[N] suits

[FFAddict 0]

i just wanna say im really likin the [N] think for noob questions
Anyway.... What is the differnce between the main types of suits. And i dont mean a ff suit and a wingsuit im not a total moron i mean FF, RW, Camera, seperates (trousers, tops) hip suits...

Why is there a need for so many diff suits

[MWGemini 0]

I'm going to attempt to answer this, but look at my profile and see that I'm not the most knowledgeable person on this board. I've only got 56 jumps and started 2 years ago.

With that said, I think the biggest main categories of suits are freefly, RW, camera (usually having wings under the arms to catch more air), and wingsuits. The separate piece ones fill a niche market, but I'm not very familiar with them.

In each of those categories, there are sub categories. For example, there are freefly tunnel suits, freefly sky suits, etc. RW suits can have booties or not, big grippers or not. Not exactly a sub category, but options for customization. Camera suits have wings of varying sizes and serve to give the wearer a wider range of fallrate, which they can use to move around their target with less work.

The separate piece suits I've seen are either tracking suits (Phoenix Fly) or camera jackets, with small wings. I think the need for separate pieces is so the user can customize fallrate, fit, and comfort issues, plus they are cheaper.

Hope that helps. Some (or all) of this information may not be accurate. Ask around at your DZ why people fly what they do.

Mike

[FFAddict 0]

Why for example can you not use a RW suit for FF?

[AggieDave 6]

You can, but its a bit like off roading in a sports car and road racing a 4x4.

FF suits for RW isn't too bad, especially if you have grippers, but I know when I do RW I like having booties and the suit is build differently so I have a wider range on my belly.

My FF suit works great for FF (duh) but also works great for low pressure RW dives, tandems and just about anything else.

RW suits used for FF annoy the piss out of me, mainly because I don't have drag in the right places so I fall like a home sick rock and the booties flap around and cause annoyances.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[riggerrob 643]

If we scale them according to wing size, RW suits have the smallest wings, while Birdman suits have the biggest wings.
RW suits worn by skiny competitors have no wings. They have slippery nylon fronts and Spandex across the back for the least drag and fastest fall rate.
RW suits worn by "plumper" fellows are cut more baggy, with poly-cotton fabrics and maybe even tiny "wings and swoop-cords to slow them down.
FF suits look almost the same as slow RW suits, the biggest difference being the lack of grips. Mind you, fashions in FF suits are changing, with skinny FF wearing suits almost as tight as competitive RWers.

Tandem instructors usually favor baggier RW or FF suits as they are comfortable and have enough room to adjust comfort with sweaters, etc.

AFF instructors wear whichever suit they need to match fall rate with their students. For example, if I get a student significantly heavier than me, I wear my tightest fitting RW suit, but if my next student is a slender, little woman, I grab the biggest, baggiest suit I can find. Freefall instructors dress-for-success.
So, you see, there is a lot of overlap between the various styles of suits.
The next larger size of wings are worn by camera fliers. Firstly, large wings provide a huge fall-rate range, but equally important, they allow for QUICK changes of fall-rate. For example, if you are diving towards your photographic subject, you want ot be able to stop NOW!
Finally, the biggest wings are worn by wingsuiters. The first wing suits were merely tight-fitting RW suits with armpit and crotch wings sewn on after the fact. Birdman (a trademark) suits are still sewn that way, with dozens of minor improvements. The biggest Birdman suits extend past the toes! An exciting new trend in wingsuits are the Matter and Sugar Glider suits that look more like two sheets of fabric with ribs and a man in the middle.

[dragon2 2]

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An exciting new trend in wingsuits are the Matter and Sugar Glider suits that look more like two sheets of fabric with ribs and a man in the middle.

I resent that

I don't think it is that new a trend, for the moment the 2 different designs seem to be co-existing nicely. Loic's suit type isn't that much newer then the BirdMan type suits is it?

But if it's wing you want, get a Sugarglider (I doubt if I'd ever get back to the ground wearing one of those )

I usually want less wing, so doing FS in my FF suit can be a problem because I'm relatively lightweight. The big guys can wear their FF suits please when jumping with me

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[fred 0]

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You can, but its a bit like off roading in a sports car and road racing a 4x4.

Isn't this a little extreme? Maybe more like taking a Saturn SUV two-tracking: Yes, it will work, but you'll be much happier with the right vehicle.

[skybytch 273]

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The separate piece suits I've seen are either tracking suits (Phoenix Fly) or camera jackets, with small wings. I think the need for separate pieces is so the user can customize fallrate, fit, and comfort issues, plus they are cheaper.

Seperates have been available for awhile in both freefly and RW versions, with or without camera wings. Both versions can be built just like the tops of traditional suits (ie snug fitting with spandex back and forearms for a "fast" RW suit, looser fitting without spandex for a "slow" RW suit or freefly suit, with or without regular or fatter "competition" style grips).

They have numerous advantages over the traditional one piece jumpsuit. With seperates a jumper can take off the jacket between loads, thus eliminating the hassle of having the arms tied around the waist. This is much cooler in hot weather and it also makes trips to the bathroom more convenient. Jumpers who go back and forth between fun jumps and work jumps or want to adjust their fall rate by adding/removing drag (also known as "dressing for success") can easily switch between jackets without having to remove the pants.