If you missed my last review you may have missed me jumping on the May Babes Equestrian bandwagon big time. I love Emily’s “why” and “how” she puts behind her products…and the products hold up to everything she’s aiming for and more. Sure…these may look like your standard pull on riding tight…but I assure you they’re not. And because I’ve become a fan-girl…I’m now an ambassador for the brand so I have a coupon code that will get you a discount upon order. Use code DECIDEDLYEQUESTRIAN for 10% off your order (there’s also a page with discounts if you join her newsletter FYI…and sometimes those are REALLY good discounts). These particular tights right now are…$60. Yup…that’s right. $60! Once she restocks however, they will be going up in price due to prices increasing for her…but you know…go buy some now.
So where’s that link Rachel?
Alright, Alright! The tights I’m reviewing today are the Off Course Breech. Which is actual a pull on riding tight rather than a breech (or what I would call a breech). You might remember I don’t like riding tights. Why? They’re typically unflattering and they don’t typically hide many sins (some brands fabrics are better at this than others for sure). They a lot of times give the dreaded camel toe… They often slide down and need to be hiked up regularly (I’m looking at YOU all my tights I wear to OrangeTheory). They typically don’t fit well in the waist and the waistband is usually too wide.
Well…the last pair of tights I tried I enjoyed…but I for sure reach for the May Babes Off Course ones first…for a couple of reasons. One the fabric is silkier…so they feel delightful on (they feel like an even softer nicer version of the Free Ride material). They’re also maybe a hair thicker feeling, so more appropriate for cooler temps right now. Some tights feel like athletic wear. Some tights feel cozy and comfortable. These do both at the same time. They are great in warmer weather…and have been fine down to 50 degrees without getting too cold. Even better…they stay put walking around all day, grooming, bathing, hauling crap around…and going to 3 hour board meetings. I (despite it being colder right now) have been reaching for these a lot more than I thought I would.
Now there’s some design elements to these that make them a little extra nice imo. #1 is…no freaking logos all over the place! There’s no logos. What? Not 3 different silicone printed logos on them? Really? Yup none. The only thing that is there is a really cute M shaped belt loop in the back which is so subtle and so clever I laughed with delight when I noticed it the first time (I did NOT notice it before they showed up at my house). Another thing is the cut of these is really flattering. They fit very flat in the front and give a nice sleek look. No inappropriate crotch featured here. We all appreciate that. On top of that, the clever full seat design masks cellulite extremely well as it goes all the way to the side seams! I’ve never seen a brand do that before and it’s quite clever. The fabric also helps with that smoothing a lot of us prefer. For that, I thank Emily! I also love that the full seat grip is cut back a bit on the inner thigh vs normal…it’s an area where the silicone kinda gets rubbed off from walking and whatnot anyways…so very smart…and it looks tidier from the front. They also have those thigh pockets that I can’t live without now for my phone and the cut of them adds to the flattering nature of the breeches.
The style is not going to knock you down and slap you around with excitement…but that isn’t the point of them. I also love both colors. I’m delighted at how much I like the tan ones…but they are a little richer in color, so you don’t feel like you’re wearing naked tan hunter breeches. They look nice enough to go to a clinic (which I did) or go to a board meeting (also did). I love the pretty design of the full seat (patterned on her horse’s mane).
For performance, these can go up there with any of the best I’ve tried. Great and comfortable and a second skin in the saddle. Comfortable sitting around and chatting. They don’t slide down or move around while working and walking. Honestly I think I’d wear these to the gym if not for the full seat though I might try them at the gym anyway…as it would make sure I don’t row so hard I fall off the rower (which has happened before).
The quality is great. The cut is consistent and the stitching is as tidy as can be. Tidier than much more expensive breeches or tights or hybrids I have. I literally cannot knock them for quality anywhere! We’ll see how they hold up over the course of a year or so and I’ll update you.
They wash well (cold water and hang to dry) and I didn’t find any issue with staining on the lighter pair. No stains minus minor transfer from my saddle which always happens. When they get dust or dirt or mud on them, It’s easy to brush it off. Winter time I’m filthy…and these are easy to wipe down before popping into the grocery store or getting on for my lesson.
The sizing on them is quite flexible as well. The black pair are Large and the Tan are a Medium. Both fit well enough on me as I’m kinda in between sizes. I don’t really have a preference, but if I trim down much more I’ll probably prefer the mediums.
The best part of these tights is that it is completely surprising how fabulous they are. They look very understated. They aren’t flashy. There’s no bright colors. No trendy add-ons. They look boring…but MAN they are the best kind of boring. They are classic. They fit very tidy. They offer a clean and professional look. The quality is solid. They are flattering and cover sins. They are utilitarian and ride well, but they’re also incredibly comfortable. And for the price…man…for the price they are unbeatable. I know I had other tights I liked in the past…and I still like them…but these have become my favorite riding tights I’ve ever tried (most of them I have hated…and therefore not reviewed as I am not a fan of spreading that kind of negativity).
I highly recommend the Off Course Breech if you like riding tights, and at their current price of $60…they are beyond fabulous (I can’t promise how long that discount will last though and your size might or might not be sold out at this point…but there will be a restock in not too long)! My code does give an extra discount on top so use that too (DECIDEDLYEQUESTRIAN).
