Which stirrups/stirrup leathers?

[Muddy unicorn]

I need to get some stirrups, mainly for hacking but also a bit of schooling (and maybe some very low-level dressage).

I have a bit of arthritis on my knee caps (the rest of the joint is unaffected) and although riding doesn't cause any knee pain at the moment, I want to keep it that way!

What would be a good stirrup for encouraging good lower leg position and be safe and secure in the event of the odd sideways spook out hacking? There's a bewildering selection out there ... I don't want to spend a fortune, but happy to pay a decent amount for good quality which will last.

I'm also drawn to the wide stirrup leathers like these ones - do they live up to the hype?

 

[Skib]

I am old and have no joint pain, but put that down to good luck rather than to anything else. I am very set in my ways when riding. I hack in straight Sprenger stirrups bought in 2008, I was told by our knowledgeable RI that the stirrups would reduce strain on my joints.
I have soft Italian stitched stirrup leathers. The current ones (my second pair) are Amerigo. They are now 11 years old, and were amazingly expensive, but the hole I use has not stretched.
I keep my leathers hanging up straight behind our cellar door and put effax leather balsam on them which is said to be wrong, but it is what I do.
I have not lost a stirrup out hacking, except when I have fallen off and when falling I take care to kick my feet free.
In riding lessons, I have always used whatever tack the RS provided. But when hacking I like to have the stirrup leather smooth and flat under my leg. So spent lots of money, and expect them to last me pretty much for ever.

 

[I'm Dun]

I have wide leathers and flex ons. They have been a game changer as far as pain when riding goes. They were ridiculously expensive in comparison to normal ones, but they have been worth every penny!

 

[Fruitcake]

I have Pravins wide Dressage leathers and they really help with leg stability. (I have hypermobility). I also have Sprenger Bow Balance stirrups and really love these as they help to stop me locking my ankles and hips. I can really tell the difference when I ride without them.

After a recommendation on here, I bought some Acavallo Opera stirrups for my pony’s saddle as they’re a bit more lightweight than the Sprengers but still have enough flex in them to stop my joints locking.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Thanks - the wide stirrup leathers seem to be a Good Thing then.
Is there any reason why the flex ons are so much more expensive than the Acavallo alu pros? They’re about twice the price - are they really that much better??

 

[I'm Dun]

I got them on trial hoping they wouldn't be as good as the hype and I could send them back. They were better and I kept them. I've never tried the acavallos but they were a huge improvement on the sprengers I've had previously.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

I got them on trial hoping they wouldn't be as good as the hype and I could send them back. They were better and I kept them. I've never tried the acavallos but they were a huge improvement on the sprengers I've had previously.

Ah .. maybe a trial is the way to go .. they are eye-wateringly expensive though ..