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I'm going to get a saddle made, and am wondering if i should go rough-out or smooth-out on the seat. my current saddle is smooth out and only once have I rode in my wife's suede seat saddle(it felt ok to me) but it's too small anyway to make an educated decision.
I saw in the custom saddle thread that there are some of each on here. Most of my riding is around the house on flat land, but during hunting season it's in the mountains.
I kind of think rough-out myself so my seat sticks to the seat.
What do you fellas prefer? Why?
Is there a pucker advantage, one vs. the other, to keeping your seat when you get in a hairy situtation?

Any time a guy orders a new rig it’s a tough decision because there are so many choices. I personally prefer a smooth seat but that’s my preference. I have spent a lot of time working on buckaroo outfits trotting long circles as well as running cattle and hunting a horseback in most the western mountain states. I have had both rigs and the rough outs are nice and a little sticky but will slick up after time in the seat. The rough out also wont shed water as well as smooth side out. Its hard to go wrong getting a custom rig made. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

Good Luck,

Mine is roughout. I like roughout better. No special reason just like it better. I know that the roughout when new helps you stick better but slicks up with use. Haven't tried it myself but I hear you can 'rough it up' again with light use of a wire brush.

I have always liked a smooth seat. Can't tell ya why, just do.

I have two on order right now, both roughout.

I always liked the look of a roughout and may order another one someday with a bit of border on it. I don't care for it new under my buns or on my knees. Like they said it's just suede that that slicks up quick the pores are open and won't shed water as well as good slick. If you need bind, put some grabber on yer leggins and bare down. Roughout was real fashionable back in the 60's but then again the Beatles were it back then as well. LOL!


He's a leather lover, rawhide man
Throws 50 foot hoolihan!


AKA Wiley and The Wild West

Well, the man upstairs put the rough side in and the smooth side out. Thats how it outta be on a saddle too...

smooth is my preference. the before mentioned problems of water is a major one. keep it soaped and a quick wipe its fairly dry. rough out can get soaked and turn into a problem. now you can soap it too but then you loose the rough pretty quick plus it can get a bit to oily easy. another issue is sticks and thorns seem to lodge in more frequently.

I prefer slick, the roughout just gets lookin shabby after moderate use.

Dirt,salt and moisture are the big enemies of leather. Glycerene saddle soap will clean these up but it is very hard to clean suede or roughout without using a brush and it will change the color and texture quickly and you will go from rough out to smooth ugle pretty quick if you care for it.

Back years ago those Tony Lama roughout boots were the vogue for awhile. I had to have a pair of them and I had an Uncle that was a boot distibutor well I saved up and went to him to order a pair of roughout tonys. He said why do you want them? I said well all the rodeo hands i see around and wearing them now and they look really sharp. BS! says Uncle Bob wearing black polished Bluchers with the high riding heels so shiny you could see yourself in them, you won't like em. Well he couldn't budge me so he ordered me a pair in. Well I was excited the day I got them and slipped them on they looked good! Well I went to wearing them everyday just like my regular calf skin or bull hide boots. Well they got dirty, muddy, covered with excrement from the corrals and you name it and before long they looked horrible. I tried to clean them but it seemed to make them only look worse so I head back to Uncle Bob's place. I showed him the boots and he just laughed with a snort and went to his closet and dug out one of them cool looking suede jackets with the sheep skin lining. He said read this. I looked at the tag and it said, this suede product required professional cleaning. attempts to clean this material with conventional methods can alter or destroy this garment.

Last pair of roughouts for me. LOL!

Smooth.

I think you fellas talked me into it. smooth.

I don't know why in the world that darn mule of mine got so upset when we were going down that darn mountain and thru the exposed rootwad we were having to work thru. She was just standing and I was just sitting still - I sure didn't know what to do. I finally nudged her to suggest she figure something out. She did! She came unglued and went up in the air with a twist in kind of a jigjag. And then she did a couple more - I think - just to let me know she wasn't much appreciating me right then. I actually think having my slick seat saddle is what probably saved me in that case - And the fact that she didn't make just one more of those body-message statements.