BUYING A RW SUIT IN THE UK

[VampireGirl 0]

Hi there, I am embarking on buying my first custom made RW suit and as it is quite a whack of money, thought I'd ask around to see what people think.

I have so far been able to find:
Bev Suits in the states, Symbiosis Suits and Aircare Suits.

I have found that Bev uses lots of cordura (maybe I need that as I haven't quite mastered landing on my feet yet). Symbiosis is in the UK and therefore it is more convenient. Aircare is in the Uk and is very cheap, am I getting the same quality as if I was paying more?

I have more or less decided to get standard booties with zips, but if you guys have any opinions on this, I will be happy to hear it.

I am going to be spending a lot of money on this and so hope you can all give some advice.

Thanks a mil

XX

Sarah

www.sneale-create.com

[diablopilot 2]

I quite like The CompBodySuit From www.flitesuit.com They have been builfing jumpsuits longer than most and have some of the most durable suits in the business.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[bigway 4]

i am in the uk but still buy from my dealer in new zealand. it is cheaper to have her make it and send to the uk. speak to her and tell her i sent you, she might give you a good deal considering i have just paid her shit loads of money for all new gear.
www.garlyn.co.nz
their suits are excellent.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[bodypilot1 0]

Symbiosis is local and probably your best bet.


Be safe
Ed

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[mr2mk1g 10]

You're in London - go to symbiosis suits at Headcorn airfield. You will get measured by the person who actually puts your suit together - there can be no substitute for that.

Not only that but they are easily the equal or better than any other suit on the market. They really are good quality suits they offer oodles of options for you to tweak it to exactly how you want it. Again talking to the actual manufacturer is the best way to decide what options you want.

You're looking at dropping anything between £140 to £200 on one though... but you are buying real quality and given your location you would be silly to seriously consider another brand.

You can play with their designers here: http://www.symbiosis.suits.btinternet.co.uk/

[Stumpy 284]

Symbi rock - mine fits like a glove and was done in about 3 weeks (I paid for a rush) You up at the DZ this weekend? I think between us we have got pretty much all the brands, feel free to look mine over. Will be there unless the weather is REALLY bad!! (like last weekend )

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[vt1977 0]

Sarah,

I have owned 4 Symbi suits and will shortly be ordering my 5th. I like the suits and the fact that they are local means that you can get measured by them and can go and have a look at fabric samples etc. in person.

If you want more cordura than they offer as standard just ask them - I actually mentioned this to Dona from Symbi at the weekend and she said they would be happy to put extra cordura on our team suits if we wanted it.

Also, if you order now you should get your jumpsuit fairly soon as this is the slow time of year in the UK.

Vicki

[ps5601 0]

I have been looking into jumpsuits recently for our UK team (same one as Vicki's). Here is what I found.

The US suit manufacturers will be able to offer you a cheaper deal as the dollar is so weak at the moment (if I'm lucky it'll even hit 2 before I go out there at Easter). The likes of Tony or Bev suits are pretty good and cheap. However watch out for 3 things!

1) There are a lot of options, many of which you will need/want which you pay more for.

2) The price will not include sales tax (or UK duty, which you will have to pay if you get it shipped over here).

3) Mistakes sometimes happen. If you are not happy with something (ie the fit) getting it fixed is harder if the manufacturer is out of the UK.

I have heard of people having problems with Aircare suits in the past. Symbi are very good at getting it right first time, and fixing problems should they arise.

The other big European suit manufacturer is Parasport, however the Euro is strong at the moment so the suits are expensive. If I were you I'd go with Symbi.

Blue skies

Paul

[skytash 0]

I've had two Aircare suits, after which I went for Tony suits. I would say you get what you pay for with an Aircare suit - they are cheaper but don't last as long as some others. I get Tony suits now because I spend a lot of time at Z-hills and get Tony to measure me there, and any changes can be done on the spot if mistakes do happen.

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[meatbomb 0]

Another vote for Symbi FS suits here...they are expensive, and slow, but well worth it when they arrive! The quality is second to none in the UK, and they will make whatever you want...I personally use an XL competition suit with the fabric of a slowpo, that takes me from an average fallrate of 135, to being able to stay with sub-100 tandems...Fantastic! I also only ever get measured by the people who are making my suits / containers etc...what's the point of getting custom-made stuff, if you're not measured by the person who's custom making it????

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Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii!
Piccies

[Zoter 0]

Hi !
I had an AirCare RW suit made for me last year.
Overall its very good....the quality is very good and its very durable ( although it has not been getting too much use in the last 100jumps or so !!)

I have put it up against a Symbi suit and to be honest for what I needed it for its fine......the booties are not as high 'spec' as the Symbi suit, but and....heres the thing....they work fine....!!
I'm sure somebody on a RW team with 3 zillion jumps is going to INSIST that they have 'Mega' booties.....but do you really need them?

The grips ( get the competition ones) are big and chunky....just like everyone elses.....

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Symbiosis have made all but one of my suits for me, I have no complaints.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[Nick 0]

Bev suits, 200 jumps and about 4 hours in the tunnel, still going strong and looking like new.

Symiosis suit, 100 jumps and 1 hour in the tunnel, holes in the knees, needed new booties and looked pretty worn out.

Ordering from the US is no big problem as long as you get yourself measured up properly.

Nick
Gravity- It's not just a good idea, it's the LAW!

[freekflyguy 0]

Heres mt 10 cent worth

Symbi - Buy cheap buy twice, although I do own a Symbi Slo Po as I find they give me the best range. I am on my second after the first was cut off me in Elsinore. I find that they are not as hard wearing as other makes but needs must when your a pie eater.

Tony - Bullet proof excellent build quality but my slow suit doesnt give me the range the Symbi does.

Fire Fly - Outstanding camera suits, better by far than the Tony, Symbi cam suits i have had and on a par with Rainbow.

Rainbow - Vorsprung Durch Technique. Probably the best RW suits i have seen, build quality is great, very durable but dont really cater for the fuller figure.

Michigan - another very good suit but also expensive.

The above is based on personal experince with each make.

My personal kit.

I wear a Symbi twin zipper for dispatching on a daily basis, but that is going to be replaced by my new Rainbow swoop pants and a sweatshirt.

Firefly camera suit for filming tandems and FS.

Symbi SloPo for Warp and slow FS

Tony Suit for fast FS

Aircare FF suit for FF soon to be Rainbow FF pants.

Rainbow Swoop pants for dispatching and swooping.

BTW I am not affiliated to Rainbow but you should check them out.

http://rainbowsuits.com/en/index.php

Buzz

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.