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Polo Wraps and Bandages
It`s All About the Polo Wraps:
There are so many cool options for polo wraps now-a-days. Where do you begin?
The first thing I`ve learned about polo wraps is they are not all made equally and price doesn`t always mean they`re better. While managing the tack store I got to play with many different wraps and talk to the manufacturer about why each wrap was so special. They vary in price from just $12 to just over $100.
The first and most common polo is the fleece polo. This type of wrap has been around forever. They are actually very simple. Fleece strips with Velcro. The only thing to really know about with these is price doesn`t always mean you get a wrap that will last longer. My best example of that: I bought a really nice (and rather expensive for fleece polo wraps) that had Velcro that didn`t line up (I find this the most annoying thing). I then bought a cheap set and they have lasted for years and the Velcro was great. Unfortunately, I don`t remember which brand I bought that didn`t work, nor do I remember the cheap brand it was just too long ago and I now use a different type of polo wrap that I like better.
The newest trend with polo`s is moisture wicking and added support through an ace bandage like material. After several years of using traditional polo`s on my young horse, I switched to the moisture wicking wraps and have never looked back. I visibly saw a different in the temperature of the leg. I will admit the added support the manufactures talk about with the ace bandage material makes sense I`ve just never visibly seen a difference.
I have personal experience with three brands of these types of wraps.
1. The first are the Centaur Climate Control Polo Wraps. These arecentaur-climate-control-polo-wraps-9-800x742 ok for the money. They are the cheapest ones I`ve found, but they have one flaw I just can`t get over. This flaw is the moisture wicking material that is used. It tends to bunch and it leaves uneven pressure on the tendons. The material is layered with terry cloth, which sits against the leg, foam in the middle and a nylon like material on the outside. The added material curls on the edges which causes the uneven pressure points. Though my mare doesn`t seem to be bothered by it, I became concerned when I saw pressure lines after I rode. I have therefore stopped using them. However, I do like the exterior ace bandage wrap quality and Velcro. These are just as good as the Equilibriums quality. I wish they would just change the material they are using for the moisture wicking component of the wrap and these would be great.
2. The next set I`m familiar with are the Professional Choice Wraps. The design is similar to the Centaur ClimateControl Polo`s but there is one key difference. The moisture wicking part of it is much more stream lined and doesn`t leave pressure marks. These wraps are PCmore than the Centaur`s Climate Control Wraps but are still very reasonable in price. I find the exterior wraps and Velcro to be nice in quality and holds up nicely. The only real thing I wish they would change is that they make the Velcro a hook in loop instead of the traditional overlay. I know this is to try and prevent wrapping the leg too tightly since the exterior of the polo`s are made of ace bandage like material but I just don`t like it. I`ve accepted that I`m just a traditionalist.
3. The last set I`m familiar with are the Equilibrium wraps. These are nice wraps but I believe are way over priced for what they are. I bought two pairs about 2 years ago and have really liked them. They offer everything I wanted in a moisture control wrap. Even the traditional Velcro design I like. However, I don`t think I would spend the money on them again. I don`t find them to be any better than the Professional Choice wraps in quality or performance. What I do notice is the outrageous price difference between the two. The Equilibrium wraps are about $100 for a pair while t12980he Professional Choice wraps are around $40 for a four. I wrap all four of my horses legs every time I ride her and spending $200 on schooling wraps seems a little on the expensive side.
I know there are many other brands out there that provide the added support of the ace bandage with the moisture control properties. I personally only have experience with these three. However, I am always looking for more tack especially polo wraps, so if you have found a pair you just love let me know about them!
There are so many cool options for polo wraps now-a-days. Where do you begin?
The first thing I`ve learned about polo wraps is they are not all made equally and price doesn`t always mean they`re better. While managing the tack store I got to play with many different wraps and talk to the manufacturer about why each wrap was so special. They vary in price from just $12 to just over $100.
The first and most common polo is the fleece polo. This type of wrap has been around forever. They are actually very simple. Fleece strips with Velcro. The only thing to really know about with these is price doesn`t always mean you get a wrap that will last longer. My best example of that: I bought a really nice (and rather expensive for fleece polo wraps) that had Velcro that didn`t line up (I find this the most annoying thing). I then bought a cheap set and they have lasted for years and the Velcro was great. Unfortunately, I don`t remember which brand I bought that didn`t work, nor do I remember the cheap brand it was just too long ago and I now use a different type of polo wrap that I like better.
The newest trend with polo`s is moisture wicking and added support through an ace bandage like material. After several years of using traditional polo`s on my young horse, I switched to the moisture wicking wraps and have never looked back. I visibly saw a different in the temperature of the leg. I will admit the added support the manufactures talk about with the ace bandage material makes sense I`ve just never visibly seen a difference.
I have personal experience with three brands of these types of wraps.
1. The first are the Centaur Climate Control Polo Wraps. These arecentaur-climate-control-polo-wraps-9-800x742 ok for the money. They are the cheapest ones I`ve found, but they have one flaw I just can`t get over. This flaw is the moisture wicking material that is used. It tends to bunch and it leaves uneven pressure on the tendons. The material is layered with terry cloth, which sits against the leg, foam in the middle and a nylon like material on the outside. The added material curls on the edges which causes the uneven pressure points. Though my mare doesn`t seem to be bothered by it, I became concerned when I saw pressure lines after I rode. I have therefore stopped using them. However, I do like the exterior ace bandage wrap quality and Velcro. These are just as good as the Equilibriums quality. I wish they would just change the material they are using for the moisture wicking component of the wrap and these would be great.
2. The next set I`m familiar with are the Professional Choice Wraps. The design is similar to the Centaur ClimateControl Polo`s but there is one key difference. The moisture wicking part of it is much more stream lined and doesn`t leave pressure marks. These wraps are PCmore than the Centaur`s Climate Control Wraps but are still very reasonable in price. I find the exterior wraps and Velcro to be nice in quality and holds up nicely. The only real thing I wish they would change is that they make the Velcro a hook in loop instead of the traditional overlay. I know this is to try and prevent wrapping the leg too tightly since the exterior of the polo`s are made of ace bandage like material but I just don`t like it. I`ve accepted that I`m just a traditionalist.
3. The last set I`m familiar with are the Equilibrium wraps. These are nice wraps but I believe are way over priced for what they are. I bought two pairs about 2 years ago and have really liked them. They offer everything I wanted in a moisture control wrap. Even the traditional Velcro design I like. However, I don`t think I would spend the money on them again. I don`t find them to be any better than the Professional Choice wraps in quality or performance. What I do notice is the outrageous price difference between the two. The Equilibrium wraps are about $100 for a pair while t12980he Professional Choice wraps are around $40 for a four. I wrap all four of my horses legs every time I ride her and spending $200 on schooling wraps seems a little on the expensive side.
I know there are many other brands out there that provide the added support of the ace bandage with the moisture control properties. I personally only have experience with these three. However, I am always looking for more tack especially polo wraps, so if you have found a pair you just love let me know about them!
