Review: Esprit Equestrian Wear Breeches II

At this point, I am all in. Esprit Equestrian Wear (EEW) is definitely playing my song. So far, I've purchased a Surcingle Belt, a pair of the Classic Breeches, and a pair of the (discontinued ) PRO Breeches. I should note that while the PROs have been discontinued, EEW has created the 2.0 PRO which is currently available in white only with the assurance that more colors are on the way.

Left to Right: Classic in Black & PRO in Hunter Green

While the Classics are a perfect fit for me, I wasn't as happy with the fit of the PRO breeches. My friend Jen LOVES them, so it seems that body type is probably a factor in whether you prefer one over the other. The PRO breeches are definitely cuter with the contrasting sparkle trim.

There is so much I love about this brand: the fabric is fantastically smooth and soft; the faux zipper and belt loops push these tights into a whole new category; and the pockets are what equestrians with a cell phone addiction have been pining for. Hey, you never know when you need to take a photo of something. Or call your vet, or the farrier, or your trainer.

Flipped inside out.

I wanted to love the PROs as much as I love the Classics, but the compression lining just didn't work for me. Again, my friend Jen loved it. The compression fabric is sewn in across the inside top of the Classics, but I can't feel it. In the PROs, it covered every inch. Since it was just too much compression for me, I simply cut it out. If you choose to do that, be careful. I accidentally snipped a little too quickly, and now I have a little tiny hole at the knee. Once the lining was removed though, I enjoyed all of the cuteness of the PROs with the comfort of the Classics.

PROS in Hunter Green

The fit is nearly identical from one style to the other, but the PROs are definitely a little lower in the rise. On the EEW website, it states that "The 2.0's have 2 more inches of rise in the rear for more coverage, no inner lining in the seat area, and an added front phone pocket seam to hide the pocket line." Those are basically the things I noted that would improve the fit for me.

The large pockets on the Classics are on the outside of the fabric of the leg while the pockets for the PROs are on the inside. The pocket seam was a little too visible on the PROs for my tastes, so I am glad they're fixing that. And of course, removing the lining from the seat will make these more comfortable for my body type (AKA Chunky Monkey). After wearing each pair, I created a spread sheet to compare the the two different styles.

In order of importance - fit is first, cuteness is last.

For me, the Classics beat out the PROs in comfort and pocket configuration while the PROs win for cuteness. Both are priced so well that you won't feel bad ordering them in multiple colors. I actually like that Esprit Equestrian Wear is offering more than one fit because we all have different shaped bodies with different preferences. If you decide to give one of their products a try, use the code bakersfieddressage for a one-time 5% discount. Hey, every bit helps.

Now I need another belt ... oh, look some of them are on sale!