December 22, 2015

Noble Outfitters Product Reviews and Giveaway

This is giveaway 1 of 2 over the next week - be on the lookout for our 1,000th post next week!  Merry Christmas from Jen and Connor!

A while back, Noble Outfitters contacted me about reviewing a head-to-toe outfit for them and then offering that outfit in a contest for my readers.  So, full disclosure, I received a free outfit in exchange for doing this review, and so will one of your guys!  Read on for more details.

I had never tried on their breeches before, so I asked to review their Balance Riding Tights, and also the Lauren Quarter Zip shirt that Amanda also reviewed.  First up, the Balance Riding Tights.


Sorry about the pictures, I had to recruit my husband for these:


Most of you know my go-to tights are the Irideon Issential tights.  In that, I am a child's size L, which is not even the largest child's size in those tights.  Those things wear like iron and last for years, but my one complaint is that they don't have belt loops.  I was pretty excited to see that the Balance tights have belt loops.  Classy looking outfits, here I come!


I also really liked the thick, wide waistband, although after I put them on, it ended up being kind of a problem for me.


I looked at the sizing chart when I asked for the XS, but I really should have sized up.  They fit better than most pants on me - the waistband actually doesn't gap in the back on me like most pants do when you have a 35" hip and 24" waist - but they also threatened to cut off my circulation.

I'm not sure if it's because of the waistband, or the stiffness of the fabric, but if you get these - SIZE UP.  I couldn't wear them with anything underneath them, even my tiny microweight Smartwool, so these will be warm weather-only tights for me.  I really should have gotten a small.

But as far as everything else goes about them?  I really like them.  They clearly put a lot of thought into what would make these attractive every-day riding-wear.

Pocket - not big enough for my Droid Turbo, but definitely big enough for the knife I always have on me at the barn.  And maybe a smaller cell phone.

Attractive and not ostentatious logo on the back, and a nice euro-cut seat.

One of my favorite things about them is definitely the "lightweight stretch hem" bottoms.  They really do reduce bulk under the boot like Noble Outfitters says they will.  They're definitely my favorite hems of all of my riding pants.

Toray ultrasuede knee patches
Next up: Lauren Quarter Zip.


I am a quarter zip shirt collector.  I love them.  My all-time favorite one is my CrossFit quarter zip.  They're perfect to layer things both under and over in the winter months, and in the spring and fall you can wear them by themselves.



All that is to say, I wanted to love this shirt.  I really did.  I love the flattering-on-anyone way they've arranged the seams and colors.  Even if you didn't have a tiny waist, it would visually create one.  And of course I love anything with thumbholes.

Helmet hair after a lesson, mmmmm, sexy.

But it just doesn't come small enough for me (5'1, 108 lbs), which is funny, because I had the opposite problem with this that I did with the breeches.  I had the XS, and the sleeves are a couple of inches too long for me, and the cut is not flattering on my figure.  One of the reasons I love quarter zips is that they are generally cut close and I feel like they're "not just" barn clothes.  I can throw one on plus a vest and feel like I'm rocking "Dover Model" status.  This shirt was cut too boxy for me, although it does make it very easy to layer UnderArmour under it and a vest over it, so that's good.

I do like the cut at the back, which is cut slightly longer so that your shirt doesn't come up while riding.
Sleeves are way, way too long.
I realize I'm a sizing outlier being a child-sized woman, so this shirt is probably going to work great for a lot of you, especially if you prefer shirts that are not quite as form fitting.  It has a lot going for it: the fabric is outstanding, it layers well with Underarmour underneath it and a vest over it, the thumbholes are comfy, and the "saddle cut" is great for riders.  It's truly a three-season shirt, able to be worn in any season except summer.  Also, the inside is comfy and smooth against your skin:


So, in summary, both are great pieces clearly designed for equestrians, but:

- Balance Riding Tights: Great, well-made breeches that have some nice features, but SIZE UP
- Lauren Quarter Zip: Good quality, great three-season shirt especially if you like to layer or prefer less form-fitting shirts, but SIZE DOWN (if you can)

And now, one of you lucky people will win this complete outfit!  Use the RaffleCopter widget below to enter.  Entries close at 12:00am Eastern time on December 30.  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

44 comments:

  1. I have one of their full-zip hoodies and I love it. My favorite piece of exercise clothing.

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  2. Looooove Noble Outfitters! I have 2 of their elbow-length-sleeve summer-weight shirts and they are amazing! But you're right on the shirt sizing - I wear a S (5'4 and 125lb) and those shirts just drape nicely on me - not tight at all. I'm not usually a riding tights person... but these look interesting!

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  3. You look good! I really like all these reviews of NO and am itching to try!

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  4. You look good! I really like all these reviews of NO and am itching to try!

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  5. Interested in the tights. I am also a big fan of the irideon tights however I find them very hot in the summer here in SC. Are these lighter weight?

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    1. They are just slightly lighter weight, definitely. They don't have that heavy shiny fabric the Irideons do.

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  6. I also have a love affair with 1/4 zip shirts since layers are critical here in Alberta. I've been lusting after that particular one, in that colour so fingers crossed!

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  7. I have one of those 1/4 zip hoodies and loveeee it. it even stretches over my big baby bump.

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  8. I've been tempted to try their tights...good info to size up!

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  9. kinda interesting that the tights have so many interesting details (like the euro seat!) that you don't usually see in tights...

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    1. I think that's interesting too. I had a hard time calling them 'tights', they almost feel like pull on breeches and have a lot of the features you don't normally see on tights.

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  10. As a taller/bigger person, I LOVE how long noble sleeves are! :-)

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  11. Thanks for the review - I don't think I've ever worn tights before! I do want to try the shirt.

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  12. I'm with the others - I love extra long sleeves!

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  13. I'm now terrified of that shirt because I have short, T-Rex sized arms! But it's such an attractive shirt!

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  14. I have always had to size up in noble so it wasn't seer-sucking

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  15. I'm with SprinklerBandit, give me all the long sleeves that actually work for me! I have their soft shell on my Christmas list this year!

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  16. I love riding tights! Thanks for the review.

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  17. Being in the south, I love anything in a wicking fabric!

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  18. I have been really wanting a pair of their riding tights since trying them on at Rolex.

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  19. I really like that a lot of work out/technical fabric type shirts nowadays have that longer back on them. Even the cheapies I pick up at Walmart specifically for the barn sport them.

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  20. I really like riding tights - currently have 2 pairs of Kerrits brand. I have not tried the Noble Outfitters tights so this was great to get a better idea of their sizing. I have one of their short sleeve shirts which is a little big and boxy on me.

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  21. I typically wear jeans and a tshirt while riding. Nothing fancy.

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  22. I own those tights and LOVE them. Super comfy while riding and cute design.

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  23. Really cool brand to work with, the clothes look awesome

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  24. I enjoy your reviews. I feel like I could order the correct sizes now. Thanks!

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  25. I've wanted to try the shirt for a while now so this review was great thanks!

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  26. I'm inundated with Pipers right now, so a lighter breech for the summer would be great. Plus I love the pocket

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  27. Awesome review! I love their travel bags and socks but haven't entered their clothing line... I'm very used to my thick breeches and my dryfit under armour shirts.

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  28. I looooove 1/4 zips. Those and a best make up a,large portion of my winter wardrobe!

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  29. Excellent review! Thanks for including the sizing feedback :D

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  30. Very interested in tryon out the tights. Thank you for the great review!

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  31. Tights with a pocket, I'm in. It would give me a place to put sugar :) Always good to know whether to size up or down.

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  32. I have a Noble Outfitter tank top that I LOVE! I'm tempted by the breeches but I'm sort of addicted to my full seats :-)

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  33. I actually just got the ringside backpack that they offer and really like it. I didn't realize they had such a wide array of items honestly

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  34. I actually just got the ringside backpack that they offer and really like it. I didn't realize they had such a wide array of items honestly

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  35. Riding tights with belt loops? I may have to give these a try!

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  36. Extra long sleeves work well for orangutang arms so I should apparently be looking into this brand. I'm also a fan of the tights-but-not-quite type breeches - these look like they have great details. Time to see if they have full seats!

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  37. 1/4 zip looks great! Love the colour.

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  38. Almost all of my breeches are TuffRider, but none have pockets! That would be a great addition. I usually end up riding in some kind of polyester shirt.

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  39. I love anything that's comfy- and I like the style of the quarter zip :)

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