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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
    
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I have 6 - 5 Stars. That's all we use. One of them is royal blue. I'm thinking about putting a chip in it so I can have it tracked if stolen. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1538
Location: South Dakota | Nateracer - 2016-03-17 10:25 AM I think there is more truth to the 5 Star sizing. I have a 3/4 and 7/8 and 1 inch 5 star, the 3/4 and 7/8 are at least 9-10 years old. Both are holding up exceptionally well. The 1 inch is 2 years old, so it's practially new!
I have a 1 inch Diamond wool pad that I bought cheap New on ebay. It seems much thinner than my 1 inch 5 star. It also doesn't feel as nice, and the edges are pilling a bit and I've used it for 2 years, just in the spring to keep the hair off of my 5 stars.
I'm getting ready to order another 5 star....in Turquoise. :)
I just got my first 5 Star pad in the mail yesterday and it is turquoise! It is very bright. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| No one really has said why 5 star is superior.
On the 5 star website they used to have an article on how pads are made and what that meant. It is a wonderful article.
5 star is felted together, the same process and actually the same company felts together the Sloan, and Ed wright saddle pads. These two pads will be in the same category for quality as 5 star.
Best ever pads are needled together, what the article says is pads that are needled together use non wool material in their blend (this is why they cannot be felted). This is also why they pill
The worst of the wool pads are the ones that are sewn together, I have seen a few diamond wool pads sewn together, they say this is because they use more non wool material then wool material and it won't even stay together even with needling. |
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Veteran
Posts: 169
| I only use the 5 star on my horses. Both my boys use Diamond Wool, the 5 star feels rougher to me then the Diamond Wool. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | It's the amount of Virgin wool. I've used a lot of wool pads (Classic Equine, Tod Slone, Bayou West....never bothered with Best Ever because they got so ratty so fast...) and 5 Stars are far superior. The wool is so dense and soft. Mine is 10 years old and looks practically new. Stitching is still intact, as is the leather. I wouldn't buy any other wool pad. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Flymas Girl - 2016-03-17 4:34 PM Nateracer - 2016-03-17 10:25 AM I think there is more truth to the 5 Star sizing. I have a 3/4 and 7/8 and 1 inch 5 star, the 3/4 and 7/8 are at least 9-10 years old. Both are holding up exceptionally well. The 1 inch is 2 years old, so it's practially new!
I have a 1 inch Diamond wool pad that I bought cheap New on ebay. It seems much thinner than my 1 inch 5 star. It also doesn't feel as nice, and the edges are pilling a bit and I've used it for 2 years, just in the spring to keep the hair off of my 5 stars.
I'm getting ready to order another 5 star....in Turquoise. :) I just got my first 5 Star pad in the mail yesterday and it is turquoise! It is very bright.
You lucky girl! I'm wanting to order a turquoise one too! |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | cheryl makofka - 2016-03-17 5:29 PM No one really has said why 5 star is superior. On the 5 star website they used to have an article on how pads are made and what that meant. It is a wonderful article. 5 star is felted together, the same process and actually the same company felts together the Sloan, and Ed wright saddle pads. These two pads will be in the same category for quality as 5 star. Best ever pads are needled together, what the article says is pads that are needled together use non wool material in their blend (this is why they cannot be felted). This is also why they pill The worst of the wool pads are the ones that are sewn together, I have seen a few diamond wool pads sewn together, they say this is because they use more non wool material then wool material and it won't even stay together even with needling.
They are superior to me because they hold up well under hard use, they last, they have great customer service, make my saddles fit nice and I can customize them to my specs. |
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Expert
Posts: 1538
Location: South Dakota | CYA Ranch - 2016-03-17 6:35 PM Flymas Girl - 2016-03-17 4:34 PM Nateracer - 2016-03-17 10:25 AM I think there is more truth to the 5 Star sizing. I have a 3/4 and 7/8 and 1 inch 5 star, the 3/4 and 7/8 are at least 9-10 years old. Both are holding up exceptionally well. The 1 inch is 2 years old, so it's practially new!
I have a 1 inch Diamond wool pad that I bought cheap New on ebay. It seems much thinner than my 1 inch 5 star. It also doesn't feel as nice, and the edges are pilling a bit and I've used it for 2 years, just in the spring to keep the hair off of my 5 stars.
I'm getting ready to order another 5 star....in Turquoise. :) I just got my first 5 Star pad in the mail yesterday and it is turquoise! It is very bright.
Yes I think I made a good choice for my first one. The turquoise is very vibrant. I feel I got a pretty good price on it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| I felt of a 5 star this past weekend for the first time and I totally get it now. SO SOFT!!!! It felt like no other pad I had ever had my hands on. I will be buying one. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I splurged and bought my 5 star January 2009. Hands down the best investment I've made. I got the 30 x 30 1/2" thick pad. I've used it hard over the last 7 years. It's held up extremely well. My husband wants a best ever, but after looking at the two side by side, I'm saving up and getting him a 5 star for father's day. Not only are their pads the highest percentage of virgin wool, they hold up amazing. Their customer service is top notch too. |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| If you are willing to settle for the plain Jane 5 Stars, you can purchase one for $200-$225. Horseman's Supply in Weatherford, TX, has great prices on them. If you want fancy trim and colors, you will have to pay more. I have used nothing else the past 5 years, and am very happy with them. They hold up so well, I've been able to get $125-$150 for two and three year old 5 Star pads when I'm ready for a new design or color. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | cheryl makofka - 2016-03-17 4:29 PM
No one really has said why 5 star is superior.
On the 5 star website they used to have an article on how pads are made and what that meant. It is a wonderful article.
5 star is felted together, the same process and actually the same company felts together the Sloan, and Ed wright saddle pads. These two pads will be in the same category for quality as 5 star.
Best ever pads are needled together, what the article says is pads that are needled together use non wool material in their blend (this is why they cannot be felted). This is also why they pill
The worst of the wool pads are the ones that are sewn together, I have seen a few diamond wool pads sewn together, they say this is because they use more non wool material then wool material and it won't even stay together even with needling.
Thank you for the very well put information! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | just4fun - 2016-03-17 8:55 AM I guess I'll be the odd one...
I have a 100% wool pad from NRS or Smith Bros...can't remember which. I bought it on sale for less than $100.
I like the feel of it better than my 5-Star. The 5-Star is very soft, which makes it very floppy.
But, I do like the deeper contour of the 5-Star better.
If a $300+ saddle pad isn't in your budget, I don't think you should feel bad about getting something cheaper. 
I have one of Smith Brothers 100% wool pads and it is really nice. I really love my 5 star pads but for the money those Smith Brothers ones are really nice too. |
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Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | CYA Ranch - 2016-03-17 1:42 PM I have 6 - 5 Stars. That's all we use. One of them is royal blue. I'm thinking about putting a chip in it so I can have it tracked if stolen.
Thanks for the warning lol! |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | I use a Saddleright bc that what works for my horse and saddle. But my husband has swapped all of his horses to wool pads.
He is too cheap for a 5 Star. He had a SherryCervi 1" by classic equine that I handed down to him, a Reinsman with the pressure point relief for the bars of the saddle, it's probably 3/4", and a 1" Bar H.
I watched him saddle today and have to say I was disappointed to see te Reinsman has a lot of piling.
The SherryCervi looks new, and I know I gave it to him at least 3-4 years ago after I used it awhile. The Bar H I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the wool. It's too new to say how it'll hold up.
My mom has a 5 Star and loves it, although she ended up with a bio fit for her new saddle. It just fits better.
I believe in putting quality items on my horses, but there's never one product for all of them. :)
And not everyone can or wants to buy the "best".
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303
| I am a dealer for Diamond Wool and I use them on my horses. They have different qualities of wool pads, so you have to know what you are buying. There are some that are budget friendly and others that are virgin wool. |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | RunfastNTurn - 2016-03-17 6:03 AM
I have had 5 star, best ever and diamond wool.
5 Star was hands down the best, best evers are nice and diamond wool was ok, more of a budget pad. If you had all three of them next to each other and felt them you would know what I am talking about. The 5 stars are super super soft and I did not have it pill at all. The best evers I have had have some pill.. and the diamond wool pads feel less wool-y and more like other fibers are in there.. idk hard to explain.. just my experience. I agree with you that the prices are thru the roof! I try to buy used but like new when ever possible to same some $$
What do you mean by 'pill'? |
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Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | Cindy Hamilton - 2016-03-17 7:34 AM
I'm a pad junkie...I have a 5 Star that I use with a cutting saddle and it was about $250....I think it's the very best 100% wool pad I've ever owned, and I've had a lot of them over the years....I use CSI's on my barrel saddles, and the one with croc wear leathers was over $400, just a normal one is like $380 ...yikes!!....now they are pricey!! 
I thought about a CSI but wow they are pricey. I'm currently using a Three Forks and a SaddleRight |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | barrelracer1983 - 2016-03-19 1:06 PM
RunfastNTurn - 2016-03-17 6:03 AM
I have had 5 star, best ever and diamond wool.
5 Star was hands down the best, best evers are nice and diamond wool was ok, more of a budget pad. If you had all three of them next to each other and felt them you would know what I am talking about. The 5 stars are super super soft and I did not have it pill at all. The best evers I have had have some pill.. and the diamond wool pads feel less wool-y and more like other fibers are in there.. idk hard to explain.. just my experience. I agree with you that the prices are thru the roof! I try to buy used but like new when ever possible to same some $$
What do you mean by 'pill'?
Like a sweater that's been washed too many times!
I've seen a LOT of Best Evers that look like that. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 189
| cheryl makofka - 2016-03-17 5:29 PM
No one really has said why 5 star is superior.
On the 5 star website they used to have an article on how pads are made and what that meant. It is a wonderful article.
5 star is felted together, the same process and actually the same company felts together the Sloan, and Ed wright saddle pads. These two pads will be in the same category for quality as 5 star.
Best ever pads are needled together, what the article says is pads that are needled together use non wool material in their blend (this is why they cannot be felted). This is also why they pill
The worst of the wool pads are the ones that are sewn together, I have seen a few diamond wool pads sewn together, they say this is because they use more non wool material then wool material and it won't even stay together even with needling.
I think a few people stated they thought 5 stars were best beouse of the feel of them..they just feel better softer wool and better quality. ?? |
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