The best technical stirrups are a must-have tack accessory and can make a real difference to your time in the saddle. Whether you’re hoping to improve your performance or increase your comfort in the saddle, there’s a pair of technical stirrups out there for you – and while you’re at it, it’s worth checking out the best stirrup leathers, too.
Long gone are the days where everyone used traditional stirrup irons – now the range of technical and safety stirrups on the market is vast and when searching for a new pair there are myriad styles, colours and materials to choose from. Technological advances over recent years have influenced the shape and safety features of many stirrups, while comfort levels also vary.
Best technical stirrups: H&H’s quick guide
Best hinged technical stirrups: Sprenger Flexcite Grip
Best value technical stirrups: Flex-On Green Composite
Best technical safety stirrups: Flex-On Safe-On
What are the benefits of technical stirrups?
When you compare the best technical stirrups that are currently available with the simple, traditional steel irons, it’s easy to see how far we’ve come. Technical stirrups are more shock-absorbing, which is great news for our joints as they’re some of the best stirrups for knee pain or ankle pain. They also have better grip, which helps us retain our stirrups, and are ergonomically designed. The angles used in technical stirrups not only help you regain a lost stirrup more easily, but some designs help you keep your heels down, too.
The safety aspect is also important – many technical stirrups are now also shaped to allow your foot to slide out more easily in the event of a fall, while others have a breakaway arm.
Technical stirrups for dressage vs jumping
While stirrups can be used in any discipline (assuming they comply with the rules if you’re competing), some designs are made with particular disciplines in mind. By investing in a quality training stirrup that guides you into the right position, you can begin to develop improved feel, coordination and technique.
With the different leg positions and demands on the body in each discipline, some stirrup designs will be more beneficial to you than others. Using the right stirrups for your discipline not only aid your leg position, but can help alleviate pain, too. The best dressage stirrups will aid a longer leg position, while the best jumping stirrups will give you the security you need when tackling a course and offer additional shock absorption, too.
What size stirrups do I need?
Not all stirrups come in a range of sizes, but where they do you should choose a pair that are one inch wider than the width of your boot at the ball of your foot. This gives you half an inch of space each side once your foot is in place. Some stirrup sizes are determined by weight – particularly when it comes to safety stirrups. While you might have feet small enough to fit junior stirrups, for example, you need to check the rider weight limits for activating the safety mechanism.
Best technical stirrups: what are the options?
Sprenger Flexcite Grip Stirrups
Colours: Silver
Weight: 650g each
Legal BD/BE/BS: Yes
RRP: £253
H&H Review: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy: Shock absorbing, good for position, extra-wide foot pad
Reasons to avoid: Heavier than others
The Flexcite Grip stirrups have a bowed shape (when viewed from above or the side) to help set your leg in the correct position whatever your discipline. The flexible arms are designed to be shock absorbing and gentle to ligaments and joints. The extra-wide foot pad is what sets them apart from the Bow Balance stirrups – the Flexcites have a stainless steel grip inlay for a non-slip, secure hold to give you confidence even when the weather gets bad, while the Bow Balance have a rubber tread.
We loved these stirrups and found them to be really shock absorbing – and our tester said she “would be more than happy to ride in these every single day”. They’re a bit heavier than other technical stirrups, but if weight isn’t one of your top deciding factors then these are a great option.
Read our full Sprenger Flexcite Grip stirrups review.
Flex-On Green Composite Stirrups
Colours: 10 frame and 17 elastomer options
Weight: 400g each (adult), 300g each (child)
Legal BD/BE/BS: Yes
RRP: From £185.95 (adult), £79.95 (child)
H&H review: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy: Off-set position, very lightweight, loads of colour choice, inclined angle, eco-friendly
These stirrups use elastomer shock absorbers to cushion and reduce shockwaves you receive from the horse’s movement. They have an off-set leather slot that helps achieve the optimum leg position, while the large footbed gives a wide area of support and the inclined angle encourages your heel to stay down. The ‘Green’ in the name refers to the environmentally sourced polyamide that covers the sprung steel frame. They are also available in a junior size (for riders under 40kg).
We put these stirrups to the test, and Becky commented that she found these stirrups particularly good for jumping and hacking, feeling very secure in the leg. She also noted how shock absorbing she found these stirrups when jumping. Read our full Flex On Green Composite Stirrups review.
Flex-On Safe-On Stirrups
Colours: 11 frame, 3 footbed and 17 elastomer options
Sizes: Adult or junior (for riders under 40kg)
Weight: 500g each (adult), 275g (junior)
RRP: £244.95 (adult), £145.95 (junior)
H&H review: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy: Loads of customisation options, suited to jumping, junior sizes
Topping the list in our guide to the best safety stirrups, the Safe-Ons are based on the design for Flex-On’s Green Composite Stirrup. They have shock-absorbing and ergonomic features and can be customised in the same way. The outer branch is designed to open in the event of a fall when at least 40kg weight is exerted on it – and can quickly and easily be re-attached using a tool supplied. They are also available in a junior size (for riders under 40kg).
Just like the Green Composite stirrups, the elastomers provide shock absorption to protect joints, while the off-set leather slot ensures the stirrup sits at the optimum angle. The inclined tread also helps you to maintain the correct leg position. The junior stirrups are available with flat or inclined treads, and an optional stirrup cage for the junior stirrup and endurance riders is also available.
We put these stirrups to the test and rated them H&H Approved – we thought they were particularly well suited to jumping and there are loads of customisation options. Read our full Flex-On Safe-On stirrups review.
Sprenger Bow Balance Stirrups
Colours: Black, anthracite or bronze
Weight: 552g each
Legal BD/BE/BS: Yes
RRP: From £195.90
H&H Review: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy: Shock absorbing, good for position, extra-wide foot pad, good grip
The Bow Balance stirrups feature the innovative four-link-system technology, which makes them flexible in all directions, softening the impact without creating an unstable feeling. The bow shape of the steel section reduces the risk of the foot becoming trapped within, ensures enhanced security, encourages a good leg position and makes them easier to regain when lost. The stirrups have an extra-wide tread pad to aid balance and come with two types of rubber hardness for a better grip.
Read the full Sprenger Bow Balance Stirrups review.
Jin Air Stirrups
Colours: 16
Weight: 430g each
Legal BD/BE/BS: Yes
RRP: £218
H&H Review: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy: Shock absorbing, flexible arm for easy exit
These stirrups have an anatomical footbed that provides a high level of comfort, grip and stability, while also helping prevent you losing your stirrups. The smart-release mechanism with flexible arch allows your foot to exit in all directions should you fall before automatically returning to its original position.
We found these stirrups to be well suited to jumping. They also felt very springy, which suggests they offer good shock absorption.
Read H&H’s independent Jin Air stirrups review.
FreeJump Soft’Up Pro+ Stirrups
Colours: Silver, blue, choco, pink, red, Bordeaux, navy, black, green or cream
Weight: 502g each
Legal BD/BE/BS: Yes
RRP: £275
Reasons to buy: Angled stirrup eye, large tread, shock absorbing
The Freejump Soft’Up Pro Plus stirrups are designed with both safety and comfort in mind. The inner branch is fixed, while the outer open branch can bend open to easily release your foot in the event of a fall. They also offer a high degree of shock absorption – the stirrups flex at the lower inside bend of the stirrups, which absorbs shock travelling into riders ankles, knees and hips in addition to the shock travelling across the horses back.
The main difference from the Soft’Up Classics is the position of the stirrup eye, which is on a 45° angle to provide extra comfort and allow riders to easily find a lost stirrup. The Pro+ tread is also 27% larger – this extra size combined with the raised metal studs across each footplate provides extra grip and stability.
LeMieux Vector Balance Stirrup
Colours: Black, black/aluminium, aluminium, carbon grey, auburn, rose gold or navy
Weight: 419g each
RRP: £159.95
Reasons to buy: Safety arm, lightweight, off-set stirrup eye
These stirrups have a slight incline of 5° and a studded grip surface. It also benefits from an integrated hinged arm that releases when abnormal pressure is applied during a fall, and allows the foot to come out of the stirrup.
They are shock-absorbing, which reduces fatigue at the knee and ankle, particularly as your horse lands. The eyelet for the stirrup leather is recessed and off-set at 45°, which makes it easier to regain a lost stirrup.
Shires Compositi Eole Soft Stirrups
Colours: Black, orange, burgundy, raspberry, royal blue, bright blue, red or purple
Legal BD/BE/BS: Yes
RRP: £54.99
These stirrups certainly aren’t the most technical on this list, but when you compare them to traditional irons they definitely offer a range of benefits, which makes them a great option if you’re shopping on a budget.
They’re available in a wide range of colours and this elastomer soleplate is what offers the shock absorption. They have a wide tread and a slight tilt, which helps reduce the tension in your joints.
Acavallo Opera Stirrups
Colours: Black or brown
Weight: 303g
Legal BD/BE/BS: Yes
RRP: £89.95
Reasons to buy: 90° stirrup eye, cheaper option, lightweight
Reasons to avoid: No safety mechanism
The way these Acavallo stirrups are suspended allows these lightweight stirrups to hang with optimal balance, angle and flexibility. The laser-cut stainless steel foot plate is supported by twin moulded side sections. Each side of the stirrup works independently, which spreads the load and helps to absorb shock.
The Opera stirrup is a completely new concept in riding because of its special patented loop construction, which allows the stirrup to adhere to the saddle flap, avoiding friction between the leg and the stirrup, for a more correct, comfortable and secure ride. The large stirrup pad in stainless steel gives riders better grip and relieves tension in the hips, knees, ankles and calves.
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