Posted By: Lazarus
Product Review -- JC Conner Chaps - 10/26/19 11:53 PM
So let me say right up front I've always been a fan of JC and his workmanship. Everything I've ever bought or used that he made or produced has always been tough, well built, practical and worth every penny.
So when a buddy of mine asked if I had ever thought of trying JC's chaps, I had to admit that I hadn't ever heard of them but I would take a look at them. I looked at the chaps on JC's website and thought, "Hmmm, they look like they might work so I'll buy some and if they don't work, I'll send them back." I shouldn't have worried about the return postage. I ordered them from the website and within an hour I got a call from Mrs. Conner double checking my measurements and making sure they were correct. She said she didn't know if she could get them done before my November 1 season start date, but she'd try. The chaps arrived early -- two weeks before my season start date.
I took them out on my coyote trapline (my state has no season on coyotes; you can trap them 12 months out of the year) and was immediately and thoroughly impressed. First, they fit great. They are a tiny tad large all the way around but when it gets real cold and I'm wearing heavier clothing, they will be spot on. Second, I thought they would be bulky and confining but after just a few minutes I completely forgot I even had them on. The material is extremely durable, ironclad Cordura (read: like metal and waterproof). The chaps have built in (and replaceable) knee pads, so kneeling down in the rocks and cactus was a breeze. The dry fall sticker bushes didn't stick to my legs and calves and certainly didn't penetrate the tough material. JC says he's had his for 15 years or so and I can completely accept that -- these are pretty much indestructible. They shed water, brush, thorns, and stickers. And when it gets cold and I'm riding my 4 wheeler, they will shed rain, snow and cold. The chaps have two pockets on the front just the right size for a 4 oz bottle of lure. You can wash them easily and just air dry them. The belt clips attach the chaps to your belt so you aren't pulling up your britches all day. Like I said, I forgot I had them on.
One of the big selling points for me was the wear and tear they saved on my pants. My wife is always repairing and patching the knees in my jeans, and after a few weeks on the trapline, they have enough blood, lure and gunk on them that I get strange looks from family and friends. When my wife saw them after a hard day on the coyote line, she immediately remarked, "I wish you had those 20 years ago -- you could have saved dozens of pairs of pants." I agree. In fact, one day I left the office and decided to go check a couple coyote sets on the way home from work. I was in my dress slacks and even though I ended up dispatching a coyote and remaking three sets, my dress slacks stayed clean and dry. Now, I'm not suggesting you wear your dress slacks to check traps, but it was testament to the idea that they thoroughly protect your pants, and your knees. I'm glad I got a pair and I know they will bring me years of valuable service. Definitely worth the money and now an essential part of my trapline equipment.
![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2019/10/full-25559-21219-image1_6.jpeg)
![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2019/10/full-25559-21220-image1_7.jpeg)
So when a buddy of mine asked if I had ever thought of trying JC's chaps, I had to admit that I hadn't ever heard of them but I would take a look at them. I looked at the chaps on JC's website and thought, "Hmmm, they look like they might work so I'll buy some and if they don't work, I'll send them back." I shouldn't have worried about the return postage. I ordered them from the website and within an hour I got a call from Mrs. Conner double checking my measurements and making sure they were correct. She said she didn't know if she could get them done before my November 1 season start date, but she'd try. The chaps arrived early -- two weeks before my season start date.
I took them out on my coyote trapline (my state has no season on coyotes; you can trap them 12 months out of the year) and was immediately and thoroughly impressed. First, they fit great. They are a tiny tad large all the way around but when it gets real cold and I'm wearing heavier clothing, they will be spot on. Second, I thought they would be bulky and confining but after just a few minutes I completely forgot I even had them on. The material is extremely durable, ironclad Cordura (read: like metal and waterproof). The chaps have built in (and replaceable) knee pads, so kneeling down in the rocks and cactus was a breeze. The dry fall sticker bushes didn't stick to my legs and calves and certainly didn't penetrate the tough material. JC says he's had his for 15 years or so and I can completely accept that -- these are pretty much indestructible. They shed water, brush, thorns, and stickers. And when it gets cold and I'm riding my 4 wheeler, they will shed rain, snow and cold. The chaps have two pockets on the front just the right size for a 4 oz bottle of lure. You can wash them easily and just air dry them. The belt clips attach the chaps to your belt so you aren't pulling up your britches all day. Like I said, I forgot I had them on.
One of the big selling points for me was the wear and tear they saved on my pants. My wife is always repairing and patching the knees in my jeans, and after a few weeks on the trapline, they have enough blood, lure and gunk on them that I get strange looks from family and friends. When my wife saw them after a hard day on the coyote line, she immediately remarked, "I wish you had those 20 years ago -- you could have saved dozens of pairs of pants." I agree. In fact, one day I left the office and decided to go check a couple coyote sets on the way home from work. I was in my dress slacks and even though I ended up dispatching a coyote and remaking three sets, my dress slacks stayed clean and dry. Now, I'm not suggesting you wear your dress slacks to check traps, but it was testament to the idea that they thoroughly protect your pants, and your knees. I'm glad I got a pair and I know they will bring me years of valuable service. Definitely worth the money and now an essential part of my trapline equipment.