Men :What do you wear to ride trail?

[walkers]

I'm trying to find my husband riding tights or something to wear other than jeans. As we all know our jeans have those thick seams and for men they can cause all kinds of trouble.
So please guys tell me what you wear on those long rides before my love quits riding. He wears paddock boots so english breeches are to short plus he is 6'3" and skinny.
I've talked him into trying tights but I can't find anything for men.
Ideas?

[twofatponies]

My man wears breeches (yes "too short") with motorcycle boots that are similar to paddock boots, with those simple suede half chaps with velcro closures. Easy to put on and off, and covers the area between the boot and breeches.

I don't remember the brand of breeches. They are a greeny beige with small knee patches. Nothing fancy.

He never rides in jeans, though I often do (in a western saddle). I think jeans rub more in english saddles.

[joe21]

I'm trying to find my husband riding tights or something to wear other than jeans. As we all know our jeans have those thick seams and for men they can cause all kinds of trouble.
So please guys tell me what you wear on those long rides before my love quits riding. He wears paddock boots so english breeches are to short plus he is 6'3" and skinny.
I've talked him into trying tights but I can't find anything for men.
Ideas?

I wear jeans and they pose no problem. You just have to get the right jeans.

Most jeans have a "thick" seam and a "thin" seam (don't know how else to describe it). For some reason "fashion" dictates that the thin seam go on the outside. This can cause problems on a longer ride.

There are several Wrangler styles and a few Levi styles that have the thin seam on the inside. That should solve the problem for most.

As the colder weather approaches bicycle pants (i.e. under armor) worn under the jeans also provide protection from the seams as well as the cold.

[Guilherme]

In warmer weather this:

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/breeches1.jpg

I delete the tie. Substitute a leather belt for the web belt, a helmet for the campaign hat, and have a number of different cotton shirts (although I sometimes ride in the khaki shirt).

In cooler weather this:

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/Officerbreeches.jpg

or

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/EM_breeches.jpg

I have a number of wool shirts that do well. I have a "tin cloth" jacket from Filson and a wool scarf. Also some homemade "ear warmers" for use the helmet. As temps decline I wear silk long handles from Cabelas, along with silk undershirt, sock liners, and glove liners. This combo is good down to about 30 degrees. If it's colder than that I stay home. ;)

WPG produces quality items and will stand behind their products. You can't say that for every vendor.

G.

[sublimequine]

In warmer weather this:

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/breeches1.jpg

I delete the tie. Substitute a leather belt for the web belt, a helmet for the campaign hat, and have a number of different cotton shirts (although I sometimes ride in the khaki shirt).

In cooler weather this:

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/Officerbreeches.jpg

or

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/EM_breeches.jpg

I have a number of wool shirts that do well. I have a "tin cloth" jacket from Filson and a wool scarf. Also some homemade "ear warmers" for use the helmet. As temps decline I wear silk long handles from Cabelas, along with silk undershirt, sock liners, and glove liners. This combo is good down to about 30 degrees. If it's colder than that I stay home. ;)

WPG produces quality items and will stand behind their products. You can't say that for every vendor.

G.

I must ask.. what is the point of the generous cut hips/thighs (not sure how to word it!) on those riding pants? Is it just for style or does it actually have a function?

[Leather]

These men's jods come in long: http://www.nationalbridle.com/product-p/1-2639.htm

Or get some custom-made jods:
http://www.monarch-garments.com/cat_breeches.asp



For jeans, try Wranglers--thousands of cowboys can't be wrong. :D

http://www.sheplers.com/mens/jeans/

Or find some of the jeans that polo players wear.

[carp]

Pants the male of the household has tried--

Jaipur Polo jeans. Verdict: comfortable, but too hot for summer wear. Good for this time of year.
Wrangler riding jeans. Verdict: reasonably comfortable, but a bit warm in the heat of summer. He doesn't feel like a freak wearing them among non-equestrians.
Saddlebums riding tights. Verdict: not as comfortable as he'd hoped. Fairly cool on hot summer days, but the terry cloth liner in the front chafed.
Lightweight synthetic hiking/climbing trousers. Verdict: most successful garment for hot summer weather. Just don't get the kind with zip off legs. Plenty of room through the thighs, the synthetic material wicks sweat instead of getting soggy and chafing, and the inner seams are flat enough not to rub. Plus he can wear them out among the civilian population.

[costco_muffins]

Fiance wears CK jeans from Costco since they are cheap and comfy, with an old pair of half-chaps and a set of Ariat work boots. Have heard of many men wearing bike shorts (the padded kind) under their jeans to keep comfy.

Fiance wants to try Wranglers. The bonus to Wranglers is the extra length, which takes care of the jeans riding up over the ankle.

[Leather]

I must ask.. what is the point of the generous cut hips/thighs (not sure how to word it!) on those riding pants? Is it just for style or does it actually have a function?

It's a throwback to the days before stretch fabric.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodhpurs

[Guilherme]

I must ask.. what is the point of the generous cut hips/thighs (not sure how to word it!) on those riding pants? Is it just for style or does it actually have a function?

As noted it's a concession to times when there was no "streatch" fabric. The amount of "blousing" varied from time to time but was always there. Even within time periods some folks like a lot and some less. Photos of military and civlian riders from about the late 19th Cen. through WWII can be quite illustrative (and entertaining ;) ).

G.

[twofatponies]

In warmer weather this:

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/breeches1.jpg

I delete the tie. Substitute a leather belt for the web belt, a helmet for the campaign hat, and have a number of different cotton shirts (although I sometimes ride in the khaki shirt).

In cooler weather this:

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/Officerbreeches.jpg

or

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/pic/EM_breeches.jpg

I have a number of wool shirts that do well. I have a "tin cloth" jacket from Filson and a wool scarf. Also some homemade "ear warmers" for use the helmet. As temps decline I wear silk long handles from Cabelas, along with silk undershirt, sock liners, and glove liners. This combo is good down to about 30 degrees. If it's colder than that I stay home. ;)

WPG produces quality items and will stand behind their products. You can't say that for every vendor.

G.

I love those! They used to make them for ladies, too? At least my old aunt had a pair in rust colored fabric that were just delightful. The gauchos wear something like that now too - blousy at the top, laced at the bottom. Nifty.

[Painted Horse]

Just what ever blue jeans I put on that morning. Levi, Wrangler, Lee.

Colder weather I wear some shotgun chaps. but most of the time it's jeans with Chinks

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2009/Hardware/Ranch2.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2009/Bryce/Bryce-Canyon-2009-035.jpg

The only problem I've ever had chaffing has been on my calf if the jeans get wet on 50 mile rides. If I expect my pants to get wet or I'm doing a long ride, I will wear the shotguns or half chaps. that takes care of the problem.

[GreyDes]

My husband has a custom pair of the Equissentials Western endurance pants.

http://www.equissentials.net/store/product_info.php/cPath/1/products_id/124?osCsid=ce13f7b63d843ac264de39ac7a9b3355

He loves them - says they're very comfortable, stick like glue, and don't look too "girly". He's gotten frequent compliments on them. They are pricey, but last forever. I have a pair that is going on seven years.

[JollyBadger]

My boyfriend typically rides in Wranglers, though recently he bought a couple pairs of rust-colored work pants from TSC and he's mentioned that they are very comfortable and loose-fitting for long hours in the saddle. In warmer weather, he generally wears a t-shirt or a short-sleeve button-down and a baseball cap. Otherwise, a long-sleeve button-down shirt, a sweatshirt, or a thermal shirt with a heavier coat seems to be his preference. He also has an Australian oilskin coat as well as a lightweight Outback slicker for those warm-weather rainy day rides.

A couple of the other men at my barn ride in jeans and "trail" chaps, with a pocket sewn in to one of the legs. For boots, they mostly wear lacers. One of them has a pair of Schnees boots for cold-weather riding, and he says his feet never get cold with them.

[katarine]

Mr Kat wears Cowboy Cut Wranglers in riding lengths, meaning he wears a 32" inseam in street jeans and a 34 or even better 36" in his riding jeans. That longer leg the pant's leg from riding up his calf as he goes...those jeans are designed with a polite, unobtrusive flat seam.

OR, he wears Diamond Gusset jeans, which eliminates that crossroads under your crotch :)

[jazzrider]

The only breeches I can get my hubby (6'2" and lean) to wear are Tailored Sportsman. He won't wear anything skin tight, or without pockets on the back. And his calves were just too big to fit a lot of brands. They're not cheap, but he's had two pairs for years that work for him. He goes back and forth between riding in them and jeans. We had to order them on line -- we couldn't find anything in the stores.

He also wears a pair of half chaps (suede with the velcro attachments, because again we couldn't find anything to fit his calves) if he rides -- both with jeans or the breeches.

He got a pair boots like these last year at Upperville and loves them! (not the same brand, but the look)

http://www.doversaddlery.com/dublin-rcs-river-tall-boot/p/X1-38762/cn/1943/

[walkers]

Thanks for the suggestions, The problem with jeans is the seams rub and as men age the prostrate is not happy on long rides. he rides a gaited horse so no posting, lots of sitting and full seat breeches just don't work with gaited horses. You have to be able to slide in the saddle with a TWH.
So looking for comfort, long enough to use with paddock boots w/o half chaps. I looked at the polo breeches but they are made very short to be used with high polo boots.
On another thread women were complain of UTI being related to riding and I think jeans may also be contributing to that problem.
I love riding in tights but can't find any made for men except full seat......

[JackSprats Mom]

Long bike pants, actually thats what I tend to trail ride in too, comfy :yes:

[Guilherme]

Thanks for the suggestions, The problem with jeans is the seams rub and as men age the prostrate is not happy on long rides. he rides a gaited horse so no posting, lots of sitting and full seat breeches just don't work with gaited horses. You have to be able to slide in the saddle with a TWH.
So looking for comfort, long enough to use with paddock boots w/o half chaps. I looked at the polo breeches but they are made very short to be used with high polo boots.
On another thread women were complain of UTI being related to riding and I think jeans may also be contributing to that problem.
I love riding in tights but can't find any made for men except full seat......

If you're constantly "sliding" in the saddle something is wrong. We had Walkers for a dozen years and now the Marchadors. I've never "slid" in a saddle while riding.

As far as "prostate" related issues are concerned there's always the jock strap or, a more comfortable choice for longer rides, compression shorts. I bought some from Walmart as an experiment. I'm adding to my collection and getting a better quality. The downside: cost. Good compression shorts run to the high end of the $30-$40 range.

I've ridden in Wranglers before (and Levis 557s before that). I never had "seam" issues.

I've never found "tights" comfortable (and on me they'd likely be found to be "visual polution" :) ). The WPG breeches solve all the problems (and don't have leather seats). My wife, on the other hand, won't ride in anything without a full leather seat. Go figure that gender difference.

At the end of the day it's what's comfortable for the rider, not what's comfortable for me or anybody else. That may take some experimentation.

G.

[GreyDes]

Take another look at the Equissentials. You can get them in knee patch, extended patch, or full seat. They're more of a pants cut, but in a stretchy fabric and without the inner seam.

[Burbank]

get Wranglers, real ones from a western store not the ones from Walmart, they tend to put the thick seam on the outside for men and women.

[katarine]

Forgot to mention that underarmor compression shorts are good, too, as noted by G above.

We ride walkers and such and sliding is not necessary? Unless he's got a bad chair seat and is slopping along somewhat, no harm meant in saying that. Seams are an issue when a rider runs their feet forward then hinges their knee with the stride, thus rubbing their upper calves/inner knee. Get his feet under his hips and he'll be fine, I would think.

[joe21]

Thanks for the suggestions, The problem with jeans is the seams rub and as men age the prostrate is not happy on long rides.


As far as "prostate" related issues are concerned there's always the jock strap



FYI - if ANY part of your clothing is rubbing the prostate as you ride, you have a serious problem. A jockstrap will not provide any help.

The prostate is an internal gland. About the only way to irritate it from riding is if you had an extremely forward seat and just the right type of western horn on the saddle. Even then, the thick jeans would most likely prevent the horn from reaching the right spot! :)

[2Horse]

Wrangler Cowboy cut. They are made for riding. Thin inseam, high back pockets so you are not sitting on them. Longer leg length so you don't have the "wanna be" look with the legs riding up your calf. I HATE that look.:no:
Not to mention girls LOVE WRANGLER BUTTS!!:lol:
Makes just about any butt look much better!:winkgrin:

[jlrcoats]

Here is your answer for men. My husband wanted to do an endurance ride with me. The jeans were killing him....but he refused to wear riding pants, so i finally found SADDLEBUMS web site. They make great riding pants (have a pair myself) for men they make a pair of riding pants that go under jeans. Husband LOVES them and doesn't ride without them. No more seam problems and they come in all sizes. He has even got a few of his buddies getting them now!

[Trakehner]

Guys don't really have problems with the front seam...that's a female rider problem usually.

I ride wearing any pair of jeans that are clean, plus a pair of elk-hide schooling chaps or boots and britches. I've ridden 25 mile trail rides in both styles and never any problems.