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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
 
Location: My own little world :) | Which pad would you choose and why? I am thinking about changing over to all wool pads but am not sure which brand to go with. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
  
| 5 Star, hands down. We’ve got several Best Evers that have been award pads and they’ve not held up in terms of starting to pill and compress down compared to all the 5 stars we own. |
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 Regular
Posts: 73
Location: Central Texas | I just bought a custom best ever this week because they have the BHS model for added bar support. My mare is hollow behind her withers and needs it. I hope it holds up! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| OhMax - 2017-10-22 8:51 AM
5 Star, hands down. We’ve got several Best Evers that have been award pads and they’ve not held up in terms of starting to pill and compress down compared to all the 5 stars we own.
Same here! 5 Star hands down! |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | Five Star lasts longer but get harder. Best wears out but retains cushion until it does. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | I have a best ever and a 5 star
And I love my 5 star hands down!!
Ended up getting another 5 star!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | So I was looking at the Kush Best Ever vs. the barrel racer 5 star. My horses are pretty wide and don't have mutton withers but don't have very prominent withers either if that makes sense. I was using an impact gel pad that i think is maybe 7/8" and it felt like my mare wasn't as free in the shoulders so then I put one of my 3/4" Classic Equine Contourpedic pads on that are neoprene on the bottom and she seemed to free up with that. But this summer I was riding with the contourpedic where the wear leathers are sewn on it seemed like my horses swelled into the indentation from the stitching on the bottom side and i wondered if that was because the pad was trapping in too much heat?? Does that seem accurate or no? So I would like to go to a wool pad because I've heard such good things about them. I've got to see some 5 stars and like how soft they are but wanted some input. Thanks 
Edited by Zanadoo88 2017-10-22 1:29 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | I'm not a fan of neoprene pads at all. Pads should wick moisture and neoprene does not do that, they actually create it. I own both Best Evers and 5 stars. I have a Kush pad that's about 4 years old and it has held up very well. I don't feel like it has compressed much at all yet. They are very soft and cushy lol the OG pads are bit more dense and rough. I still like them though. 5 stars are great too. They are very soft and seem to hold up. 5 stars do have better resale value. I feel like best ever has better custom options and they aren't as expensive. I like that every pad comes with the leg cutout. With 5 star you have to add that option, but there's no up charge. I think 5 stars are the better quality pad, but if you don't want to spend as much you'll be happy with a best ever kush. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I have a Best Ever that has approximately 6 months worth of light riding use. It pilled up early on and is separating at every corner. The cross design in the leathers curled and the crystals were falling off after less than two months. It now sits in my tack room because it was too expensive to throw away. Haha!
Hubby just got me a third 5 Star. I'm in love with them. I'm going on two years with the first one and it's still in awesome shape. They're worth the money to me. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | I have a Best Ever Kush pad and i love it! Ive been using it for about 2 going on 3 years now and its still in great shape, i use it for everyday riding. Both my horses love it too. But, i do want to get a 5 star just to see the difference. Both are still a great pad, either way you decide will be worth it, IMO. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Five Star. Comes with a cleaning sponge.
Wool is naturally Moisture wicking so don't be alarmed when you see dry spots after use.
Also, Five Star has the flex fit option as well. It's great for horses with prominant withers.
Common customizations from Five Star for barrel racers:
Flex fit
Horse contour
Leg cut out or Cinch cut out
Breast collar wear leather
3/4" thickness or 1/2" thickness
Good luck |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I recently bought my third 5 Star Pad. The oldest pad I have and still use every day is about 9 years old. I'm not even considering anything other than 5 Star.
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