Chaps and chinks are similar. Both are leather leg coverings worn by horseback riders –
typically cowboys and cowgirls – as protection against weather, timber, brush,
kicks, rope burns, and other hazards. Both
chaps and chinks are buckled around the waist, and are open
in the back so a rider’s seat is not covered. Chaps run the full length of the rider's
legs.
Chinks are shorter, typically hitting
the rider below the knee but above the ankle. They are fastened around the
rider’s legs by snaps, buckles, or other fasteners, but the fasteners
stop above the back of the knee, allowing the chinks to move more freely from
that point downward. The fringe on
chinks is also usually longer and more prominent than fringe found on chaps. All these chaps and chinks were worn by various cowboys on the day of our ranch branding.weather, timber, brush,
k
