Last updated: October 14, 2026
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If you’ve ever ridden in regular gym leggings, you know how it goes. You slide around in the saddle, the inside seams rub your knees raw against the stirrup leathers, and by the end of the ride they’ve sagged halfway down your hips. Riding tights are supposed to fix all that, but there are dozens of them, and a $45 pair and a $150 pair can look almost identical in the listing photos.
Below are six women’s riding tights worth a look, how tights differ from leggings and breeches, which grip style fits the way you ride, how a good pair should fit, and how to wash them so the silicone doesn’t peel off after a few months.
Table of Contents
Best Women’s Riding Tights
These picks cover the main reasons riders shop for tights: price, grip, heat, and cold. To choose them, I compared each maker’s listed materials, grip pattern, fit features, pockets, and weather protection. Prices, colors, and sizes change often, so check the current listing before you order.
| Riding tight | Best for | Grip | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willit Knee-Patch Riding Tights | Budget everyday riding | Suede knee patches | Budget |
| Willit Full Seat Silicone Tights | Budget full-seat grip | Silicone full seat | Budget |
| FitsT4 Full Seat Riding Tights | Budget schooling and backup pair | Silicone full seat | Budget |
| beroy Knee-Patch Riding Tights | Budget riding with a zip front | Knee patches | Budget |
| Kerrits Ice Fil Full Seat Tech Tight | Hot weather | Mild silicone full seat | Premium |
| Kerrits Sit Tight Wind Pro | Cold weather | Silicone full seat | Premium |
Willit Knee-Patch Riding Tights
Best for budget everyday riding. If you’ve searched for “Willis riding tights,” the brand you’re probably after is Willit. Willit has become a common budget choice because it includes features riders usually pay more for. Willit lists these as a stretch nylon-and-spandex tight with suede knee patches, UPF 50+ sun protection, a high rise with a wide waistband, belt loops, and two zippered pockets, in sizes XS through 2XL. The zippered pockets are handy for a phone or keys, though some riders mention the zippers can catch or feel rough. If you’d rather have suede than silicone at the knee, this is the pair to start with.
Willit Full Seat Silicone Riding Tights
Best for budget full-seat grip. If you like the Willit fit but want more grip in the saddle, Willit also makes a full-seat version with silicone across the seat and inner thigh, along with zippered pockets. It’s a sensible choice for the sitting trot, flatwork on a green horse, or riders who want a little more help staying quiet in the saddle.
FitsT4 Full Seat Riding Tights
Best for schooling or as a backup pair. FitsT4’s full-seat tights are an 83 percent polyester, 17 percent spandex blend with four-way stretch and silicone grip across the seat. They’re an inexpensive way to try full-seat grip, and a good second pair to keep in the tack room so you’re not riding in a dirty pair while the other one’s in the wash.
beroy Knee-Patch Riding Tights
Best for riders who want a little more structure in a budget tight. Unlike most pull-on riding tights, the beroy has a front zip, belt loops, a high waist, four pockets, and knee patches. The four-way-stretch fabric is breathable and made for schooling, while the knee patches give you grip without covering the whole seat. If you like the convenience of tights but prefer a more traditional breech-style waist, this is the budget pair to look at first.
Kerrits Ice Fil Full Seat Tech Tight
Best for hot weather. Kerrits says its Ice Fil fabric reduces skin temperature by up to five degrees as sweat evaporates. The tight is rated UPF 50+, has a mild silicone grip along the inner leg and seat, a two-inch waistband, belt loops, and two low-profile side pockets. How much cooler you’ll feel depends on you and the weather, but if you ride through a humid Southern summer, this is the kind of fabric to look for.
If you like Kerrits but don’t want to spend that much, the Willit and FitsT4 full-seat tights are the closest budget alternatives. They’re built differently and cost a fraction as much, but they cover the basics for schooling and casual riding.
Kerrits Sit Tight Wind Pro
Best for cold weather. The Sit Tight Wind Pro has a Polartec Wind Pro exterior that cuts the wind and sheds light rain and snow, a brushed fleece lining, a silicone full seat, a three-inch waistband, belt loops, and a side pocket, in sizes XS through 2X. The Wind Pro shell is what blocks the wind, and the fleece lining is what keeps you warm, so you get both in one layer. For more cold-weather options, see our picks for winter riding tights and breeches.
Riding Tights vs. Leggings vs. Breeches
Women’s riding tights, regular leggings, and breeches get used interchangeably, but the difference is obvious once you’re in the saddle.
| Riding tights | Regular leggings | Breeches | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closure | Pull-on elastic waistband | Pull-on elastic waistband | Zip front and belt loops |
| Grip | Silicone or suede knee patches, half grip, or full seat | None | Knee patch or full seat |
| Seams | Placed away from the inner leg | Often run down the inner leg | Placed away from the inner leg |
| Length | Full length, to the ankle | Full length | Mid-calf, to fit under tall boots |
| Best for | Schooling, lessons, trail rides, hot weather | Short, casual rides at best | Shows, clinics, and everyday riding |
The biggest difference between riding tights and ordinary leggings is the grip and the seams. Leggings have no grip, so you’ll slide more in the saddle, and their inner-leg seams press right where your leg meets the saddle and stirrup leathers. Riding tights move those seams and add silicone or suede where you need it.
Breeches are usually more structured, with a zip front and belt loops, and they typically end at mid-calf so they don’t bunch under tall boots. Jodhpurs usually run full length and go with short paddock boots, though cuts vary by brand. For competition, don’t assume riding tights will meet the dress code. Hunter classes, for example, generally call for well-fitted knee-patch breeches and tall boots. Check your discipline’s current rules before you choose what to wear, and look at our picks for full-seat riding breeches if you need a show pair.
Full Seat, Half Grip, or Knee Patch?
The grip pattern is the biggest choice you’ll make, and it comes down to how much security you want versus how much freedom you want to move:
- Full seat: Silicone or suede across the seat and inner thigh. It gives the most grip and helps you stay put at the sitting trot, on a green horse, or if you’re still building confidence. Dressage riders often prefer it.
- Half grip: Silicone covers part of the seat and inner leg. It’s a middle ground for riders who want more security than knee patches but don’t want to feel stuck in the saddle.
- Knee patch: Grip only at the inner knee. It leaves more of the seat uncovered, so most riders find it easier to shift their seat and get up into a two-point, which is why jumpers and many trail riders like it. It also tends to feel cooler in the heat.
Some riders keep a full-seat pair for flatwork and a knee-patch pair for jumping or long trail rides.
How Riding Tights Should Fit
A pair that fits right should feel snug without pinching, stay put when you mount, and keep its shape for the whole ride. Here’s what to check:
- Rise and waistband: A high rise with a wide waistband is less likely to slide down or roll when you’re bending, mounting, and getting on and off all day. Belt loops help if you’re between sizes.
- Length: Tights should reach your ankle while you’re sitting in the saddle with your knee bent, not just standing up. If you’re tall or petite, look for a brand that offers different inseams.
- The squat test: Squat in front of a mirror in good light. If the fabric turns see-through, it’s likely to do the same in the saddle. Darker colors and thicker knits are safer.
- Pockets: Make sure a pocket will actually hold your phone and that you can reach it while mounted. Zippered pockets keep things from bouncing out at the canter.
- Sizing by brand: Sizing varies a lot between brands, so go by each maker’s size chart instead of the size you wear in other pants.
If you ride outside a lot, UPF-rated fabric is worth having. Clothing rated UPF 50+ lets less than 2 percent of UV rays through. Pair your tights with good riding boots or half chaps. Tights are thin, so tall boots or half chaps help keep the stirrup leathers from pinching your calves.
How to Wash Riding Tights So the Grip Lasts
Silicone grip can wear or peel over time, and heat is usually what speeds it up. Here’s how to make a pair last:
- Follow the label: Care instructions vary. Willit says to machine wash cold and skip the bleach, and Kerrits says to wash its tights cold and tumble dry on low or no heat.
- Wash cold and inside out: Turning tights inside out protects the silicone and the fabric surface from rubbing against other clothes.
- Keep the heat low: High dryer heat can break down silicone and spandex. When in doubt, hang them to dry.
- Keep them away from hook-and-loop: Hook-and-loop fasteners on saddle pads, wraps, and boots can snag the fabric and pull at the grip.
- Retire them when the grip goes: Once the silicone peels, the fabric turns sheer, or the waistband stops holding, it’s time for a new pair.
A good pair of riding tights won’t make you a better rider, but it can make long days in the saddle a lot more comfortable. Choose the grip, fit, and fabric that suit the way you ride, and follow the care label so they last.
About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
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