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What Are Cowboy Chinks?

A cowboy's chinks are similar to chaps.

Chaps and chinks 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 chinks and chaps are buckled around the waist, and are open in the back so a rider’s seat is not covered.

While chaps run the full length of the cowboy or cowgirl's legs chinks are shorter, reaching below the knee but ending before the bottom of the leg.

Below: A pair of cowboy chinks.

A pair of cowboy chinks on a mounted cowboy

 

Where To Buy Cowboy Chinks

Online sellers can have great deals on cowboy chinks. Many of the chinks are custom made and ideal for work or show. Jump down the page to see the chinks for sale now.


Comparing Chinks To Chaps

The two most common styles of chaps are shotgun and batwing.

Below: A pair of shotgun chaps.

A cowboy wearing shotgun chaps

 

Below: A cowboy (rodeo pickup man) wearing batwing chaps.

A cowboy wearing batwing chaps

 

Chinks are similar to chaps, but 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 often longer and more prominent than fringe found on chaps (with the exception of bronc riding or bull riding chaps).

Below: A fancy set of chinks with the hair left on the hide and a double set of fringe.

Cowboy chinks with double fringe

Pronouncing Chinks and Chaps

"Chinks" are pronounced pretty much the same way they are spelled, with a hard "ch" sound as in "cherry" or "chipmunk." Chaps, on the other hand, are pronounced with a soft "ch" which means they are pronounced "shaps."

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Examples Of Chinks

Chinks come in a wide variety of styles. Below are several examples shown in photos.

Below: Chinks being worn by a cowboy for roping and working calves. These chinks are one color with a pocket and contrasting fringe.

A cowboy wearing chinks to rope calves

 

Below: It isn't just cowboys and cowgirls that appreciate the benefits of wearing chinks. The pair below are being worn by a trail rider just before riding into heavy brush. These chinks have the hair left on the hide, and have a square cut to the bottom.

A trail rider wearing chinks

 

Below: Hair-on-hide chinks with heart accents and long fringe.

Hair-on-hide chinks with heart accents

 

Below: Chinks with a pocket and shorter fringe.

Brown chinks with shorter fringe and a pocket

 

Below: The back of a pair of chinks. These chinks are mostly open in the back.

The back of a pair of chinks

 

Below: These chinks are more closed behind the leg than the pair above.

Chinks seen from the back

 

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