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Home » Equestrian Sports » Tack » Best Impact Gel Saddle Pad Reviews

Best Impact Gel Saddle Pad Reviews

March 22, 2020 by Julie Bradford Leave a Comment

Last updated on January 5th, 2021 at 02:00 pm

Are you tired of having a sore butt or thighs after riding? In this article we are going to share with you our best impact gel saddle pad reviews.

Horse competitions and modern horse riding in general are putting ever-increasing demands on horses and riders alike. The demand for increased performance has led to the creation of many new tack items that aim to improve and enhance performance and comfort both in and out of the show ring. Among those items are the various types of saddle pads that we see today, including impact gel pads.

While success in competitions will always be primarily a result of proper conditioning and constant training, the importance of selecting the best tack should not be underestimated. It is crucial for both rider and horse to be as comfortable as possible. This is why it’s important to carefully read reviews when shopping for the best impact gel saddle pad.

Table of Contents

  • Our Favorites
  • Best Impact Gel Saddle Pad Reviews
  • Contour Felt Saddle Pad – Best Impact Gel Saddle Pad 2021
  • Cowtown Woven Saddle Pad – 100% Wool Impact Gel Saddle Pad
  • Barrel Contour Saddle Pad – Shortest Impact Gel Saddle Pad
  • Riverland Woven Saddle Pad – Most Stylish
  • Contour Saddle Pad XT Lite Gel – Coolest Impact Gel Saddle Pad
  • Seat Saver Saddle Cushion – Bonus
  • Impact Gel Saddle Pad Buyer’s Guide
  • Impact Gel Saddle Pads Benefits
  • Shock Absorption
  • Temperature Resistance
  • Antimicrobial Properties
  • Environmental Impact
  • How To Clean An Impact Gel Saddle Pad
  • Conclusion

Our Favorites

  1. Best Overall For 2021: Contour Felt Saddle Pad
  2. 100% Wool: Cowtown Woven Saddle Pad
  3. Shortest: Barrel Contour Saddle Pad
  4. Most Stylish: Riverland Woven Saddle Pad
  5. Coolest: Contour Saddle Pad XT Lite Gel
  6. Bonus: Seat Saver Saddle Cushion

Best Impact Gel Saddle Pad Reviews

PRODUCTDETAILSOUR RATING

   BEST OVERALL   


Impact Gel Contour Felt Saddle Pad
Impact Gel

Contour Felt Saddle Pad

CLICK FOR PRICE


  • Fits Square or Round-Backed Saddles
  • Available in Black or Gray
  • Cutout A The Withers
  • Contour Cut Along The Spine

HorseGroomingSupplies.com Seal
Our #1 Rated

5 out of 5
in Impact Gel Saddle Pad category


   100% WOOL   


Impact Gel Cowtown Woven Saddle Pad
Impact Gel

Cowtown Woven Saddle Pad

CLICK FOR PRICE


  • 100% New Zealand Wool Top
  • Moisture wicking
  • Classic Fit

HorseGroomingSupplies.com Seal
Our #2 Rated

4.5 out of 5
in Impact Gel Saddle Pad category


   SHORTEST   


Impact Gel Barrel Contour Saddle Pad
Impact Gel

Barrel Contour Saddle Pad

CLICK FOR PRICE


  • Shortest Saddle Pad Option
  • For Round Skirt Barrel Saddles

HorseGroomingSupplies.com Seal
Our #3 Rated

5 out of 5
in Impact Gel Saddle Pad category


   MOST STYLISH   


Impact Gel Riverland Woven Saddle Pad
Impact Gel

Riverland Woven Saddle Pad

CLICK FOR PRICE


  • 100% New Zealand Wool Top
  • Moisture wicking
  • Classic Fit

HorseGroomingSupplies.com Seal
Our #4 Rated

4.5 out of 5
in Impact Gel Saddle Pad category


   COOLEST   


Impact Gel Contour Saddle Pad XT Lite Gel
Impact Gel

Contour Saddle Pad XT Lite Gel

CLICK FOR PRICE


  • Extra Light and Cool
  • Perforated Gel
  • Felt Lined Bottom

HorseGroomingSupplies.com Seal
Our #5 Rated

4 out of 5
in Impact Gel Saddle Pad category


   BONUS   


Impact Gel Seat Saver Saddle Cushion
Impact Gel

Seat Saver Saddle Cushion

CLICK FOR PRICE


  • Moisture wicking
  • Woven or Mesh Top

HorseGroomingSupplies.com Seal
Our #6 Rated

4.5 out of 5
in Impact Gel Saddle Pad category


Our Recommendations:

  • We prefer 100% wool top pads for the added wicking effect.
  • Proper fit of the saddle pad is more important than brand or type of material.

Contour Felt Saddle Pad – Best Impact Gel Saddle Pad 2021

best impact gel saddle pad 2021

 

Impact Gel Contour Felt Saddle Pad is our top pick for the best Impact Gel saddle pad 2021. This is the original Impact Gel saddle pad.

For the past 15+ years, this gel pad has been the number one choice for riders seeking the latest in technology and comfort. A perfect fit with the saddle is achieved thanks for the strategically placed and fitted gel bladder. It features a 70/30 polyester to wool blend which is great at wicking away moisture while also being exceptionally durable. Circulation is also improved thanks for this wool blend which allows for better air flow.

We really like how well this saddle pad cushions and absorbs impact. Even the highest performing competition horses and riders will find this gel saddle pad to be extremely comfortable.

Pros
  • Best Impact Gel saddle pad 2021
  • Available in black or gray
  • Fits Square or Round-Backed Saddles
  • Cutout at the withers
  • Contour cut along the spine
Cons
  • None
CLICK FOR PRICE

 

Cowtown Woven Saddle Pad – 100% Wool Impact Gel Saddle Pad

Impact Gel Cowtown Woven Saddle Pad

The Cowtown Woven Saddle Pad is a classic saddle pad design that has been very popular for many years. What makes this one unique, however, is that the top is 100% hand-woven New Zealand wool. Wool is very popular due to it’s superior moisture wicking and anti-microbial properties. The extra wicking from the natural wool fibers is sure to keep your horse cooler o those hot rides.

Pros
  • 100% New Zealand Wool Top
  • Classic style and fit
  • Contour or straight-cut available
Cons
  • A bit more expensive than other models
CLICK FOR PRICE

 

Barrel Contour Saddle Pad – Shortest Impact Gel Saddle Pad

Impact Gel Barrel Contour Saddle Pad

 

The Barrel Contour Saddle Pad was designed to better accompany barrel saddles. This Barrel Saddle Pad is the shortest of the bunch with an overall length of 28”.  The front of this saddle pad extends down 16”, and the rear of this gel pad extends 13”. If you use a barrel saddle, this is the pad for you.

Pros
  • Shortest saddle pad option
  • Perfect for round skirt barrel saddles
Cons
  • None
CLICK FOR PRICE

 

Riverland Woven Saddle Pad – Most Stylish

Impact Gel Riverland Woven Saddle Pad

The Riverland Woven Saddle Pad is essentially the same as the Cowtown model mentioned about. It comes in a variety of colors and has a 100% New Zealand wool top.

Pros
  • 100% New Zealand Wool Top
  • Classic style and fit
  • Contour or straight-cut available
Cons
  • More expensive than traditional models
CLICK FOR PRICE

 

Contour Saddle Pad XT Lite Gel – Coolest Impact Gel Saddle Pad

Impact Gel Contour Saddle Pad XT Lite Gel

 

The Contour Saddle Pad XT Lite Gel features a gel insert that has a system of perforations which makes it more light-weight, breathable, and cooler. The fit is the same as the classic Contour pad, and the XT Lite gel offers the same level of protection as the original. This saddle pad is great for riding in extra warm areas.

Pros
  • Coolest Impact Gel Saddle Pad
  • Perforated gel pad
  • Felt lined bottom
Cons
  • Uncertain about durability due to perforated gel
CLICK FOR PRICE

 

Seat Saver Saddle Cushion – Bonus

Impact Gel Seat Saver Saddle Cushion

 

The Seat Saver Saddle Cushion is great if you’re looking for extra cushion on the rider seat. It uses an adjustable strap and elastic band to attach to your saddle. The memory foam, Impact Gel, and nonslip bottom ensure amazing fit and comfort for the rider. We like that the top is available in either mesh or wool fleece.

Pros
  • Mesh or wool fleece top
  • Attaches to your saddle
Cons
  • May not provide enough padding for some riders
CLICK FOR PRICE

 

Impact Gel Saddle Pad Buyer’s Guide

Before we get into important details to look for when buying an impact saddle pad, we first need to stress the importance of good saddle fit. Soring can occur when a saddle does not fit properly. Providing more padding should be seen as only a temporary fix since it does not fix the problem. Most of the time, if your pad is not staying where it should, you should take a close inspection of how the tree of your saddle fits on your horses back. Obviously buying new saddles all the time is not realistic, so it’s very important that you use a pad well fitted to your horse. You want to find a good balance of cooling and compression protection.

Impact Gel Saddle Pads Benefits

Impact gel, which is patented, is manufactured from cross-link structures which are interconnected energy dissipating molecules. What’s unique about the gel molecules is that they are able to flow freely around one another and at the same time remain linked. Impact Gel is excellent at absorbing and dissipating pressure points and force of impact that come from saddle use, especially when wearing riding jeans.

Shock Absorption

Impact Gel is incredibly shock absorbent.  This is due to how energy is dissipated and transferred through the gel molecules upon impact. Unlike some other types of pads, energy in gel pads flows horizontally away from the spot of impact, very similar to how water ripples upon impact.

Temperature Resistance

Impact Gel works great at absorbing energy, even at temperatures down to -40F. Additionally, it is capable of dispersing heat at up to as high as 250F. Likewise, in temperatures as low as -40F, Impact Gel retains its energy absorbing properties. This helps to keep your horse cooler for longer. If your horse does happen to overheat, you can always give them an electrolyte supplement.

Antimicrobial Properties

Both fungi and bacteria have been shown to be unable to survive on Impact Gel’s surface. This is clearly very important for the health of both horse and rider.

Environmental Impact

Made out of soybeans, Impact Gel is inert. It is also produced under low temperature and low pressure. This makes the environmental impact of gel saddle pads lower than some competing materials.

How To Clean An Impact Gel Saddle Pad

Another thing that we really love about Impact Gel saddle pads is how easy they are to care for. Check out this video on how to clean an Impact Gel saddle pad.

Conclusion

In summary, Impact Gel saddle pads stand out among the competition for two distinct reasons. They can’t be beat when it comes to relieving pressure points which are frequently the result of an improper fitting saddle. They are also unmatched when it comes to dissipating energy which is transferred onto the back of the horse. Key benefits of these is that your horse will fresh and cooler longer and therefore perform much better.

Last update on 2021-01-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Filed Under: Tack Tagged With: saddle

About Julie Bradford

Lifelong horse lover and author. I have owned and cared for horses for over 20 years. My love for everything equestrian led me to create this site and share my knowledge with like-minded animal lovers.

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Julie Bradford - HorseGroomingSupplies.com

Hi! I’m Julie. My team and I are passionate about horses and love sharing everything we know and learn about them. We have decades of combined horse ownership between us. HorseGroomingSupplies.com is the ultimate resource for learning everything about caring for horses and equestrian sports.

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