What is the difference between silicone, suede and leather grip?
Sloane · On the Show CircuitSilicone grips the most and can feel almost sticky, suede and synthetic suede grip a bit less and look traditional, and real leather is the classic that has become harder to find.
That is how Equinavia's breeches guides describe the three. One says silicone has the strongest grip and seems almost sticky when you sit in the saddle, while synthetic leather and suede still provide a level of grip with less stickiness. The other says silicone provides modern patterns and increased grip, while leather or suede offers a more traditional appearance with moderate grip.
This page is about the material. For where the grip goes, knee patch or full seat, see full seat or knee patch breeches. For what else to wear while you ride, what can I ride in covers breeches, tights and the rest.
None of these sources compares the materials under test conditions, and makers describe their own products. Treat the descriptions below as what makers and guides say, and a place to start when you read a listing.
How does silicone grip feel and wear?
Silicone is the strongest grip the guides describe, in modern patterns, and at least one maker says it outwears suede.
Equinavia says silicone seems almost sticky in the saddle and comes in a wide range of patterns. Ovation describes its silicone full seats as offering a superior grip and a sleek look, and says on its full seat page that its silicone grip is more durable and resistant to wear and tear than its suede grip. That is one maker's statement about its own breeches, so it does not settle how every silicone breech wears.
Makers also describe their silicone in their own terms on our listings. Kerrits calls the patches on one winter breech silicone full leg patches that give flexible, no-slip grip. Horze says the silicone full grip seat on a winter breech ensures optimal grip and stability in the saddle. RJ Classics describes modern silicone knee patches for a secure, stylish ride.
One caution for the show ring. Equinavia says hunter and equitation riders may want to check with officials before wearing silicone knee patches to a show. We did not find a rule on this ourselves, so check the prize list or ask the show office before you pack them.
Sloane’s tip · On the Show CircuitIf you show in the hunter ring, ask before you buy silicone for competition. It is a simple email and it saves you from changing breeches at the in-gate.
What about suede and synthetic suede?
Suede and synthetic suede grip a little less than silicone, look traditional and come in more colors.
Equinavia says synthetic leather and suede still provide a level of grip with less stickiness than silicone, and that they offer a traditional look with more color options. Ovation describes its suede full seat grip as giving great grip without being too stiff or restrictive. On our listings, Kerrits' Sit Tight winter tights list suede knee patches.
One more point from the guides: Equinavia says full seat breeches are typically made from synthetic leather or silicone, which it calls durable, flexible and easy to maintain. It does not separate suede from synthetic leather, so on a listing, read the material line to see which one you are getting.
A rider's review below, which compares a full suede seat with grippier silicone, puts the trade-off in her own words.
“For Summer, I really like their Issential Tights, probably the best looking, best fitting, and most comfortable riding tights/breeches I own. I LOVE the non-Euro butt, more slimming IMHO. They are very light weight and not the grippiest if you have a naughty mount. I have a pair of full seats, can’t remember which style, but I find the full suede seat a bit bulky and prefer my Kerrits grippy full seats if jumping or riding rambunctious horses.”
Is real leather still an option?
Yes, but it is the traditional choice rather than the common one now.
Equinavia calls leather the classic hunter and equitation knee patch material, and says real leather is still possible but becoming increasingly uncommon. It lists leather as a full seat option for dressage, where it will hold your seat firmly in the saddle.
Makers sometimes use a synthetic leather in its place. Tredstep describes its Hunter Pro knee patch breeches as having premium Clarino leather knee patches, which it says give a traditional look and a smooth, consistent feel against the saddle without the modern look of printed silicone. That is the maker's wording, and it is a good example of why to read the material line on a listing.
If you want the traditional look for hunters or equitation, our knee patch breeches category is the place to compare. If you are leaning toward full seat, our full seat breeches page lists the grip material in each description.
How much grip is too much?
It depends on the horse, your seat and what you ride, and riders honestly disagree.
Equinavia says full seat gives a much stronger grip that suits dressage, where composure matters, and says knee patch is the choice of riders who want less overall grip, with freedom to get up out of the saddle for jumping. Our full seat or knee patch page covers the discipline view and a maker note on grip strength.
Some riders find silicone too much. A review of a full seat breech in a texture the rider describes as not sticky is a good example of the other end of the scale.
“For everyone who's on the fence between Knee Patch and Full Seat....these are the best of both worlds. They are full seat, but the texture isn't sticky. It's a very lightly frictional surface, so you can easily come off your saddle when you want to, and you don't stick to your leather car seats on the way to the barn. The fit is compressive with a flattering high waist. The full seat surface isn't flashy at all, and the bling detail on the phone pockets make these look like fashion tights. I wore these recently with ankle boots and a cropped sweater, and I got compliments from multiple women just walking thru the grocery store. The material isn't see-thru at all. It leaves everything to the imagination. Gives your booty a nice lift, and they look slimming. The length is good (I normally have a problem with pants exposing all of my ankles, but these come all the way down). I'd say they're comfortable for weather in the 60s up to 80s. I bought a second pair so I could have a pair to wear as fashion leggings LOL”
Nell’s tip · Lifelong RiderMore grip is not always better. If you are building a steadier seat, ask your instructor how much grip suits you and the horse you ride, then choose the material to match.
Does it matter where the grip patch sits?
Yes: the same material feels different on a knee patch than on a full seat, because it touches different parts of you and the saddle.
R.J. Classics describes full seat breeches as having a suede, synthetic suede or silicone grip patch that starts at the seat, and knee patch breeches as having a patch of the same kinds of material on the inside of the leg by the knee. It adds that knee patches also prevent wear and tear on your breeches and protect against painful chafing, and that riding tights usually have well-placed silicone grips for security. Its guide also mentions that a rider might choose a thicker, tougher patch that offers more grip.
So a knee patch in silicone is a light amount of grip in one place, and a full seat in silicone is a lot of grip across a lot of surface. Equinavia makes a similar point from the discipline side: knee patch for riders who want freedom to get up out of the saddle, full seat for riders who want the strongest connection. Our full seat or knee patch page goes through which riders choose which, and what can I ride in covers breeches versus tights.
Sloane’s tip · On the Show CircuitIf you are not sure how much grip you want, start with a knee patch pair and see whether you miss it. It is the lighter commitment, and you can always go up.
How do I wash breeches with grip?
Follow the label; across the sources we read, the common advice is cold or cool water, inside out, no fabric softener and little or no dryer heat.
R.J. Classics' care guide is the most specific on grip. It says to fasten closures and turn breeches inside out, use a mild detergent, and skip bleach and fabric softeners, which it says can break down stretch and damage silicone grips or suede patches. It also says to skip the dryer entirely, since even low heat can shrink elastic fibers, and for suede or faux-suede seats to make sure your detergent is safe for those materials. The guide's own text says cold water and its chart says warm, so even one maker's guide leaves you to check the label.
We also read the care instructions posted on our full seat and knee patch breeches listings. They differ by maker, so these are examples, not a rule for every pair:
| Maker and grip | Care line on the listing |
|---|---|
| Kerrits, silicone full leg patches | Wash cold, tumble dry no heat |
| Kerrits, suede knee patches (kids' Sit Tight tights) | Machine wash cold; tumble dry no heat |
| Horze, silicone full grip seat | Machine wash with similar colors at 104 degrees. Do not use fabric softener. Air dry. |
| Equinavia, silicone full seat | Machine wash with like colors inside out with hook slides closed. For prolonged life, we recommend avoiding the dryer and hanging dry or drying flat. Avoid bleach. |
| RJ Classics, silicone knee patch | Machine wash on gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry. Do not dry clean. |
| Tredstep, Clarino leather knee patch | Machine wash warm with like colors. Wash inside out. Do not tumble dry. Iron on low heat. |
Barb’s tip · 30+ Years in the TradeSkip the softener unless the label asks for it, and keep breeches with grip away from high dryer heat unless the maker says it is fine. Makers write these lines for a reason, and they are the cheapest insurance you have.
What should I look for on a breech listing?
Look for the grip material by name, where the patch sits, and the care line, because 'grip' on its own can mean several different things.
A few examples from our listings show why. Tredstep's Hunter Pro describes premium Clarino leather knee patches. Kerrits' Sit Tight tights list suede knee patches, and its Fusion II breeches list silicone full leg patches. Horze lists a silicone full grip seat. Each description names the material in different words, so a quick read tells you more than the product title does.
- The material: silicone, suede or synthetic suede, leather, or a branded name such as Clarino.
- The placement: knee patch, full seat, or full leg.
- The care line: water temperature, softener, dryer.
- The show rules: ask before you wear silicone in a hunter or equitation class, as Equinavia suggests.
- Fit: grip material does not change sizing, so use the size chart; our European sizes to US sizes page helps if the chart is in EU numbers.
So which grip should I choose?
Choose silicone for the most grip and modern patterns, suede or synthetic suede for a traditional look with moderate grip, and leather for the classic hunter look.
A table helps, and the point is the same as on our full seat or knee patch page: neither is better, they feel different.
| Grip | What the guides and makers say | Look |
|---|---|---|
| Silicone | Strongest grip, can feel almost sticky (Equinavia); maker says it is more durable than its suede (Ovation) | Modern, many patterns; hunter and equitation riders may want to check before showing in it |
| Suede or synthetic suede | A level of grip with less stickiness (Equinavia); great grip without being too stiff (Ovation) | Traditional, more color options |
| Leather | Holds the seat firmly for dressage (Equinavia) | Classic hunter and equitation; real leather increasingly uncommon |
Full seat breeches
A look at the range. Each description names the grip material, so read it before you choose.
Barn words on this page
- Silicone grip
- A flexible printed or patterned grip. Equinavia describes it as the strongest of the grips it covers.
- Suede grip
- A traditional grip surface. Equinavia says synthetic leather and suede give a level of grip with less stickiness than silicone.
- Clarino
- A material Tredstep describes as premium Clarino leather on its Hunter Pro knee patches. Read the listing's material line to see what a patch is made of.
- Full seat
- Grip across the seat and inner leg, down toward the knee or calf. See our full seat or knee patch page for how it differs from knee patch.
- Knee patch
- Grip at the knee only, with a plain seat so you can move freely.
More riders asked
Which is grippier, silicone or suede?
Equinavia describes silicone as the strongest grip, almost sticky in the saddle, and says synthetic leather and suede give a level of grip with less stickiness. Individual breeches vary.
Does silicone grip last longer than suede?
Ovation says its silicone grip is more durable and resistant to wear and tear than its suede grip. That is one maker's statement about its own breeches, not a test across brands.
Can I wear silicone breeches to a hunter show?
Equinavia says hunter and equitation riders may want to check with officials before wearing silicone knee patches. Check your prize list or ask the show office.
Does silicone mark a saddle?
We did not find a maker statement or an independent test on this, so we can't say either way. Your saddle maker's care guide and warranty terms are the place to check.
How do I wash breeches with grip?
Follow the label. R.J. Classics says to turn breeches inside out, skip bleach and fabric softeners, which it says can damage silicone grips or suede patches, and to skip the dryer. The care lines on our listings are similar, though makers differ.
