Leather chaps have played an important role in western wear items. They have become a part of the Western lifestyle of cowboys. Leather has been a great material for many western wear items, including cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and the item we are going to talk about today: western wear chaps.

Leather chaps have been used for hundreds of years. They have been re-vamped quite a few times, but they have been around one way or another for centuries now. Chaps have constantly been a part of livestock handling equipment and have continued to serve the same functional purpose.

During the Nineteenth century is when leather chaps become a little more well-known. Armitas were leather chaps that people in Mexico wore. Armitas were usually attached to a belt that a person had to step in to to wear. Armitas were made out of leather of calfskin, deer or sometimes even goats.

Through the Armitas the Texas cowboys developed their own style. Called the Shotgun style, Texas cowboys were some of the first to use full leather britches. The disadvantage of having full leather britches was that they did not have a seat and they were hard to move around in easily.

By the late 1880s chap makers were beginning to evolve again. They started to make leather chaps in pieces. This solved the stiff problem, and later even curved the waistband to fit cowboys better.

The next chaps that were used were chaps that were used a lot during the popular Wild West Shows. Batwing Chaps, as they were referred as, allowed more movement for riders because they provided a wider cut then other chaps. They also were more elaborately decorated so riders could be recognized during Rodeos or Wild West Shows.

The hot summers were miserable to cowboys with normal chaps, especially for cowboys working south. In the 1940s this problem was solved by Chinks, a new take on chaps. Chinks were only a few inches past the cowboy’s knee, making them less restrictive and not as hot.

Leather chaps have continued to play an important role in western wear. Chaps have been used during herding and outdoor yard work for hundreds of years. They may continue to be used for Centuries after today.

Since 1952, AA Callister has been proud to feature some of the finest western wear, clothing, western tack, boots , and horse and rodeo equipment made. Come live part of the American West today!

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