LeMieux Base Layers vs. Competition Wear: What’s the Difference?

When shopping for horse riding clothing from prestigious brands like LeMieux online, you’ve likely come across many different styles and designs, from base layers to competition shirts, jackets, and beyond.

Understanding the differences between LeMieux base layers and competition wear is the key to choosing the right garments for your riding wardrobe. While both types of riding wear can be essential for horse riders, they serve distinct purposes in terms of comfort, performance, and style.

Using our years of experience in the saddle, we’ve broken down exactly what makes each piece unique so you can ride confidently and comfortably, whether you’re training or competing in the ring.

Horse Riding Base Layers

Horse riding base layers are specifically designed to help you maintain a consistent body temperature in all weather conditions. They wick away sweat in warmer weather and offer superior breathability to keep you cool and dry. Autumn and winter designs insulate you against the cold, keeping you toasty when riding.

LeMieux base layers are designed for comfort and durability in the saddle. Worn underneath your riding outer layers, they help to reduce chafing, friction, and irritation. They are also made of lightweight materials, creating a smooth layer underneath your outer garments that ensures your equestrian outfit looks sleek and stylish.

Key Features of Base Layers

Riding base layers enhance your performance, safety, and comfort on horseback. They are usually manufactured from moisture-wicking fabrics like nylon mesh, polyester, and merino wool blends.

These premium materials are also highly breathable, allowing air to circulate through the fabric and keep you cool during intense riding sessions. Some designs include additional features like UV protection and seamless or flat-seamed finishes to minimise chafing, along with stretchy fabrics that maximise flexibility and freedom of movement.

Base layers are usually more casual than other types of riding wear, like competition attire. LeMieux’s range comes in a vast array of patterns and colours, helping you to create distinctive riding outfits that express your individuality.

When to Wear Base Layers

LeMieux base layers are ideal for use during horse riding lessons, everyday training rides, and yard work activities. Plus, they can provide comfort and temperature regulation during activities like trail riding and hacking.

Their unique designs and fabrics also make them great for layering your outfits throughout the year. For instance, adding a thermal base layer under your riding fleece, gilet, or jacket can provide an extra layer of warmth in cold weather.

Riding Competition Wear

Horse riding competitions almost always have strict dress codes. The dress codes for disciplines like show jumping, eventing, and dressage may also differ according to tradition and judges’ expectations.

Competition attire is designed to offer a professional, polished, and often traditional look. While tradition is a significant part of dressing for competitions, modern attire from leading brands like LeMieux includes performance-enhancing features for optimal comfort, flexibility, and movement.

Key Features of Horse Riding Competition Wear

Riding competition wear is generally made from traditional materials like tweed, wool blends, cotton, or technical materials designed to mimic more traditional options.

All competition pieces are tailored to some degree, providing a smart, professional, and tailored appearance. Standard garments for event wear include show shirts and show jackets, breeches and jodhpurs, and neutral stock ties.

Show jackets and outer garments typically have traditional cuts and come in muted colours such as black, navy, or tweed in the case of eventing. Show shirts must be light in colour and have neat, stand-up collars or stock collar designs. Breeches and jodhpurs, like jackets, are available in neutral shades of white, beige, black, or navy and come in specific, time-tested styles.

When to Wear Competition Attire

As its name suggests, competition wear is required at riding competitions and shows, both locally and internationally. Wearing LeMieux competition pieces will guarantee you meet your contest’s dress requirements and impress the judges with refined, formal attire and an elegant appearance.

LeMieux Base Layers vs. Competition Wear

These are the key differences between LeMieux base layers and competition pieces:

Functions and Performance

Base layers are primarily designed to regulate your body temperature and keep you comfortable, cool, dry, or warm in all weather conditions.

Competition pieces are tailored to meet strict rules and riding competition traditions and ensure your attire looks polished during formal events.

Design and Fit

Well-designed base layers offer flexible designs and athletic fits which can be worn alone or under other horse riding gear. They are intended to be worn underneath outer layers of clothing.

On the other hand, the fit and design of competition wear is formal, traditional, and aligned with age-old riding traditions. These pieces are specifically intended for use as outerwear.

Colour, Patterns and Style

Competition pieces are classic in style, in conservative colours with little to no use of pattern or print.

Base layers are significantly more casual and come in a myriad of patterns and colour options, from bright and bold to light and dark and every shade in between. LeMieux is renowned for releasing new colour options each season, allowing you to keep your wardrobe up to date throughout the year.

Use of Materials

LeMieux base layers are made from breathable, thermoregulating fabrics like high-performance synthetics and polyester and merino wool blends.

Competition pieces take a more traditional approach, using natural wool and cotton blends or technical fabrics engineered to offer a more classic aesthetic.

Price

On average, base layers tend to have lower prices than competition wear. While high-end LeMieux base layers are available, competition wear typically costs more due to its use of specialised materials and expert tailoring.

LeMieux Horse Riding Wear for Every Occasion

LeMieux offers a wide range of base layers and outerwear for every riding occasion. While base layers and competition pieces bring both comfort and value, they serve distinct roles in your wardrobe.

Opt for base layers to maximise your comfort during lessons, training sessions, and trail rides, and invest in quality competition wear to steal the show.

Browse our complete range of LeMieux riding clothing at Ayr Equestrian to find your perfect fit.