How to Care for Your Equestrian Riding Tights: Washing, Drying & Making Them Last

You've found the perfect pair of riding tights, the right colour, the right fit, the right grip. The last thing you want is to ruin them in the wash. Yet it happens all the time: a hot cycle here, a tumble dryer there, and suddenly your favourite pair is pilling, fading, or losing that beautiful four-way stretch that made them feel so good in the first place.

The good news? Riding tights are easy to care for once you know what they need. Here's everything you need to keep your Giddyupgirl tights looking vibrant, fitting perfectly, and lasting season after season.

Why riding tights need a little extra love

Before we get into the how-to, it helps to understand what makes equestrian riding tights different from your everyday gym leggings.

All Giddyupgirl tights are made from 78% Polyester and 22% Elastane, a high-performance blend engineered to move with your body through every rising trot, canter transition, and two-point position. That stretch and recovery is the whole point. But elastane fibres are heat-sensitive, which means the same washing machine cycle that’s fine for your jeans can gradually break down the very thing that makes your tights feel like a second skin.

Then there's the gel seat. Our silicone grip panels are designed to give you security in the saddle, but they need care too. Harsh detergents and heat can cause the silicone to degrade, crack, or lose its tackiness over time.

A few simple habits make the difference between a pair of tights that lasts one season and one that stays in your kit bag for years.

The golden rules: what to always do

Turn them inside out before washing

This is the single most effective thing you can do. Turning your tights inside out protects the outer fabric (where the colour, logos, and any printed detailing live) from friction against other items in the wash. It also means the inner lining (which takes the brunt of sweat and body contact) gets the most direct exposure to water and detergent, where it's needed most.

Make it a habit: inside out the moment they come off, straight into the laundry basket that way.

Use cold water, always

Cold water is your riding tights' best friend. A cold wash - 30°C or below -  effectively cleans your tights without stressing the elastic fibres or causing colours to bleed. Hot water is the number one reason elastic loses its stretch prematurely, so there's no benefit in going warmer. Cold is cleaner for performance fabrics, and kinder to the planet too.

Choose a gentle cycle

The drum agitation on a heavy or fast spin cycle is harder on stretch fabrics than most people realise. A delicate or gentle cycle reduces mechanical stress on the fibres and, importantly, on the gel seat panels. If your machine has a sportswear or delicates setting, use it.

Use a gentle, low-enzyme detergent

Standard laundry detergents often contain enzymes and brightening agents that are effective on cotton and linen but can gradually break down elastane and degrade silicone grip panels. Look for a detergent labelled "gentle", "delicate", or "suitable for sportswear." A small amount goes a long way, more detergent doesn't mean cleaner tights; it means more residue left in the fabric.

Avoid: fabric softener. It feels counterintuitive, but fabric softener coats the fibres and reduces the moisture-wicking performance your tights are designed to deliver. Skip it entirely.

Wash with similar items

Washing your tights with heavy items (jeans, hoodies with zips, canvas bags) risks snagging or pilling the fabric. Wash your tights with other lightweight activewear, or use a mesh laundry bag to protect them.

The things to avoid

The tumble dryer

This one is non-negotiable. Heat is the enemy of elastane, and tumble dryers run hot even on their lowest settings. A single cycle won't destroy your tights, but repeated drying will progressively break down the stretch until your tights feel loose, baggy through the knees, and no longer hold their shape in the saddle.

The dryer is also very hard on gel seat panels. Silicone is designed to flex and grip, not to withstand sustained heat, over time, dryer heat causes the gel to become brittle and crack away from the fabric.

Bleach and strong stain removers

Bleach will destroy elastane fibres and strip colour. If you need to treat a stain, act quickly: rinse the area with cold water immediately, then apply a small amount of gentle liquid detergent directly to the stain before washing. Avoid rubbing, blot gently instead.

Soaking for extended periods

Leaving your tights to soak for hours (or overnight) can cause colour bleeding and stress the fibres unnecessarily. If you need to pre-treat, a short soak of 15-20 minutes in cold water is plenty.

💡 Two-tone tights: skip the soak entirely.

If you own a pair of our two-tone tights, we recommend avoiding soaking altogether. The contrast between the dark and light panels means there’s a real risk of the darker colour running into the lighter one. A direct-to-wash approach, with any spot treatment done quickly under cold running water, is the safest method for keeping those colour panels looking sharp and distinct.

Wringing or twisting to remove water

When your tights come out of the wash, resist the urge to wring them out. Twisting wet stretch fabric distorts the fibres and can cause them to lose shape. Instead, gently press the water out against the side of the drum or lay them flat and roll them in a clean towel to absorb excess moisture.

How to dry your riding tights properly

Air drying is the only drying method we recommend for equestrian riding tights.

Lay flat when possible. Hanging wet tights from the waistband puts gravity-driven stress on the fabric and can cause the waistband to stretch out over time. If you have space, lay them flat on a drying rack or clean surface.

If you hang them, fold over the rail. Drape them over a drying rack rail folded at the hips rather than clipping or pegging at the waistband.

Keep them out of direct sunlight. UV exposure fades colours and can degrade elastic fibres. Dry in a shaded, well-ventilated spot rather than in direct sun.

Under normal conditions, riding tights air dry within a few hours, well within a wash-and-wear-again-tomorrow timeframe.

Caring for the gel seat specifically

The gel (silicone) seat is the part of your riding tights that works hardest and deserves the most attention in your care routine.

A few specific tips:

• Never fold gel-to-gel. When storing tights with silicone grip panels, avoid folding the seat directly onto itself. This can cause the gel to bond or stick together over time. Fold lightly so the gel panel faces outward, or roll the tights loosely.

• Check the gel after washing. Occasionally run your fingers over the gel panel after washing to check it's still fully adhered and there's no lifting at the edges. Catching early wear means you can get more life from the tights.

• Keep the gel clean. Silicone grip can pick up dust and lint which reduces its tackiness. A quick wipe with a damp cloth between washes keeps the grip performing at its best.

Dealing with common issues

Pilling

Pilling (those small fibre balls on the fabric surface) is usually caused by friction, either against a saddle, against other items in the wash, or from rough surfaces. While some pilling is normal with any stretch fabric over time, washing inside out in a mesh bag significantly reduces it. A fabric shaver can remove existing pills and restore the surface.

Fading

Colour fading is almost always the result of hot washing, direct sunlight drying, or harsh detergent. Follow the cold wash, shade dry, and gentle detergent steps above and your tights should hold their colour well. Washing inside out helps too, especially for darker shades and any contrast detailing.

Waistband stretch

If the waistband starts to feel looser over time, the most common cause is repeated hanging while wet. Switch to flat or fold-over drying and you'll find the waistband holds its shape much longer.

Odour that won't wash out

Performance fabrics can trap bacteria in the fibres over time, particularly if they're washed infrequently or stored damp. A soak in cold water with a splash of white vinegar (15 minutes, then a normal gentle wash cycle) is effective at neutralising odours without damaging the fabric. Avoid using more detergent, it won't help and often makes the issue worse.

Quick reference: riding tights care checklist

Before washing:

• Turn inside out
• Check pockets are empty
• Place in a mesh laundry bag

Washing:

• Cold water (30°C or below)
• Gentle or delicates cycle
• Small amount of gentle, low-enzyme detergent
• No fabric softener
• No bleach

Drying:

• Air dry only, no tumble dryer
• Lay flat or fold over a rail
• Out of direct sunlight
• Fully dry before storing

Storing:

• Folded lightly (gel panel facing out)
• Completely dry
• Away from direct heat sources

A final note on frequency

You don't necessarily need to wash your riding tights after every single ride, especially for shorter sessions. Airing them out after use, then washing every two to three wears, reduces the cumulative wear from repeated washing while still keeping them fresh. Use your judgement: a sweaty summer arena session needs a wash; a 30-minute light hack might just need a good air.

The tights that last the longest are the ones ridden hard and washed smart.

Shop the full Giddyupgirl riding tights collection - four-way stretch, gel seats, and colours designed to stand out in the saddle.