In 2022 Saltos Leather Half Chaps were tested by Horse & Hound News Editor, Eleanor Jones. Eleanor put the chaps through a thorough test for style, fit and value. The Just Chaps Saltos brand scored an impressive 9/10.
“These Just Chaps Saltos half chaps are beautiful and made of lovely supple leather – they are the best leather half chaps I’ve tried. They’re smart enough to compete in and fit beautifully”
Saltos is the Just Chaps range of leather half chaps and gaiters. The Half Chaps combine the good looks and structure of more formal gaiters with the comfort and practicality of half chaps. This makes them perfect for both competition and everyday riding. The soft, supple leather is finished with an elegant Spanish top line.
Eleanor also commented on the sturdy, easy to reach zip with popper studs at top and bottom for added security. The stretch panels on the calf were another positive for a smart look and add a great flexibility. The stretch area at the front “toe” allows the chaps to be worn with chunkier riding boots.
Winning range of sizes
Our wide range of sizes is another winning attribute. With a calf width of 35cm and length (knee to floor) of 42cm , Eleanor found the Small to be a perfect fit. Fit score: 9/10
The final test is for value for money where Saltos compared very favourably with other brands. Value score: 8/10.
We are constantly assessing our range of sizes and earlier in 2022 brought out what we think is a missing size, Child Medium 1. This addtional size is the same length as Child Medium but with a little more room for Calf. Here it is.
Saltos Premium Leather Half Chaps are available to buy direct from Just Chaps here or at our shops in the retail villages at most major events
Eleanor Jones
News editor
Eleanor joined Horse & Hound as news editor in March 2016. She now has two warmblood mares who she competes at British Showjumping events. She has made some exploratory forays into dressage but since her mark sheets have contained phrases such as “unexpected manoeuvre between C and M” and “well sat”, tends to stick to the jumping.
Just Chaps’ owner, Helen Salmon, explains how spotting a gap in the market led to developing a range of waterproof riding trousers for men, women and children – that rapidly became best-sellers and won the company their first product development award.
Once upon a time …
How did it all begin? A family of 4 – pony and dog mad, spending half their lives at the yard, at shows and at various Pony Club events. And, of course, in all weathers. You’ve seen it all before: Kids larking around, generally getting amazingly dirty, covered from head to toe in shavings and hay. Mum busily keeping it all together with lots of standing around, watching and waiting. And Dad muscling the hay bales and grumbling about burning £20 notes.
The original waterproof riding trousers, a simple over-trouser design, yet very effective.
Just Chaps – the family business, which we were juggling with ponies and kids – was doing very well supplying hundreds of like-minded people with the Just Chaps original waterproof over-trousers. You may remember them – they were simple in design, basically two rectangles with an elasticated waist, brought together by two full-length zips. In their day, they were brilliant – you could whip them off in the saddle (poor pony!), required little or no maintenance and kept you pretty much dry and clean. However, they didn’t fit very well and they could make you a bit warm. The reason for this was how the fabric was waterproofed. The nylon outer layer was “plasticated” on the underside – basically a thin layer of plastic was sprayed on to coat the material and prevent water from coming through. Brilliant in their day, but wear and tear meant that the coating wore off, so in areas of friction, you would spring a leak.
Have another cup of tea
So back in the kitchen, over yet more tea, we researched and put together ideas for the next generation of waterproof trousers. Fortunately the revolutionary microporous membrane was now available (think Goretex). This clever, wispy thin membrane worked by having tiny holes – or pores – which were too small to allow water in – but still large enough to allow water vapour (ie sweat !) out. No more plasticated fabric. The membrane would sit under the tough nylon outer layer and do the wonderful job of allowing moisture vapour to escape but not let rain droplets through. And a lightweight inner lining provided more protection for this membrane.
The new fabric, with tough nylon outer, had an impermeable membrane which allows moisture out but does not allow rain in.
A star is born
At the same time we completely changed the cut and fit of the trousers and added several new features.
The new model had to be:
Unisex
Well cut and fitting – so it fits like a proper pair of trousers
Slim in the leg – but just wide enough to take a pair of country boots (with boot access zips up to the calf)
With a non-slip seat
Nice and high in the waist to keep out drafts and rain down the small of your back
With stirrup straps to avoid ride up (which of course are adjustable and removable).
After many, many prototypes we had landed on a fantastic new product.
Don’t forget the sizes!
We knew that were going to need A LOT of sizes. Not wanting to leave anyone out, we opted for 3 leg lengths in each of our 7 sizes – and that was before we started on the kids. Well – if we wanted to be The Specialist in Riding Waterproofs – then we needed to be able to fit everyone.
And the kids had to be treated the same. This doesn’t come cheap but we couldn’t skimp. Same trousers as the adults, just smaller and with 6 special sizes.
Waterproof riding trousers to fit the whole family.
Time to Celebrate!
In 2019 Horse and Hound put our new trousers into their “Tried and Tested” award scheme where we won “Best in Test”. Our first professional accolade was awarded at Olympia that year and from then on our riding waterproof trousers flew out the door. Continuing to grow our sales on line and at shows, we also began to win prestigious accounts such as Gleneagles and the RAF. Many more independent equestrian shops asked to stock them too.
In 2019 Horse and Hound put our new waterproof riding trousers into their “Tried and Tested” award scheme and we won “Best in Test”.
Branding
With this success, we decided that they deserved a brand name of their own. Many, many, more cups of tea.
We had been calling our waterproof full chaps (their sister-product) “Dri Riders” for some time so it made sense that we put all of our waterproof riding products under one brand umbrella – Dri-Rider. We formally registered this as a Trademark. Dri-Rider Waterproof Systems is now recognised for uncompromising, all-weather performance for riders.
Dri-Rider – the brand name given to the range of waterproof riding trousers and full chaps.
Don’t Stand Still !
In product development you can only sit still for a wee while, so after only a couple of seasons we started to investigate how to improve these best-selling waterproof trousers.
We are fortunate to get to meet thousands of our customers at shows where people try on our products – we get to see how they fit again and again – and of course we hear direct from the customer exactly what they would like.
The next generation of fabric
It was time to look at the next generation of waterproof fabrics. After worldwide research and rigorous testing we are thrilled to have found a wonderful British supplier.
Why did we pick this new fabric..?
It has wonderful drape. Sounds a bit flouncy – but this makes the trousers even nicer to wear. Who’d have thought we’d be saying this about a pair of riding waterproofs ?
It’s a little lighter in weight which has its advantages – you can always add thermals if you need more warmth……
It’s made in the UK which not only makes us feel good, but is also easier to control and check
Most importantly, this marked the end of the 3-layer construction as the new fabric has an integral membrane and just a thin inner-lining, resulting in better performance and less weight
We are very proud of this latest upgrade to our waterproof trousers and feel sure you will love them.
Performance just keeps on improving
Our new Dri-Rider waterproof riding trousers are the most weatherproof yet, with a 3.3 score for waterproofing and breathability in British and European Standard EN343.
Easy wear, easy care. Whilst we continue to advise periodic gentle washing to keep the membrane clean and breathable, there is no longer any need to reproof the external layer.
If you have any questions relating to our products – be it sizing or technical, please do contact us on 01730 812000 or email info@justchaps.com. We are here to help ! Buy your waterproof trousers here.
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