Everyone who rides uses stirrups (unless it’s no stirrup November!!), and most of us probably started riding in the original solid metal stirrups. It seemed as though there were no changes to stirrups for years and years and now there are some new variations coming out. There are new, lighter stirrups, jointed options, colors, blingy stirrups, etc. But the original all metal irons seem to last forever. They’re metal, and while the pads may wear out, the metal doesn’t just break or fall apart. I also suggest Peacock Stirrups, especially for young riders. They feature a rubber band that breaks free if you apply pressure (i.e. from falling off). My old irons were looking very worn, and a few years ago, we had just purchased a new saddle, so I was looking for a new set of irons and leathers. I decided to try out these Perri’s Jointed Stirrup Irons.
My initial impression – these look really fancy! I love the black metal, instead of traditional chrome color. They look very smart, especially with my black saddle. The “jointed” part of these stirrups was intriguing since I had never ridden in a pair. They are advertised as being easier on the joints since they have give.
My first ride – I still really like how snazzy they look. Riding in them does not feel much different from my traditional irons, but I do think I notice a nice give when I push my heels down. I’ve been riding in them for several years now, and I really like these stirrups. They feel like a softer landing for my feet and knees, and I am used to how they feel.
Long term impression – I’ve been using these for a few years now, and while I really like them, I am a bit disappointed that where they are jointed, the rubber has split. Remember my statement above about how those traditional metal irons last forever? Well, I am bummed that these are cracked and if I were showing, I would replace these right away so I looked more put together. So for $50, I would say stick to a solid design that does not need to be replaced as frequently. Maybe the rubber split more quickly since I live in a cold environment, maybe not. Either way, I don’t plan to purchase these again.
Has anyone tried a different brand of the same jointed design? I’m also thinking about trying these or something similar – anyone have any experience with this type of stirrup iron? I want to replace my cracking version of these stirrups.
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