What is Kingsland H.A.X? H.A.X is Kingsland's fit system for breeches where the same size is available in different body shapes. The H-shape is developed for a straighter figure with narrower hips, the A-shape provides more room over the hips and thighs but a narrower waist, and the X-shape is tailored for a more defined waist and curvy/athletic figure. Kingsland recommends choosing your usual breech size and then the H-, A-, or X-shape that best matches your body shape.
Kingsland H.A.X – breeches based on body shape, not just size
Same size. Different bodies. Kingsland's H.A.X system is based on a fairly obvious idea: why should all riders with size 38 be expected to fit in exactly the same cut?
Finding the right breeches should be easy.
You know roughly what size you usually wear. You choose the color. Full grip or knee grip. Done.
Yet many recognize the same problem.
The breeches fit over the thighs – but gap at the waist.
They fit perfectly at the waist – but are too tight over the hips.
Or you go up a size to fit over the legs and end up with too much fabric elsewhere.
The problem doesn't necessarily have to be that you have the wrong size.
The problem might be that you have the wrong fit for your body shape.
This is exactly where Kingsland's H.A.X system becomes interesting.
Kingsland's idea is “same size, different shapes”: keep your usual breech size, but then choose an H-, A-, or X-shape based on how your body is proportioned.
It sounds like a small change.
In practice, it changes the whole way we can think when trying on breeches.
H-Shape
KLKIRA
Straighter silhouette with narrower upper body and hips and less volume over seat and thighs.
H-shape – when you have a straighter silhouette
The H-shape is created for the rider with a relatively narrow upper body and narrower hips, with less difference between waist and hip.
Here, KLKira is one of Kingsland's most distinct H.A.X models.
At Svensk Ridsport, KLKira is available with both Full Grip and Knee Grip. The Full Grip model uses a lightweight, ventilating material with 81 percent nylon and 19 percent elastane, four-way stretch, and compression effect for a flexible and form-stable feel.
H might suit you if:
When you try regular riding breeches, they often feel too roomy over hip and seat despite the waist being right.
You prefer a straighter cut and want to avoid excess material around thighs and hips.
Think: straighter proportions.
A-Shape
KLKimi
Narrower upper body/waist but more volume over hips and thighs.
A-shape – when the waist is narrower than the hips
Here, H.A.X solves one of the perhaps most common riding breeches problems.
The pants fit over the thighs and buttocks.
But gap at the back of the waist.
The A-shape is designed with more space over hips and thighs while the waistband tapers towards the upper body.
Kingsland's KLKimi is the reference model for the A-shape. The current KLKimi Full Grip at Svensk Ridsport is specifically designed for a narrower upper body and wider hips and combines the cut with a robust, breathable, and compressive material. Some KLKimi models also have Tanatex® treatment which is water and dirt repellent.
A might suit you if:
You need to go up a size for the riding breeches to fit over thighs or hips – but then have too much space at the waist.
Think: narrower waist + more space over hips and thighs.
X-form
KLKhloe
Here is extra space over the seat, hips, and thighs along with a more defined, high waist to help reduce gap at the back.
X-form – when the waist is clearly defined
The X-form is developed for a more curvy or athletic hourglass figure.
Here is extra space over the seat, hips, and thighs along with a more defined, high waist to help reduce gap at the back.
Kingsland's KLKhloe is the most distinct X-model. The current model uses four-way stretch, compression effect, quick-drying and breathable materials, and a high waist with four buttons.
X might suit you if:
The riding pants often fit over the legs but gap at the back of the waist, or if you want a higher, more defined waistband while needing space over the hips and seat.
Think: defined waist + more curves.
The material should follow the body
How should riding breeches really fit?
Kingsland uses five areas as a check during breeches fitting: waistband, movement, flexibility, knees, and ankles.
But what size should I choose in H.A.X?
This might be the most important question.
Start with your usual Kingsland/riding breeches size.
The point of H.A.X is not that someone who normally wears 38 should suddenly buy 42.
Instead, it's that two people who both use 38 might need 38 H and 38 A to get the right proportions.
Kingsland explicitly recommends sticking to your usual size and then choosing H, A, or X shape according to your body.
If you are between two sizes, we always recommend trying them on.
The material should follow the body – but you shouldn't have to hope that the breeches 'stretch after a few rides' to become comfortable.
How should riding breeches really fit?
- Close to the body.
- But not so tight that you lose freedom of movement.
- A simple test is not just to stand in front of the mirror.
- Move.
- Bend your knees.
- Do a deep squat.
- Lift your legs as if you were mounting.
- Sit on your heels.
The breeches should follow without cutting in, pulling tightly over the knees, or sliding down at the waist.
Kingsland uses five areas as a check during breeches fitting: waistband, movement, flexibility, knees, and ankles.
We think this is a much better way to try breeches than just asking:
Do they look good when I'm standing still?
Breeches are workwear.
They should be tested in motion.
H-Shape
Klkerry
Kingsland KLKerry Ladies H Shape F-Grip Seamless Breeches are high-performance riding pants – designed for warm days with a focus on comfort, function, and style.
Full seat or knee patch breeches – what should I choose?
There is no universal right answer here.
It largely depends on how much grip you want to feel against the saddle.
Full Grip – more contact with the saddle
In a Full Grip model, silicone/grip material is over a larger part of the seat and inside of the legs.
This can provide a more stable and 'fixed' feeling in the saddle.
Many dressage riders appreciate full grip because the seat is such a central part of communication, but Full Grip is of course used in all disciplines.
KLKira H, KLKimi A, and KLKhloe X are available in Full Grip versions at Svensk Ridsport.
Knee Grip – more freedom of movement
Knee Grip places the silicone mainly around the knee area.
You still get grip against the saddle, but the seat can feel freer.
It is popular among many show jumpers, but here too the choice is more about personal feel than discipline rules.
KLKira and several other H-shaped models are available with Knee Grip.
How we would choose
Do you often feel that the silicone 'locks' you too much?
Try Knee Grip.
Do you want to feel more stability through the seat?
Try Full Grip.
The best grip is the one you stop thinking about when you ride.
High or regular waist on breeches?
The waist height is not just a style question.
It also affects how the breeches feel when you sit in the saddle.
A higher waist can provide more support over the torso and reduce the feeling of the breeches sliding down when you sit.
For riders with a clear difference between waist and hip measurements, a higher, more shaped waistband can also help reduce gaps.
This is, for example, a central part of the X-shape KLKhloe, where Kingsland combines more space over the hip and seat with a high, defining waistband.
A regular or mid-rise waist can, on the other hand, feel freer for those who do not like much material over the stomach.
So there is no 'best' model here either.
The waist should follow the body – not cut through it.
What does four-way stretch mean?
Four-way stretch means that the fabric can stretch both horizontally and vertically.
For breeches, it is particularly useful because the body moves in many directions at once when you ride.
Kingsland uses four-way stretch through the H.A.X program and combines it in several models with high-density woven materials that should retain their shape over time.
It is the difference between:
tight
and
flexible.
A good pair of breeches should fit close to the body without feeling like the material is working against you.
What does compression in breeches mean?
Several H.A.X models use materials with a compression effect.
This primarily means that the material provides a tighter, more supportive, and shape-holding feel around the body.
For example, in KLKira and KLKhloe, compression is combined with four-way stretch, providing support without the material becoming stiff.
This is an important balance.
Too much compression without enough stretch can feel restrictive.
Too soft material without shape stability can instead start to slide and lose shape.
Why we find H.A.X interesting
Breeches are a product category where we have long accepted that fit problems should be solved by going up or down a size.
But size and body shape are two different things.
A rider with a narrow waist and stronger thighs should not have to buy a too-large waist to fit the legs.
And a rider with a straighter figure should not have excess fabric around the hips just because the leg length is right.
That is why the H.A.X idea feels so logical:
Same size. Different bodies.
At Svensk Ridsport, you can find Kingsland H.A.X in several models today, including KLKira H, KLKimi A, and KLKhloe X, as well as both Full Grip and Knee Grip options.
And if you still don't know which to choose?
Then our best advice is unusually analog:
try two forms side by side.
The difference can be significantly greater than trying two different sizes of the same breeches.
