Review: LeMieux Engage Full Seat Breeches

I've had my eye on the LeMieux Engage Breeches for a few months. When I first tried to order them in late winter, they were out of stock. They're now back, and I was finally able to grab a pair.

I kind of like the funky color combination - red with purple?

As it turned out, I ended up ordering them twice. Since losing so much weight, I just can't seem to figure out what size to order in anything. And we all know the sizing for breeches runs wildly erratic as it is. I already found that in the Ovation Aquas when I had to order a size 30. Just for the record, I am 5'3" and weigh 124 pounds. I would think that would put me in a smaller size, but nope.

The mini pocket is actually quite deep..

When I ordered the LeMieux Breeches, I closely watched the video that Katie did, she works at Riding Warehouse. Katie looks a bit heavier than me (does the camera still add 10 pounds?), but she still ordered a 26. At 124 pounds, I thought that finally a pair of breeches were going to run true to size. When they arrived, I eagerly tugged them on but was disappointed in how snugly they fit. I like some room in my breeches, especially in the summer. I promptly boxed them back up and ordered the 28s.

Full seats with silicone.

While the 28s are a bit roomy, I've decided that I prefer some space in my breeches. It's so dang hot here in the summer that I need a place for some air to circulate. Even in the winter I like my breeches roomy as it's never actually COLD. So while they don't hug my hips and butt, I don't really want them to. Yes, I'd like to wear a 26, but I like air flow more.

Like every pair of breeches I own, I gave these a hard wear right out of the gate. I am not gentle on my breeches which means they have to be durable to get my approval. With that said, I don't want to walk around in chain mail either. I want my breeches sturdy, but lightweight, stretchy, but not baggy, stylish, but not expensive. I can be a bit of a hard sell.

​I wore these breeches several days in a row, including one bareback ride. I have to say, they took a beating and came back looking relatively crisp and sharp for another day. Yeah, they have dirt smudges, but I cleaned water troughs, climbed in and out of the fence, and rode several different afternoons. I would expect them to look worn.

I just thought this was funny!

The fabric on the Lemieux breeches reminds me of a softshell jacket. Dirt, hay, and feed just brush off which I love as nothing annoys me more than having bits of hay and hair sticking to me. I also like the silicone full seat slightly better than the silicone on the Ovation Aquas as it's less sticky. I don't need to be stuck to my saddle. Just give me a little texture to keep me from sliding around, and that's all I really want. 

The breeches are also quite stretchy, especially since the fabric is somewhat heavy. I am not sure how much I'll love them in the midst of our brutally hot summer though. The Ovation Aquas are MUCH lighter, so I may rely on them and the Horze tights I bought last year for our hottest months.

After a sweaty bareback ride on a gray horse.

I also like the small details that give these breeches a bit of style. The contrasting color is fun but not so in your face that you have to wear a shirt that matches. While I try, some days I am just in too much of a hurry to coordinate what I am wearing. On those days you're likely to see me in green breeches with a purple shirt. Sue me.

The pleats on the front pockets add a bit of of interest, and the wide belt loops look good while being useful. The lycra panel on the leg bottoms keeps the breeches from riding up. Can you even buy breeches with velcro bottoms? And if so, why would you?

Cute branding in a place no one ever sees.

Overall, I'd buy the LeMieux Engage Full Seats again. They come in white and a blue that they call midnight/indigo but look more like azure/sky blue. Not sure I am digging that color, but maybe it's darker than it looks. While I might not be able to wear them in the dead of summer, there really aren't any breeches that are comfortable in our heat. I have my fingers crossed that the Ovation Aquas will be cool enough for our triple-digit days.

At $112.95, I think the LeMieux breeches are a great buy. They're sturdy, stretchy, impervious to hay and hair, and pretty fashionable to boot. And as a bonus, if you order them from the Riding Warehouse by June 1, you can get them 20% off with code RWEJ, and of course the shipping would be free.

That's a hard deal to pass up. Where's my credit card?