Recommendations on calf stirrup leathers?

[Renn/aissance]

My beloved stirrup leathers, which have been restitched three times since I got them as a pony kid, are gamely preparing to scratch the hell out of my new calf-leather saddle. Sadly they are to be retired and replaced by leathers of a softer material.

I am looking for calf-leather stirrup leathers, stitched, with a nylon core. I would prefer not to pay over $150. Recommendations?

[HCF]

I have Prestige calfskin leathers. They're awesome. I paid a little over $100 for them.

[Renn/aissance]

I have Prestige calfskin leathers. They're awesome. I paid a little over $100 for them.

I was hoping a Prestige user would chime in here.

I've ridden in three different saddles equipped with Prestige leathers, and found that the grippiness of the leathers made it difficult to make quick stirrup length adjustments. Have you had that problem with yours, and does it go away with use?

[Technicolor02]

I was hoping a Prestige user would chime in here.

I've ridden in three different saddles equipped with Prestige leathers, and found that the grippiness of the leathers made it difficult to make quick stirrup length adjustments. Have you had that problem with yours, and does it go away with use?

I have that problem with mine but to be fair I have that problem with every pair of calf skin non stretch nylon core leathers that I have. They're so thick it makes it difficult to adjust especially when adding in the grippiness of the leather. The prestige leathers are actually the best I've come across in terms of adjustability and def get my vote if you're shopping. Stay far, far away from the beval leathers made to match the butet. They cost me a fortune and were the biggest PITA I've come across.

[WorthTheWait95]

Stay far, far away from the beval leathers made to match the butet. They cost me a fortune and were the biggest PITA I've come across.

:yes::yes::yes::yes:
I had those same leathers and hated them so much! I will say that they held up really well but it wasn't worth it when I had to hang off my horses side, putting all my weight on the leather to get it to budge an inch.

I have the prestige leathers on one of my saddles now and like them much better. They're probably your best bet for calf skin leathers IME. Of course, I still prefer riding in my Tad Coffin equipped with Gary Mundy leathers that are so, so easy to adjust but they would scratch a calf skin saddle for sure.

[Hoon]

I have the Prestige leathers, and I really like them. Mine are about 2 years old and they haven't stretched at all. My only beef with them was the colour didn't match my Devoucoux. The leathers were a bit orangey, but after a while they darkened up and they look fine now.

[indygirl2560]

I recently got Toulouse ones and they've been great so far!

[Pirateer]

I have the Antares Hamptons from Smartpak. Seem ok so far- they are lovely and seem to be holding up ok, but due to the back problem I have only gotten to ride in them a dozen times or so.

[onelanerode]

I had a pair of M. Toulouse leathers — bought them in December 2005, used them very infrequently for the first six months, then once or twice a week for the next year and a half. The calf leather is very thin and stitched so that there's a good bit of excess leather left on the outside of the line of stitching. This should have been glued down, but it wasn't, and it would get caught on things and eventually started ripping. I paid $80 for mine on the recommendation of a saddle fitter. Now I won't touch another Toulouse product.

I did get $5 for them at a consignment sale this weekend. :mad: With the leather ripping off, they're not pretty to look at, but the nylon core means they're still usable.

I've got a pair of Gary Mundy leathers now and those suckers are going to outlive me, lol. :lol:

[BAC]

I love my CWD nylon lined leathers, they are 4 years old and have not stretched at all. Despite how soft the leather is they look like new and unlike some lined leathers they are easy to adjust from the saddle. They are the narrow (3/4"?) ones with half holes and small, flat buckles. They are expensive though, I paid $140 for them and I think they have gone up in price. I would buy them again without question though.

The Beval Butet leathers are horrible, stay far away from them. Impossible to adjust and the stitching kept coming loose too, I hate them with a passion.

[vxf111]

I have been very happy with my Jaguar ones. I want to try the Prestige but the Jaguar ones WILL NOT DIE ;)

Do be careful if you have cheesegrater stirrup pads. Unless you're careful they can do a number on leathers.

[chawley]

I have the Prestige leathers, and could not be happier with them. I don't ever had an issue w/ them sliding poorly while adjustment, but I've had that issue w/ other letters, including Beval calf skin. They darkened nicely and took no break-in time.

[Renn/aissance]

I picked up a pair of Prestige leathers today. :) I will have to punch in the half-inch holes that I prefer, but they felt thinner than I expected under my leg and weren't any trouble to adjust. Thanks for all the recommendations!