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Although I have always preferred to ride in safety stirrups, I have found that they can be bulky and heavy. So when I was offered a pair of Vector Balance Stirrups from LeMieux to ride in, I was very interested to see how this modern, lightweight design compared to others I have used.
At first glance, when compared to my old faithful stainless steel safety stirrups, these were noticeably much lighter but with a sturdy feel and a modern look. They arrived in a smart box and they come in a variety of colour options.
Fit
I have been using the LeMieux Vector Balance Stirrups for several months now and I found them easy to fit to my stirrup leather and saddle from day one.
You do need to be mindful of the spikes on the footbed, though, which can scratch the leather on your stirrup leathers. I have since purchased a set of stirrup covers to prevent the spikes from scratching the leather.
These stirrups come in one size which is plenty big enough for my foot (I’m a size 7 but with fairly narrow feet) to sit safely and securely in the stirrup without it feeling big and bulky.
They are also easy to clean and look fab after a quick wipe over. Several months on and even with daily use they still look like I’ve just taken them out of the box.
Performance
As soon as I put my feet in the stirrups, they felt super comfy and really secure. The spikes definitely help to prevent your foot sliding in the stirrup, and the ergonomic footplate of the Vector Balance Stirrup is set at 5° to enable lower leg stability and help encourage your heels to stay down.
The apex of the frame is recessed and off-set, encouraging a 45° outward orientation to make it easier to find the ideal angle for your foot when riding.
I was interested to see how secure the safety clip was on the stirrup in terms of accidentally popping open, but it has never once accidentally opened. This is because it has an integrated hinged arm with a two-stage release system, preventing unintentional opening.
I have tested it and it will definitely release under enough pressure and is easy to close back together once opened.
How the quick-release mechanism works
LeMieux explains that these stirrups have a spring-loaded arm that locks into the base of the iron so that when under maximum pressure, such as landing over a fence, your weight is spread evenly across the stirrup, preventing the outside from dropping and flexing.
When pressure from a rider’s foot is put onto the arm of the stirrup, it releases and allows the foot to come out of the stirrup. The stirrup arm breakout force was 36N (equivalent to 3.62kg) in testing, which means there is enough resistance to stop it from opening unintentionally, but it will release when needed.
Having said that, these stirrups — as with any safety stirrup — do come with a warning that the quick-release system is not 100% guaranteed to open in the event of a fall. Things like your horse falling too or a loose girth causing your saddle to slip may not generate enough lateral force to open the release arm in the stirrup, for example.
Value for money
For a lightweight safety stirrup with plenty of technical features, I think the LeMieux Vector Balance Stirrups are priced right and are a good investment that will hopefully last the test of time.
Product info
LeMieux Vector Balance Stirrups
£159.95
Available in various colours including rose gold, auburn, navy blue and silver.
Competition legal for FEI, British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping.
