Synthetic or real leather or pleather?!

Trewsers

Trewsers

Well-Known Member
Oct 13, 2004
56,666
18,046
113
54
On an island
Which do you use and why? Leather tack or synthetic? (not entirely sure what pleather is, lol saw it on ebay, presumably a mix?)
Also along the lines of boots - leather or synthetic?
Personally, I bought a pair of synthetic long boots and they are the comfiest thing since sliced bread and a bargain at £60.
I do like how leather polishes up thought, but synthetic is so easy to care for.
 
  • Like
Reactions: horseandgoatmom
I've got a synthetic saddle - everything else for Harvey is leather. My long boots are leather, but I have a pair each of synthetic and leather short boots.

The synthetic saddle because it was cheap, and it was the one that fitted, but I also like the fact that its virtually zero maintenance. I got the synthetic boots when I was going to be riding in water.
 
  • Like
Reactions: horseandgoatmom and Trewsers
Depends on what it's for, a saddle or every day boots I always prefer leather (my feet sweat too much in anything else), but would have leather effect synthetic (pleather) for occasional use. My bridle is biothane but I would want leather if I were showing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: horseandgoatmom and Trewsers
GaryB said:
I've got a synthetic saddle - everything else for Harvey is leather. My long boots are leather, but I have a pair each of synthetic and leather short boots.

The synthetic saddle because it was cheap, and it was the one that fitted, but I also like the fact that its virtually zero maintenance. I got the synthetic boots when I was going to be riding in water.
Click to expand...

Do you find the synthetic boots comfy or just okay?
 
Trewsers said:
Do you find the synthetic boots comfy or just okay?
Click to expand...

They are fine as long as they fit well as they have absolutely no give in them at all. I've been wearing them over the Winter as they don't mind getting wet. I have a feeling that ultimately they don't give quite as much protection as leather if say you get trodden on. I'd buy another pair though....
 
  • Like
Reactions: horseandgoatmom and Trewsers
Leather everything for me, I just prefer the feel of it and we’ll cared for it lasts forever!
I know it’s not very ethical these days though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: horseandgoatmom
All leather tack and mostly leather boots for me.... except for my Brogini Modena long ones which are the most comfortable synthetic long boots I've ever worn. To my feet and legs they feel like well worn-in leather ones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: horseandgoatmom
Trewsers said:
Is it from an ethical point of view? animals involved you don't wear leather?
Click to expand...

Pretty much! I've always been vegetarian since I can remember & I'm 99% vegan diet these days.

I try very hard not to but sometimes it's impossible to avoid - it's in my car, for example but I wouldn't buy leather handbags or shoes.

Pete was tricky to fit a saddle to and none of the synthetic saddles fitted. Same with bridles - I'd love to ride in a biothane bridle, but I use an Orbitless bitless bridle and a Micklem and they didn't come/still don't come in a synthetic version. Where I use leather, I try very hard to not buy new.

Plus, I do a lot of hacking in all weathers and synthetic tack would just be so much easier! My friend can put her bridle in the dishwasher :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers and horseandgoatmom
I prefer leather. But I have a synthetic wintec western that could go someplace I was going to get wet.. BUT IM A FAIR WEATHER RIDER for the most part.

I do have a few synthetic/nylon headstalls to use in iffy weather and im more inclined to do play or longline in iffy weather.

BUT a gentle snow flurry can be pretty and fun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
I got a bit of an adversion to synthetic leather as a young child.
I really REALLY wanted leather chaps for Christmas.
My poor grandmother went to a tack shop and got me chaps .
I was horrified at xmas they were synthetic.
The place did not do well by her they told her they were Nauga hide.:eek::eek::eek:
She really did not know tack.... leather etc....

WE got them changed to proper leather.

I also do leather work so to me the smell and feel of real leather is lovely:);)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
Synthetic saddle every time for me - love the lightness, and softer on my rear! Leather bridle and reins. Synthetic yard boots and suede effect synthetic chaps. Would love some good leather or synthetic riding boots, but the outlay for Hogan and feeding 2 instead of one, has left me a little, ahem, short shall we say? When it comes down to it, what they wear is more important than what I wear.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
I’ve just bought a pair of synthetic boots as ‘make do’ whilst my leather ones are in for repair. They are great in terms of cleaning, swill ‘em down with water and I’m done. They have zero give in them though, so don’t think they are as rugged as leather and I think they would probably make my feet sweat in Summer, but they are great as spares.
Saddle and bridle are leather.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
domane said:
All leather tack and mostly leather boots for me.... except for my Brogini Modena long ones which are the most comfortable synthetic long boots I've ever worn. To my feet and legs they feel like well worn-in leather ones.
Click to expand...

They are lovely boots - I ordered some Brogini ones and sadly they came in a six and a seven lol and the place I got them had no other stock left.
 
horseandgoatmom said:
I got a bit of an adversion to synthetic leather as a young child.
I really REALLY wanted leather chaps for Christmas.
My poor grandmother went to a tack shop and got me chaps .
I was horrified at xmas they were synthetic.
The place did not do well by her they told her they were Nauga hide.:eek::eek::eek:
She really did not know tack.... leather etc....

WE got them changed to proper leather.

I also do leather work so to me the smell and feel of real leather is lovely:);)
Click to expand...


Yes I can understand the smell and feel, I love my Ariat boots, they still smell like new leather. Lol how disappointing at Christmas that must have been!!!
 
Pete's Mum said:
Pretty much! I've always been vegetarian since I can remember & I'm 99% vegan diet these days.

I try very hard not to but sometimes it's impossible to avoid - it's in my car, for example but I wouldn't buy leather handbags or shoes.

Pete was tricky to fit a saddle to and none of the synthetic saddles fitted. Same with bridles - I'd love to ride in a biothane bridle, but I use an Orbitless bitless bridle and a Micklem and they didn't come/still don't come in a synthetic version. Where I use leather, I try very hard to not buy new.

Plus, I do a lot of hacking in all weathers and synthetic tack would just be so much easier! My friend can put her bridle in the dishwasher :D
Click to expand...

Now I love the sound of popping a bridle into the dishwasher:p:D:D
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom
Back