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Staying Cool

There are great ways to beat the heat this summer with new technologies in fabrics. Here's what's available to riders.

Summer is here and it’s hotter than ever. Especially when you ride.

The good news is that riding apparel manufacturers are paying special attention to riding in hot weather, creating clothes for equestrians that help you stay cool and dry on sweltering summer days. Here’s a look at some of the apparel they are offering this year.

ON THE BOTTOM

This summer, you can be both stylish and comfortable, thanks to Boink Apparel, a Durango, Colo., company that is offering a number of riding breeches made for hot weather. B.Lo Boinks are very slightly lowrise and are made from 90 percent cotton and 10 percent lycra. They are breathable and have an inseam designed to prevent chafing. B.Lo Boinks come in aubergine, dove grey, black, sage khaki and cornflower blue. They retail for $62. The Full Seat version of the B.Lo Boink retails for $93.

Boink also makes the Coolest Boink, produced with TriMicro fabric designed for moisture management, breathability and wicking. Made from polyester, acrylic, rayon and lycra, these breeches have the feel of cotton and keep you cool in hot weather. Available in azulon, charcoal, earth and platinum colors, they retail for $89 for regular sizes. With leg patches, these breeches retail for $64.

Carousel offers riding tights and breeches in Dryflex, a strong, lightweight, breathable and fast-drying fabric with good wicking abilities. It blends with lycra for freedom of movement and gentle support. Carousel breeches made from Dryflex are available in a variety of solid colors and side stripe patterns. They are also available with Coolmax padding, which wicks moisture away from the body. Tights and breeches range from $75 to $105.

From Devon-Aire, the X Wear line utilizes the company’s exclusive Dev-Tek moisture transfer finish on machine washable mid-weight 96 percent Viscose/4 percent Lycra microfiber. This fabric provides stretch and recovery for comfort. A number of different breech styles are available in the X Wear line, including the low-rise Pinstripe breech, the even lower Hipster breech, the All-Pro breech, the Full Seat breech and the original breech. Prices range from $44 to $80.Devon-Aire also makes a riding tight in its X Wear line: the Sensation Tight, made from a water-repellent fabric with SPF sunblock factor of 50. The Sensation Tight retails for $65. When it comes to hot weather riding apparel, Kerrits has a number of offerings. The company’s Klassic Performance Tight is made from light, breathable Fabrisuede, which wicks moisture away from the body for heat management. A drawstring waist personalizes the fit. These tights retail for $64. Another warm-weather tight from Kerrits is the Alpha Tight, which is ergonomically seamed for riding. The design features “cool down” side zips at the ankle which can be opened for additional ventilation. These tights come in stone and black, at $69 retail.

The best-selling breech for Tropical Rider is the Enduracool breech, which features Body Care Quick Dry, a four-way stretch microfiber polyester that is both light and cool. The fabric wicks away moisture to keep the rider dry and comfortable. The Enduracool is available in deerskin full seat, knee patch and extended patch. The breeches come in a variety of colors, and retail from $95 to $175.

ON TOP

What you wear on top is essential to keeping cool when riding in hot weather. Body Chemistre has a line of moisture management tops for summer riding made from fabric that is 90 percent polyester and 10 percent Spandex. The company guarantees it to wick away perspiration. Styles include the Moisture Management Equestrian Crewneck Tee and the Moisture Management Equestrian Tank Top, both in baby blue and retailing for $20.

Boink Apparel makes a tank top for hot weather riding, the Coolest Tank. Made from TriMicro fabric, designed for breathability, wicking and moisture management, the Coolest Tank has shoulders wide enough to cover a female rider’s bra straps and features a boxy cut. Available in a variety of colors, the Coolest Tank retails for $15.

The Ventilator Pocket Short Sleeve shirt by Kerrits features ultra-lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric. Designed with engineered mesh placed in high-heat areas for zoned cooling, the shirt has a 10-inch front zipper and is quick drying. Comes in several solid colors and prints, and retails for $39.

Kerrits also offers the Eventing Polo shirt, a moisture-wicking polo-style top with center back mesh for enhanced ventilation. The longer sleeve length provides additional sun protection. Available in white, leaf, petal and pacific for $39.

Tropical Rider has just released its line of Primal Skinz, premium athletic shirts for optimum performance in hot weather. Made from All-Stretch TechFit Lycra/Poly, a high performance fabric that provides maximum comfort with superior moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating capabilities, the shirts are lightweight and designed to be non-restrictive. The shirts retail for $40 to $50.

Sleeveless tees and short sleeve tees are among the warm-weather offerings at Toklat this season. Made from an ultra-silky and smooth, lightweight and durable fabric that wicks away moisture and dries quickly, the Drisilk sleeveless and short sleeve tees feature body-contouring panels and four-way stretch, and come in red, blue and aqua. Toklat’s Kinetic short and sleeveless tees are made from 100 percent brushed polyester microfiber designed to keep riders cool on hot days. Lightweight with a highly breathable moisture management system, the Kinetic tees have body-contouring side panels and shoulder gussets. Available in yellow, pink, aqua and blue.

SOCKS

In hot weather, a rider’s feet often suffer the most. To combat hot feet, Kerrits is offering Pas de Deux Socks, ultra-thin knee-highs that keep riders’ feet dry. With a reinforced heel and toe and a horsy design, these socks are anatomically correct for a great fit. Available in pink, mist, leaf, pacific and stone, they retail for $10.

Tropical Rider’s RX Riding Sock is lightweight, made with filament yarns of Holofiber and nylon on the foot and nylon and Spandex on the calf. Antimicrobial and antibacterial, the sock wicks away moisture to keep a rider’s feet cool and dry. Available in a black/white coloration, the RX Riding Sock retails for $24.

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