Product Review: Kerrits Breakaway Stretch Vest

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping, especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope you have fun reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences helps you on your own quest for new gear. Go Shopping.

While the front of the Breakaway vest provides a very traditional vest appearance, the black mesh back provides an entirely different look. When worn with other shirts, you can see the colors and patterns of them right through the mesh back. Photo by Lorraine Peachey. While the front of the Breakaway vest provides a very traditional vest appearance, the black mesh back provides an entirely different look. When worn with other shirts, you can see the colors and patterns of them right through the mesh back. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.

Spring is a season that I welcome with open arms…especially since it means that I can bid farewell to cold temperatures and snow. Aside from my obvious excitement at the longer days, which allow me to spend much more time riding, there are many other things positives.

One of the many happenings of Spring that I look forward to is watching the landscape come back to life again. It’s exciting to watch as the drab and dreary brownish grass turns into a lush carpet of green. Or when the skeletal looking trees wake up and start growing leaves.

But perhaps the most eye catching part is seeing all of the Spring bulbs pop up and bloom. All of the brilliant colors look cheery, and help spread some much needed cheer after a dark and drab season of cold. Who can’t use a little color?

And color was one of the reasons that I found myself drawn to the Spring collection of riding apparel from Kerrits. There are a number of different patterns and colors that make it super easy to create looks that are polished and coordinated, that still look fun.

Since I’m a ‘matchy matchy’ gal, the prospect of many different ways to coordinate patterns and colors got me pretty darn excited. So to start out the season, I’ve chosen to wear the Breakaway Stretch Vest in the eye catching color of Berry Mirage.

While I’m still on the topic of color, I’ll mention that the Breakaway Stretch Vest comes in a range three of them, for varying preferences. There’s a conservative solid Black, a sassy looking Silver Animal, and the bold looking Berry Mirage.

The full length zipper of the front works well, and is lined on either side with reflective detailing for style and safety. And a personal favorite feature of mine are the black colored slimming side panels. Photo by Lorraine Peachey

The full length zipper of the front works well, and is lined on either side with reflective detailing for style and safety. And a personal favorite feature of mine are the black colored slimming side panels. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.

I personally found myself drawn to the Berry Mirage, simply because in my mind, it has such a range of styling options. Looking closely at the colors of the fabric, I see hues of pink, red, purple, aqua, and even black. Which means I have a lot of options of what I can pair it with.

As for me, I’ve paired the Breakaway Vest in Berry Mirage with a pair of Flow Rise Performance Riding Tights in Huckleberry. Which makes for a tastefully bright and cheerful look. However, many other colors options of tights or breeches would look equally fabulous.

So let’s talk about the features of the Breakaway Stretch vest that I really like…other than the colors! The Breakaway boasts a design that is truly different than many I’ve seen in the past. Because this vest can be traditionally worn at a layer, OR as a standalone tank top.

While the front of the Breakaway vest provides a traditional vest appearance, the black mesh back provides an entirely different look. When worn with other shirts, you can see the colors and patterns of them right through the mesh back…which is a lot of fun!

Since we haven’t had truly balmy temperatures here, I’ve stuck with layering the Breakaway Vest thus far. Though I’m looking forward to wearing it as a tank, as the mesh back should help me stay cool. And it might be fun to pair a fun colored sports bra underneath!

When pulling the Breakaway on, I find it to be extremely comfortable…because the entire vest feels like it has some stretch to it. The fabric is a combination of Fabrisuede Tactel and Ice Fil mesh, which provides the freedom of a 4 way stretch that is soft feeling and durable.

Anything that I stash in the back pockets of the Breakaway vest are easy to reach around and access. And thanks to the silicone grip at the back hem of the Breakaway vest, it stays in place even when items are stashed in the pockets. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.

Anything that I stash in the back pockets of the Breakaway vest are easy to reach around and access. And thanks to the silicone grip at the back hem of the Breakaway vest, it stays in place even when items are stashed in the pockets. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.

The full length zipper of the front works well, and is lined on either side with reflective detailing for style and safety. And a personal favorite feature of mine are the black colored slimming side panels. The panels stretch and breathe, and help provide a slimming effect.

Since storage pockets are a must have for me when it comes to my riding attire, I was also interested to try out the Breakaway vest. For it boasts three rear stash pockets that have some elastic built into the top to keep items secure.

I toss all kinds of items into my pockets…gloves, chapstick, horse treats, and even my phone. They stay put securely while I’m motoring around the barn, getting ready to ride. I have not ridden with my phone in the pocket, as I worry that its weight may cause it to bounce.

Anything that I stash in the back pockets of the Breakaway vest are easy to reach around and access. And the pockets can handle items that I place in them very well. And they do so without causing the back hem of the vest to ‘ride up’.

I personally detest when I have to reach around and pull down on a shirt of vest that ‘rides up’. It’s an uncomfortable and unattractive occurrence. But thanks to the silicone grip at the back hem of the Breakaway vest, it stays in place. Genius!

The Breakaway Stretch Vest is available from Kerrits, ranging in size from a Ladies XS to an XL. It has a retail price of $79 for each of the three colors, Silver Animal, Black and Berry Mirage (pictured). You can click here to learn more about the vest.

Go Style + Function. Go Kerrits. Go Eventing.