Welcome to EN's Product Review Just for Men's Series! There has been a gap in the world of equine fashion, and that gap is great apparel products for the guys. As an equestrian myself, I love giving new gear a try, especially when its just for men. Follow along as I search for and try out the featured products in a personal quest for great apparel. In this series I will make no recommendations, but I do hope you will enjoy reading about my journey and personal experiences as I try new products that can only be found in the men's section.
The Fusion Breech combines a classic look with modern stretch and feel making it not only comfortable but stylish as well. Photo by Lorraine Peachey
When it comes to breeches for guys, our pool of products to pick from is kind of like the kiddie pool. Unlike the women’s section being an ocean of choices, the men’s isn’t very deep or vast.
It has become normal to find a breech at the tack shop that does the job and buy them out of stock in my size just to make sure I have more than one pair to wear. The lack of options in men’s breeches makes it hard to have an opinion on what is good or bad, because all of the choices are usually the same, with the main difference being what brand is on the waist line.
The other sad development I realized when going through my breeches is it seems the norm for a men’s breech color spectrum is three colors deep: white, beige and black. I know our sport is steeped in tradition, but it seems our color palette is leftover from the days of the military telling eventers what to wear.
So when I was given the chance to try out a pair of Men’s Fusion Breeches from Custom Riding Apparel, being excited was an understatement. Lets add to this that they were coming to me in a color to which I never knew existed in a men’s breech: French Blue.
I have not had any experience with Custom Riding Apparel prior to this; for that matter I didn’t know that there were more than three companies making a men’s breech. Immediately after their arrival, I felt the need to rip open the bag and take them for a spin.
The slant front pockets are deep enough to fit the largest of phones, Photo by Dave Taylor
My first impression of the Men’s Fusion Breech was that I truly enjoyed the fit and feel. Unlike most breeches I’ve owned, the Fusion Breech has a very nice stretch to the High-Tech Comfort Ride Fabric, making them extremely easy to pull on. This fabric also allows movement in all the right place; even being a full seat breech I was not constricted in anyway.
And while the fabric is nice and stretchy, I also got the impression that it is durable enough to stand up to wear around the barn as well as in the saddle. Another feature that I noticed was the Clarino full seat and adjustable ankle closure.
The next thing I noticed was that Custom Riding Apparel placed two masculine flap pockets on the back of the breech, as well as two slash pockets on the front. This alone would be a great feature, but both sets of pockets are deep enough for phones and wallets. Additionally, all four pockets have snap closures, so there is no fear of items falling out while riding.
The Men’s Fusion Breech features a front zip as well as a regular rise, which gives them a nice classic and professional look. Since I’m a typical guy and I’m generally not very good at separating out my wash, it’s nice to know that Custom Riding Apparel has me covered — the Fusion breech is machine washable.
The color choices mixed with a classic and stylish look set these apart from the crowd. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.
The thing that stands out the most about the Men’s Fusion Breech is they are made in the USA. This gives me a sense of pride — that just north of me in Pennsylvania there is company manufacturing top quality breeches what will likely have a home in my closet from now on.
The Men’s Fusion Breech from Custom Riding Apparel are available in beige, navy, grey, brown, rust and french blue (pictured). They have a retail price of $150 and can be found here
Go Giving the Men’s Section Some Depth, Go Custom Riding Apparel, Go Eventing
