horse and rider

Tried and Tested: Ariat Tri Factor Full Seat Breeches

I was lucky enough to have the chance to try out and review the amazing Ariat Tri Factor Full Seat Breeches, which had always caught my eye with their stunning design. In this blog, I will be covering the areas that will be most important to a rider: the material, sizing and fit, and how they felt when riding.

The brand Ariat was founded on technology and innovation. They have the goal of creating high-quality boots and apparel for all equestrians – whether they ride, work on a ranch or work outdoors, there is a dedication to everyone. Ariat are proud to stay true to their traditions and keep their authenticity, whilst always reimagining and redesigning to ensure they produce high performance products to keep up with the demands of the sport, and riders as athletes. You’ll see in the review how the Tri Factor Breeches are no exception to this, so I hope this helps you make your decision for your next pair!

Ariat Tri Factor Breeches (Front and Back view)

Material

First, the breeches are extremely flattering. I had a pair in the ‘Weathered Slate’ and loved them. The detail of the illusion pockets and buttons creates the traditional breech look, with a pop of colour, which adds to why these are so aesthetically pleasing and gratifying. The slate is a beautiful shade of grey and (as we all love to match and look smart with our ponies!) the grey complimented most colours I wore when riding and looked professional. I found the grey surprisingly slimming, however, the key feature that makes these breaches slimming is the Core Control Technology®. This provides targeted support for core muscles and slims the silhouette. In addition to the colour, the technical elastic fabric helps fit perfectly to your legs without feeling compressed – especially when riding. About technical material, the ‘Icefil® tech’ and ‘moisture movement tech’ works amazingly when riding (I’ll come back to that later) and, most importantly, makes these breeches the most comfortable pair I have ever tried. The Icefil® Xylitol-based cool system reduces skin temperature when it increases, and the Moisture Movement Technology™ wicks moisture away from the skin, so they complement each other perfectly!

Sizing and Fit

I love the fit of these breeches! One of my favourite features that contribute to the great fit, is the Ariat® V3® elastic "V" panel built into the back waistband. This helps with superior stretch and recovery. The V panel also assists with the fit by creating the perfect shape around your waist, which helps when riding, sitting the waistband where it’s meant to be, and keeping the buttons from digging into your stomach (you know that horrible feeling).

One thing that may be down to personal preference is how high or low you want the breeches to sit on your waist. I would say the Tri Factors are a ‘midrise’, but this will differ depending on your height. I prefer the midrise compared to a low rise, as I find it sits more comfortably when riding or mucking out, and I find the midrise a lot more flattering.

In addition to the waist, some people may find that the leg length can differ due to their height.  Luckily for you, Ariat have thought ahead (as always) and have two variations of leg length – Regular and Long! Their size charts are also extremely accurate, and will help a lot when finding the best fit for you. 

The only thing I would like to highlight is that I found the leg length a little shorter compared to other breeches I have tried. This works great for me, as only being 5ft 2, I find ALL breeches too long in the leg! I felt this worked in favour of the breeches, especially for riding, as the breeches felt exceptionally comfortable all the way around my legs and under my boots.  Another factor that contributes as to why these breeches are so comfortable under my boots is Ariat’s CFS™ (Calf Fit System), which provides custom support at the calf and ankle, alleviating pressure points and friction… A perfect combination – especially for competing!

Ariat Tri Factor Breeches close up

Riding

To begin with, these breeches are amazing to ride in, they feel like a second skin! Not to mention Ariat’s specially designed hex silicone grip seat, which really made a difference. It makes me feel so comfortable and secure in the saddle. Some breeches I’ve previously ridden in sometimes feel like you’re stuck (which I hate) and gives me the fear of rubbing on the saddle, but I’m pleased to say the Tri Factors were just the right amount of grip, not too sticky, and didn’t rub on my saddle!

Going back to the technical fabric, the Icefil® tech and Moisture Movement Technology™ really paid off when riding in the sun this summer. It was bizarre (but amazing) how my legs didn’t get as sweaty and stayed cool when schooling.  I can honestly say the technology in the material is amazing and does actually work! I can imagine that these would be the breeches to go to for training and competing.

I’m unsure if this is due to the technical fabric or the premium material used, but I found the breeches were really easy to keep clean. Even after my mare decided to share her drool all over me (we’ve all been there), a simple wipe, brush off with my hands and the evidence was gone. I can’t say this would be the same for the white pair, as you know how hard a white pair of breeches are to keep clean when competing, but I do have confidence that they would stay a lot cleaner for longer than your average pair of breeches.

And, most importantly, I can answer the big question… yes, these do have belt loops! As we all love a bit of bling, adding a belt with some sparkles finishes an outfit off. I tried every belt I owned, all fit perfectly and looked professional alongside the aesthetics of these breeches.

Conclusion

So, to finish off, all I can say is, yes, the cost is more than I would normally pay for a pair of breeches, but I can see why, because the quality is incredible. I would highly recommend to anyone who is wanting a new pair of breeches!

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Shop all Ariat breeches and jodhpurs here.

@thedrillshed

Updated on 29th September 2022

Originally published on 14th August 2019 in Blogs

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