Something new · Rider to rider
Tailored Sportsman vs the Knee-Patch Breeches We Carry, Side by Side
The tan knee-patch look you know from Tailored Sportsman, with sock bottoms, stretch and waist options to compare.
We don't sell Tailored Sportsman, so this page sets its Trophy Hunter beside the knee-patch breeches we carry from RJ Classics, Ovation, Romfh, Tredstep, Kerrits, Equinavia and Equine Couture, by rise, ankle, fabric and price tier. Riders who wore Tailored Sportsman next to RJ Classics, Ovation or Romfh write about stretch, sock bottoms and the fit at the waist.
The short version
If you wear Tailored Sportsman: the knee-patch breeches we carry
RJ Classics Gulf is the carried breech closest to a Trophy Hunter front zip, and Ovation, Romfh and Equinavia each answer a different thing riders say about their Tailored Sportsman: the ankle, the waist, the price tier.
If they wore
Trophy Hunter front zip, mid rise
Riders switch to
RJ Classics GulfFront zip and Clarino knee patches, in a quick-dry stretch fabric with mesh lower leg panels.
Shop nowIf they wore
Tan Trophy Hunter for the hunter ring
Riders switch to
Ovation Dynamic HunterMade for the hunter rider, with darker faux suede patches, a mid rise and sock bottoms in place of Velcro.
Shop nowIf they wore
A Trophy Hunter that gaps at the waist
Riders switch to
Ovation Celebrity Slim SecretA mid rise with a wide 2-inch waistband and Slim Secret panels that Ovation says flatten the tummy.
Shop nowIf they wore
A softer pair for schooling days
Riders switch to
Romfh Sarafina Euro GripSofttouch micro-PU fabric, a contoured waistband and stretch calf panels under a tall boot.
Shop nowIf they wore
Trophy Hunter in a plus size
Riders switch to
RJ Classics Gracie PlusThe Gracie's mid rise and Clarino patches in a plus-size cut, with a silicone-grip waistband.
Shop nowIf they wore
Tailored Sportsman for everyday riding
Riders switch to
Equinavia AstridMicromesh sock bottoms and silicone knee patches, at the lowest price tier on this page.
Shop nowRider to rider
What riders say after wearing Tailored Sportsman and a carried pair
Riders who compared Tailored Sportsman with RJ Classics, Ovation, Romfh and Tredstep write about fabric, the ankle and the waist, and some keep their Tailored Sportsman for the show ring.
RJ Classics: stretch, sock bottoms and shape
The breeches they point to
RJ Classics GulfRJ Classics Gracie
Riders who wore RJ Classics beside Tailored Sportsman name the stretch, the sock bottom and how the pair holds its shape.
RJ Classics vs Tailored SportsmanOvation Celebrity: the waist and the white pair
The breeches they point to
Ovation Celebrity Slim SecretOvation Dynamic Hunter
Riders who moved to Ovation Celebrity and Slim Secret write about the waist, and one of them shows in white.
Ovation vs Tailored SportsmanRomfh and Tredstep: size run and summer comfort
The breeches they point to
Romfh Sarafina Euro GripTredstep Hunter Pro
A Romfh rider points to a size run that goes up to 40, and a Tredstep rider says her pair keeps her cooler than her Tailored Sportsman did.
Romfh vs Tailored SportsmanRJ Classics: stretch, sock bottoms and shape
One rider keeps her Tailored Sportsman for a show class and her RJ Classics for longer days at the barn.
RJ Classics knee patch breeches
I wouldn’t say either of these breeches are uncomfortable, but I definitely think that the RJ Classics breeches win this category. Made out of breathable, super stretchy fabric, I feel downright sporty in them. While the TS breeches boast a “four way stretch fabric,” I definitely feel that they don’t have as great shape retention and overall feel a little stiffer/more starchy. I rank my RJ Classics for longer days at the barn and my TS for a show class or quicker in-and-out hack days.
RJ Classics knee patch breeches
I ride in these breeches nearly every day, in all sorts of weather, and they have never let me down. I have three pairs and they have lasted at least twice as long as my tailored sportsmans. They keep me much cooler than TS too and dirt just wipes right off of them, plus they're cheaper and have just as many colors! I like the sock bottom much more than the velcro on TS as well. I will never go back to TS after these awesome breeches.
Ovation Celebrity: the waist and the white pair
One Ovation rider says her pairs have lasted about five years.
Ovation knee patch breeches
They’re definitely a better fit in the waist than any of the Equine Couture, TuffRider, or Pipers that I’ve tried… the amount of gap is pretty similar to how Tailored Sportsman’s fit me.
Ovation knee patch breeches
I LOVE Ovation Celebrity / Slim Secret breeches. I think they are one in the same, if not very similar in fit. My favorite by far!!!
Ovation knee patch breeches
I really like the Ovation breeches, too. I have three pairs of the Celebrity, even the white ones (which have been great for showing!)
Ovation knee patch breeches
The Celebrity look exactly like the Ovations I have that have lasted for the past 5ish years. They still look amazing too!
Romfh and Tredstep: size run and summer comfort
One Romfh rider says the sizing matches Tailored Sportsman's.
Romfh knee patch breeches
Romfh breeches. They have the same sizing as TS but go up to 40 and stretch really well.
Tredstep knee patch breeches
I am a diehard Tailored Sportsman fan and only rode in those until the Texas summer heat hit and I was dying in the sweltering humidity. I was skeptical of synthetic fabrics and I tend to prefer natural cotton, but I have to admit that these Tredstep breeches breathe and keep me much cooler than my TS breeches. They are not as flattering as TS, but they are not unflattering either. They are very comfortable and I now have a pair in every color to get me through summer.
The comparison
Tailored Sportsman beside nine knee-patch breeches we carry
The Tailored Sportsman Trophy Hunter is a cotton-blend breech with Velcro ankle closures, and the nine carried pairs below mostly finish the lower leg with sock bottoms, mesh or calf panels. Price tiers among these picks: $ (lowest) to $$$$ (highest).
| Breech | Zip and rise | Fabric and knee patch | Lower leg and extras | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RJ Classics Gulf | Natural rise, front zip | Quick-dry stretch fabric, Clarino patches | Mesh lower leg panel | $$$$ |
| RJ Classics Gracie | Mid rise | Comfort-stretch waistband with silicone grip | Redesigned mesh bottoms, tummy-control pockets | $$$$ |
| Ovation Dynamic Hunter | Mid rise, front zip | Faux suede patches, euro seat seams | Stretchy sock bottoms | $$ |
| Ovation Celebrity Slim Secret | Mid rise, wide 2-inch waistband | EuroWeave poly-viscose elastane, Syn-Tech stretch suede patches | Dry-Tex tube bottoms; Ovation lists UPF 50+ | $$ |
| Romfh Sarafina Euro Grip | Mid rise, contoured waistband | Softtouch micro-PU fabric, silicone patches | Stretch calf panels | $$$ |
| Tredstep Hunter Pro | Mid rise, 2-inch belt loops | Coolon fabric, Clarino patches | Laser-branded cuffs; Tredstep lists UPF 50+ | $$$ |
| Kerrits Affinity Pro | Front zip, wide waistband | ProStretch twill, silicone patches | Belt loops, integrated slash pockets | $$$ |
| Equinavia Astrid | Mid rise, higher in the back; front zip | Mid-weight stretch fabric, silicone patches | Micromesh sock bottoms | $ |
| Equine Couture Sportif Natasha | Front zip, wide waistband | UltraGripp suede patches, euro seat seaming | Contoured sock bottoms | $ |
| For reference: Tailored Sportsman Trophy Hunter | Low or mid rise, front or side zip | 73% cotton, 20% polyamide, 7% Lycra; Clarino patches | Velcro ankle closures; sizes 22 to 36 | Not sold here |
Tailored Sportsman details as retailer listings describe the Trophy Hunter, checked November 2026. Carried breeches as their product pages list them; UPF ratings are the makers'. Tailored Sportsman also makes a sock-bottom TechLight line in 76% polyamide and 24% elastane.
Closest match
RJ Classics Gulf and Gracie: the closest side-by-side with Tailored Sportsman
RJ Classics Gulf is the carried breech nearest a Trophy Hunter front zip, with Clarino knee patches and a mesh lower leg panel where the Trophy Hunter has Velcro. The Gracie takes the classic knee-patch cut to a mid rise with a silicone-grip waistband, and the Gracie Plus carries it into plus sizes.
One rider who wore RJ Classics beside Tailored Sportsman called the RJ Classics fabric breathable and super stretchy and the Tailored Sportsman a little stiffer.
In fairness
The same rider still ranks her Tailored Sportsman for a show class or a quick hack day.Shop RJ Classics knee patch breeches
Shop all ›Waist and hunter ring
Ovation Dynamic Hunter and Celebrity: the waist and the ring
Ovation Dynamic Hunter is the carried tan knee-patch breech built for the hunter ring, and Celebrity Slim Secret is the one riders name for the waist. The Dynamic Hunter has a mid rise, a front zip, euro seat seams and stretchy sock bottoms, and the tan pair has darker faux suede patches.
Celebrity Slim Secret is a classic-fit mid rise with a wide 2-inch waistband, Slim Secret panels that Ovation says flatten the tummy, and Dry-Tex tube bottoms. One rider says its waist gap is close to how Tailored Sportsman fit her, and better than the Equine Couture, TuffRider or Piper pairs she tried.
In fairness
One rider says the waist gap in her Ovation Celebrity is about what she found in her Tailored Sportsman.Shop Ovation knee patch breeches
Shop all ›Schooling and sizes
Romfh Sarafina: a softer fabric and a size run that goes up to 40
Romfh Sarafina is the carried knee-patch breech riders school in, with Softtouch micro-PU fabric, a mid rise, a contoured waistband and a back yoke. The Euro Grip version swaps in silicone knee patches and stretch calf panels, and the Willow is a lighter hybrid of tight and breech with suede patches.
A rider told us Romfh has the same sizing as Tailored Sportsman but goes up to 40. The table below sets Romfh's published waist and hip beside the waist on a Tailored Sportsman chart.
Shop Romfh knee patch breeches
Shop all ›Start from your number
Romfh Sarafina against Tailored Sportsman: waist and hip by size
Romfh Sarafina's published waist runs one to two inches under the waist on a Tailored Sportsman chart at the same size number, so measure your waist and hip rather than carrying a size across.
| Size | Tailored Sportsman waist (in.) | Romfh Sarafina waist (in.) | Romfh Sarafina hip (in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 27 | 25 | 30 |
| 26 | 29 | 27 | 32 |
| 28 | 30 | 29 | 34 |
| 30 | 32 | 31 | 36 |
| 32 | 34 | 33 | 38 |
| 34 | 36 | 35 | 40 |
| 36 | 38 | 37 | 42 |
Tailored Sportsman publishes no hip measurement on the chart retailers print. Romfh figures are from the size chart on the Sarafina Euro Grip product page (regular inseam). Charts are as published and are not a fit guarantee.
The rest of the set
Tredstep, Kerrits, Equinavia and Equine Couture: the rest of the set
Tredstep Hunter Pro is the carried hunter-ring pair in the same tier as Romfh, cut from Coolon fabric with Clarino patches, a mid rise and 2-inch belt loops. Kerrits Affinity Pro is a ProStretch twill breech with silicone patches, a front zip and belt loops.
Equinavia Astrid and Equine Couture Sportif Natasha sit at the lowest tier on this page, both with sock bottoms and a front zip. A rider who sized up in Equine Couture says it fit her small frame where Tailored Sportsman and Tredstep were baggy, and a long-waisted rider found the Tredstep rise slightly lower than her Trophy Hunters but not falling down.
Tredstep knee patch breeches
I'm also long waisted, and I absolutely HATE low rise breeches. I find the Tredstep Rosa breeches acceptable. The rise is slightly lower than my Tailored Sportsman Trophy Hunters, but I don't feel like they're falling down and I can tuck my shirt in.
Equine Couture knee patch breeches
I’m similarly built with no butt and super skinny legs, and Equine Couture fit me well. They are cut quite straight through the hip/thigh area and the sock bottoms are snug on my 12″ calves. Most people find they have to size up one size from what they normally wear. TS and Tredstep and Ariat 24’s are baggy on me (yes I’m REALLY tiny) and the Equine Couture 24’s fit me perfectly.
Shop Equinavia knee patch breeches
Shop all ›In fairness
What Tailored Sportsman does well
Tailored Sportsman makes the traditional knee-patch breech many riders picture first for the hunter ring, in a cotton blend made in the USA with short, regular and long inseams.
If you show in the hunter or equitation ring and want the look you know, the Trophy Hunter is the reference pair.
If you prefer a cotton-blend fabric to a mostly synthetic one, the Trophy Hunter's 73% cotton blend is the one to compare against.
If you are between a short, regular and long inseam, Tailored Sportsman offers all three lengths in its styles.
Tailored Sportsman vs carried knee-patch breeches: FAQ
Is Romfh as good as Tailored Sportsman?
One rider says Romfh has the same sizing as Tailored Sportsman but goes up to 40 and stretches really well. Romfh Sarafina uses Softtouch micro-PU fabric with a contoured waistband.
CloseIs Ovation Slim Secret like Tailored Sportsman?
One rider says the waist gap in her Ovation Celebrity is similar to how Tailored Sportsman fit her, and a better fit in the waist than other brands she tried. Celebrity Slim Secret has a mid rise, a wide 2-inch waistband and Slim Secret panels that Ovation says flatten the tummy.
CloseRJ Classics vs Tailored Sportsman: which fits better?
Fit depends on your waist and hip, and riders split by use: one rider ranks her RJ Classics for longer days at the barn and her Tailored Sportsman for a show class. RJ Classics offers a mid rise in the Gracie and a natural rise in the Gulf, so compare the rise on each product page.
CloseWhich carried knee-patch breeches have sock bottoms instead of Velcro?
Ovation Dynamic Hunter, Equinavia Astrid and Equine Couture Sportif Natasha list sock bottoms. RJ Classics Gulf and Gracie finish the lower leg with mesh panels, and Romfh Sarafina Euro Grip has stretch calf panels.
CloseWhich carried knee-patch breeches come in plus sizes or sizes above 36?
RJ Classics makes the Gracie Plus Knee Patch Breeches, and Romfh Sarafina's size chart runs to a size 40 with a 41-inch waist. Tailored Sportsman's women's sizes run 22 to 36 in retailer listings.
CloseWhere can I read more comparisons like this?
If you are comparing more than one garment, these guides pick up from here. Each is a separate page on Tack of the Day.
- Shopping for alternatives: Tailored Sportsman breeches
- Tailored Sportsman sun shirt alternatives
- Tailored Sportsman Trophy Hunter alternatives
- Ariat breeches and tights: shopping for alternatives
Brands we carry
Knee-patch breeches riders compare with Tailored Sportsman
RJ Classics, Ovation, Romfh, Tredstep, Kerrits, Equinavia and Equine Couture all make knee-patch breeches to compare side by side.
How we built this guide: Tailored Sportsman details come from retailer listings and rider reviews checked in November 2026, and carried breeches are described from their product pages as of 4 November 2026.