Ariat chaps - advice please!

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Popos

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I've just got some Ariat Close Contact chaps. They are the oiled black ones, but unsure what the difference is between these and the waxed. Does anyone know please?!

Sizing wise, they are tight and a little too tall, but on reading reviews it seems they loosen off a lot and can also drop in height once worn in. Can anyone help me with their experience of these chaps (or others!) please? I don't want to start wearing them and then can't return them if they are never going to fit right, but equally don't want to get another pair that are wider and shorter for them to not fit in a years time!

Thank you!
 
I had MH waxed leather half chaps that were the right measurements but I couldn't even zip up at first. Once on they started to soften and became absolutely fine. They weren't too long but I suppose once they are more flexible they stop pushing up. I would stick with them.
Just remembered my current long boots are Ariat. I could only get them on with the long horn for 1st couple of weeks but are easy now.
 
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Fab, thanks. That's really helpful. Think I will stick with them then.

I have a feeling the waxed leather ones are probably shinier, these have a matt look. Think I'd prefer shiny as would match boots better, but these were half the price of the others!!
 
Got these a few weeks ago, couldnt do them up myself and dug into the back of my knee. They are now the most comfy chaps, can wear stirrups at xc length and dont dig in but havent dropped too much and are really easy to do up. The oiled and waxed are just a different finish cant remember which ones i got but one felt slightly more grippy to touch :)
 
Fab, thanks for that. Would you say felt too long to start with? That's the main issue I have. Problem is if I get the smaller size that still fits me in the width it is 1 1/2 inches shorter which is quite a lot. It only need to be 1/2-1 inch and it wouldn't dig so much
 
The Ariat chaps will loosen and drop. I have a couple of pairs and they are great. The oiled version is just that, oiled, and the waxed version can be given a high polish.

Stick with them, they get better the more you use them.
 
I just got some Ariat Volant XT chaps and boots. When I tried them on the chaps were a bit too long and whilst not too tight they were a little more snug than I like. After 2 rides they have already loosened and dropped a bit. I am thrilled with them.
 
As all the others have said they do shrink down a little with ware and will give, mine were XT and now are a perfect fit, when you wear them in a bit you will love them, so nice to wear.
 
How do I attach a photo on here? I wish someone could see them and give me a def as to whether they will fit!! They are sore to wear at the moment due to length and digging in at my knees. The width is tight but I can feel that will give after a bit.
 
Think the rule of thumb is they drop 1/2inch
I've had one pair for years and they have dropped more than that
If you can bend your knee now and they just dig in a bit then they will probably be ok. But if you can bend knee at all I would think they will still be too long

I thought ariats did quite a lot of different sizes ?
 
Will watch this thread with interest as I've just bought some ariat waxed chocolate close contact chaps which seem very tall and are very tight to get on and are rather tight they make my legs hurt!!
 
They do a lot of sizes, but I need the smallest calf width (13 1/2) which comes in 16.5 or 18 height. That's I think I need 17 1/4!

Have just measured up against my old soft material chaps and they are only an inch taller, but on they look a couple of inches taller. I guess when they soften around my ankle/boot etc they will drop to it similarly.
 
I may have watched Badminton whilst wearing them today! Hopefully that will have softened them a bit!
 
I have some and they have loosened, they were tight at first, I wish they were tighter round the ankle to look smarter but hey Ho. They're super nice though, love them! I don't have a problem with length, they have quite a range of lengths so didn't seem necessary to struggle with too long or short ones? That said mine have dropped.
 
I have Ariat chaps and one worn in, they are so comfy to wear. When wearing in new chaps I put them on and then oil them with Effax Leather Oil then wear them for a few hours. I find it really makes them mold to my leg to give a super comfy fit later on. :)
 
I have had 3 pairs of these over 8 years, and every time I think I have made a mistake with the sizing (bought the same size as last time each time). Every time I wore them round the place as they were too tight and tall to actually ride in, and after a few muckings out, and driving, and teaching they fit like a second skin and are the most comfortable chaps.

Hope you have the same experience :-)
 
Fab, this is very reassuring! Can I oil them with my usual tack oil? I'm wearing them around the house a lot, mostly with pj's. Hubby thinks I'm lost the plot!
 
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