Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review
Fit
10
Comfort
10
Style / Design
7.5
Value
8.5
Quality
10
Ease of Care / Holds Up Washing
10
Performance in the Saddle
9
9.3

*The numerical reviews above are for the correct sized tights for me, so they don’t take into account the issues I had by getting these too large initially.  Lesson learned on reading sizing recommendations!

This is my second review on Soho Equestrian.   I reviewed their regular breeches back in April and man were they a hit!  Since that review they’ve released pre-orders for black and white of the same style.  I’m pumped… I also need to place an order but I hate waiting so I’ll probably wait until these are in stock.  (Does that make sense?  I’m waiting either way…but waiting for a package I’ve paid for makes me more stressed out than just waiting for a release date if you know what I mean).  Moving on.  These breeches are golden.  SO good.  Highly recommend those.

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review

Anyways…so today I’m going to review the Riding Leggings and a lot of you know or can guess that I’m not really into riding leggings or tights as it were.  I’ve not reviewed any in years I think…because I always end up not liking them!  I honestly typically hate pull on type tights.  I don’t mind if they have the same tight-like fabric and then have a snap and zip…but snaps and zips are always my preference for several reasons.  So just to start this review by stating…I do not like leggings/tights and they are not my preference.

My first try on I was hopeful about them.  I mean…the color is gorgeous (exact dupe for ES Amazonite if you’re wanting to go matchy and there’s a matching shirt).  They have an extra tight waistband and a drawstring to pull up to secure them more (which is my main issue with leggings/tights).  They have a nice thigh pocket with silicone at the top to keep your phone from sliding out.  The fabric felt comfortable.  The printing on the seat was good.  They looked pretty on.  They concealed my lumps and bumps more than expected.  The only thing stylistically I don’t prefer is the large text logo on the leg which isn’t great looking when stretched over my hulk thighs but…oh well.  I’d prefer that was smaller, but it’s fine…you can’t see that from a distance anyways.

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review

My first experience riding in these didn’t help my opinion on tights however.  They slid around on me a lot.  They stuck to the saddle but wouldn’t stay in place on me…so the seam line ended up over on my thighs (yeah…they moved THAT much) depending on the bend I was on…and that caused me a lot of rubs and discomfort.  I finished the ride and said…”nah…thanks…but I just can’t do tights.”

But then I remembered the initial email conversations and it started me wondering if I’d made a mistake.  See…I ordered a size large.  Why?  Because I’m a size Large girl.  I don’t own riding breeches that aren’t a Large.  I’m not little.  So I picked large…  I was informed when looking sizing that the leggings run a little larger and a lot of people want to size down.  See…I’m not the person that needs to size down…so it didn’t occur to me until after this very uncomfortable ride that I needed to size down.  An email later, a size medium was on the way to see if that would do the trick.

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review
As you can see they had plenty of length even for my long legs (as I had the extra bunched up below my knee here). YOu can also see how the large lettering looks a little…special…on my chonky thighs. These were the large tights here…so not even super tight.

Guess what?  It made all the difference.   I need a medium in these tights.   So if you’re interested in these size down girls!  I got a large in the shirt and that fit fairly snuggly…and a large in the breeches and they were perfect, but these tights do run big.

So anyways…my bad for not listening to the sizing info on the website or the sizing recommendation from Rob…

Once I got the size right, the fit was good.  They stayed up when walking around, even when they were too big thanks to the tighter waistband, drawstring and that there was plenty of length in the tights so they didn’t want to slide down which was awesome.

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review

How’d my next ride go?  Well…I’ve worn these several times since if that gives any indication.  The things that bothered me the first time I rode in them were gone.  They stay up just fine.  They stay where they’re supposed to stay when riding for the most part (there’s still a bit more movement than I get in more structured breeches).  They’re great for warm weather.  The look good on (as good as any legging/tight can).  The pocket is a great size and very handy.  I quite like them!  How about that!  Will I reach for them over their breeches?  No…unless it’s over 90 degrees and then I will.  Will I reach for them over my zip/snap tights when it’s over 90 degrees?  Equal chance…unless photos are happening and I will go with the zip/snaps.  Are they a solid piece of athletic wear?  Absolutely.  If you like riding tights…you’re going to love these.

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review
Looks fantastic with ES Amazonite and this mauve top from Kastel Denmark (and on a chestnut)!

 

The quality on the fabric, sewing and full seat printing is excellent and the design details of the waistband/drawstring and the thoughtfully design pocket squarely places them on the nicer end of riding leggings/tights. They wash easily (I wash on cold inside out, hang dry).  They dry quickly.  So far they’re showing no signs of wear or staining.  They look brand new still.

Soho Equestrian Riding Leggings Review
Not “enhancing” my lady bumps and lumps on my legs.

Soho Equestrian carries these (and matching tops) in Emerald (the ones pictured), Berry (a rich berry pink which I LOVE but will look gross on my chestnut LOL), Navy, and Stone (it looks like a taupe gray on the website, but it’s more of a true gray in person).  Sizing runs from XS to XL (I imagine that people that need an actual XS might be out of luck, but I don’t know for sure of course).  They’re $100 a pair, which is about on par with other riding tights of similar quality (and some of much poorer quality are in this price range as well).

I absolutely recommend these if you enjoy riding tights/leggings.   They quality is there.  If you prefer breeches, these probably aren’t going to change your preference…but you won’t hate them either.  They’ll probably end up in your regularly used pile.  They’re a solid product.  And if you do prefer breeches…try the Soho ones…they’re SO good.