentioned, except they were a lot cheaper.

Then again, I HATE HATE HATE the cold. I wear mountain horse long underwear, with harry hall fleece breeches over that, and then the mountain horse things on top. I am aware that I look like the michelin man. However, our farm is private, and luckily almost no one sees me.

[Brigitte]

The balaclava has me intriqued. My neighbor and I have been looking for something new like that. The early super cold here has a scrambling to keep warm out in the wind.

Trixie, I love your layering. I do the same and not only can look like the Michelin man, I feel like I can barely move.

Ok, I think I'm going to order Dover's and Mountain Horse and see what fits the best. I'm just not sure what size to order. I think someone mentioned the Mountain Horse ran large.