The bottom line – Eventing Worldwide reviews the Derriere Equestrian Ladies Performance Padded Panty
I am not alone when I say that the quest to find the perfect
riding knickers is one well-trodden (or well-sat upon) by many riders. Comfort is everything but who really wants to be wearing granny knickers on a daily
basis?
In a quest to tackle the problems of chafing, soreness and
not to mention the dreaded VPL the founder, designer and MD of Derriere
Equestrian®, Claire Galer, has launched a ground breaking product. Claire has
20 years of experience working with both horses and riders. By qualifying in
2004 with diplomas in holistic massage, sports massage and equine sports
massage Claire has followed a career pathway which has led her to treat 25-35
horses per week and also makes rider assessments. This background has enabled
her to use her expert knowledge of posture and use of seat when developing her
range of underwear.
With the tagline “Lasting Comfort for the Perfect Seat”,
Derriere Equestrian has developed a range of underwear for men and women, some
with integrated padding and some without, plus a range of specialist breeches.
The Derriere Equestrian® concept is driven from years of research, experience
and exploration of the use of underwear within equestrian disciplines.
Claire observed how the equestrian marketplace had moved
forward in many ways with development and advancement in the technology of
riding clothes — but the world of equestrian underwear was left behind. When
looking into cycling, rowing or spinning, the wealth of products available to
support these athletes is extensive. Many research trials have been undertaken
to ensure these sporting athletes are supported and comfortable while enjoying their
chosen discipline so this research has been applied and developed for the
equestrian market.
So what makes Derriere Equestrian riding underwear so special?
For a start it’s manufactured from breathable, comfortable,
wicking fabrics. The products are designed to encompass seamless and bonded
manufacturing processes, leading the way in non-chaffing, abrasion free,
padded, stylish equestrian underwear. Derriere has worked closely with CyTech —
their Italian manufacturer which is a worldwide leader in the cycling padding
industry, with its brand Elastic Interface® — to develop the padded support
system. With a really thorough approach
they have designed, prototyped, trialled and thoroughly researched the
requirements necessary for a comfortable and non-bulky padded riding
undergarment.
With an endorsement by Carl Hesler who speaks highly of the
brand and some very on trend, dare I say it, fashion centric advertising; the
brand has sparked a lot of interest with riders who are seeking comfort and
style with a contemporary look.
The bottom line – what we thought of Derriere
Being a bit of an underwear addict and often found perusing
the likes of Agent Provocateur and Selfridge’s lingerie department we gave the
job of reviewing Derriere to our Fashion and Lifestyle editor Nikki.
So what
did she think of this ground breaking product?
‘I was sent a pair of Derriere Equestrian Ladies Performance
Padded Panties which came in some high end packaging with some useful
information about the tech behind them. They came in a black fabric with a soft
yellow branded waistband. They certainly looked like a performance product and
initially I was slightly taken aback by the depth of the padding. Within the
equine world we aren’t used to this scale of design. The knickers looked more
like a cycling style at first glance and I was keen to try them on and see what
they felt like. The fit was brilliant, the cut was great under breeches and
they were a high enough rise, but not enormous. This product has clearly been
thought about, tested and tweaked as there was nothing I could fault with the
design or style. In fact it was refreshing to see a product with a
contemporary, sporty look.
Now for the big test… the ride! I first wore my Derrieres
during a long dressage lesson which I thought would be a great test. They felt
great under breeches and there was no sign of VPL! When I first got on my horse
and started the session I was slightly ‘thrown’ by the feel of my seat bones.
It took a while to adjust to this new ‘padded’ sensation. I say a while… about
10 minutes of adjusting to comfort. I really noticed the padding during longer
sitting trot and canter sessions. I think having the padding made me notice my
seat more which was a good thing.
Because the knickers are made of wicking, hi tech fabric you
don’t get hot, despite the padding. They are also easy to wash and quick to
dry. Coming in a non-padded version and a shorty padded and non-padded style,
plus men’s styles there are lots of options for riders. I think they would be brilliant
for riders schooling multiple horses but also those hunting and spending long
periods in the saddle.
Priced at £34.99 for a padded pair of Derriere Performance Padded Pantys aren’t the
cheapest brand out there, but no brand comes close to what they offer. So in
this sense I think they are great value for money. They are well made so will
last, I also like the strong colours of black and purple which are available as
well as white for competition wear. I will be buying more pairs and look
forward to testing them during events, where I am in the saddle for longer
periods. 
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