Ride in Style and Safety With the Best Riding Chaps

What To Consider When Buying Cowboy Chaps

Length

Think carefully about how long the chaps should be. Too short never looks good, but too long can make the bottom pucker. In a riding competition, judges won’t give you a score based on your chaps, but well-fitting chaps will show off your legs well.

Fitting

The cowboy chaps you choose must have good arch support and cover your heel. In general, it’s customary to have 1.5 inches of fabric hanging below the heel. Chaps should fit snugly, and elastic leg panels help ensure a snug fit, no matter how much or how little the rider weighs. In the saddle, gaps and drooping create an unfavorable impression for the judges.

Details

Now that you know how to wear cowboy chaps, it’s time to focus on the specifics. Use chaps with a high rise to elongate your legs and define your looks in the saddle. Buckles and conchos contribute to a more symmetrical and pleasing appearance.

Color

Choosing darker colors, such as dark chocolate, brown, chocolate, black, and dark navy will conceal additional movement. This decreases the likelihood of a judge becoming distracted, allowing them to concentrate on your ride.

Types of Cowboy Chaps

Shotguns

Shotgun chaps, often known as “stovepipes,” get their name from their narrow and straight legs. By the late 1870s, they had become the standard for Texas cowboys. One piece of leather is used for both legs and nowadays these have a more modern, form-fitting design that encircles your entire lower leg. The outside typically features a zipper that extends from the thigh to the ankle and, in some cases, much beyond. Additionally, they typically have a fringed hem, and the bottoms are flared or cut with an arch for a smooth fit over the top of the boots.

Shotguns are preferable to batwing designs because they are less likely to flap in the wind and provide superior insulation against snowy and cold environments. They’re the most frequent style worn by western riders in horse show competitions and are widespread on ranches in the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains states, the Rocky Mountains, and Canada.

Batwings

Batwing cowboy chaps have a broad cut with a flared hem. They’re often constructed of leather with the smooth side facing out and have only two or three closures across the thigh, allowing for a considerable deal of lower leg movement. This is useful when riding energetically and makes mounting your horse easier.

These cowboy chaps also offer more airflow and are slightly cooler for hot-weather wear; hence, you will often find them on ranches in Texas and the rest of the Southwest. Batwing chaps are also commonly seen on rodeo competitors, especially those who ride the magnificently bucking bulls and broncs.

Chinks

Half chaps, or chinks, are worn 2 to 4 inches below the knee and include a lengthy fringe at the hem and the sides. Also, because they’re typically fringed at the outer border and bottom, they give the impression of being up to 4 inches longer than they actually are. The legs are shaped like a cross between shotguns and batwings, and they typically have only two fasteners per leg situated high on the thigh.

Wearing chinks will keep you cool, and their design makes them ideal for hot weather. Western cowboys, especially those who adhere to the California vaquero or “buckaroo” culture, are known for wearing prominent chinks.

Armitas

The Spanish in colonial Mexico created an early form of chaps known as armitas, which later became popular among the “buckaroos” and vaqueros in the U.S.A.’s Great Basin region. They’re similar to pants in that they are short and have closed legs, but they’re put on differently.

Typically constructed from deer, elk, or cowhide, these cowboy chaps are a little longer than chinks but end at the top of the shoe. Without a doubt, armitas pack a powerful visual punch, with the fringe running along the arm and down the leg to the tops of the boots. In fact, wearing armitas is a family tradition for some that date back generations.

Farrier’s apron

Farrier aprons, often called “horseshoeing chaps,” are a specific type of chinks that lack fringe and are used by farriers. Farriers wear them to prevent injury to their upper thighs and shins while shoeing horses or performing other hoof care. Some models feature a quick-release front panel to prevent accidents. Ranch hands occasionally wear farrier’s aprons when stacking hay to prevent their clothes from getting dirty.

Zamorros

Similar to batwing chaps, zamorros have a snug fit in the thigh and a wide, triangular flare just below the knee, but they end well below the boot. Cowhide is widely used to create zamorros, either as smooth tanned leather or a hair-on-hide, and they are popular among Paso Fino horse enthusiasts since they are based on those worn in Columbia and Puerto Rico. Traditionally, zamorros meant hair-on chaps worn by horsemen in Colombia that are made in a style reminiscent of shotguns.

Benefits of Cowboy Chaps

Protection

Chaps, a crucial piece of cowboy attire, get their name from the Spanish word “chaparreras” which means “for the brush.” In the days of the Old West, most mounted employees, such as stagecoach drivers and mail carriers, wore them. Military forces used chaps during wartime because these durable leg coverings enable mobility over uneven terrain without snagging on sharp items.

While riding across tough terrain, a cowboy’s legs are protected by his chaps from thorns, twigs, and other dangers. They also safeguard ranch workers from hazards like burns sustained during branding or injuries sustained with a lasso during cattle roundups.

Comfort

If you’ve ever spent a lot of time riding a horse without chaps, you may have felt incredibly uncomfortable. Cowboy chaps offer seat grip and leg protection while enabling you to mount and dismount comfortably.

The rider’s legs are shielded from the elements and chafing from the saddle by chaps; plus, they assist with saddle grip, which enhances riding control. They are typically made of leather that has been oiled or treated, making them strong, water-resistant, and wear-resistant.

Keep pants clean

If you work on a ranch, you might not have time to clean your clothing thoroughly every night. You might need something to cover your jeans while working, particularly in a hostile environment.

By absorbing much of the detritus that a cowboy’s legs may encounter daily, cowboy chaps not only shield your legs, but also your jeans.

Warmth

There is no question that cowboys who must endure harsh winter weather struggle to stay warm. If you reside in an area with harsh winters, chaps offer an additional layer of warmth.

Some chaps, such as those created expressly for winter, may even feature additional wool covering intended to keep a cowboy’s legs warm.