Question about grips material

[LloydDobbler 2]

What's up, folks?

I'm finally getting off student status, purchasing my first RW suit. Wanting it to look kinda different from the standard "off-the-shelf" suit. You know how it goes.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out some things about grippers - I know a lot of companies use Cordura as grip material...but I was curious if anyone has had any experience with Poly/Cotton grips, or any other material. Did it hold up? How long did it last before you had to replace it? Was it double-layered?

I know grip fabric isn't as crucial to fall rate as the overall body fabric is...so what I'm mainly concerned with is durability. If I have a heavy Poly/Cotton fabric with a cool print I'd like to use as my grip fabric (it'll be secured to the suit with Nylon grip trim/tape, which should add to the durability...), would you say I should go ahead and go with it? For this particular suit, I know Cordura is an option...but it doesn't have the cool print I want.

(And though I generally put function over form, well...I'm spending enough money on this suit to want it to look pretty badass, if it won't cause too dramatic a change in function).

So I guess my question to you, Skydivers-Who-Have-Been-There-Done-That, is if anyone's had experience with Poly/Cotton grips before, and if so, would you say I'd be okay with them? Or should I say "to hell with this wanting to look cool stuff," and go for the Cordura?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[sundevil777 102]

I would expect cordura to be more difficult to grasp, with less friction.

As far as I know, polycotton is standard. I haven't yet noticed anyone with cordura grippers.

I guess they would be more durable, but it seems like a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[bigway 4]

Wish i could give opinion here.

It sounds like it it would look pretty cool with some graphics or print on the grips.

Saying that though, put a rig on a persons back and that looks cool!. Trying to look cooler than cool, usually fails....Hence that shitty tie-dye on my rig.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[GravityGirl 0]

Check out Tony Suits. They have all sorts of crazy fabric you can use on your grips.

And grips are not made from cordura. They are made from Polycotton.

www.TonySuits.com

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Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[LloydDobbler 2]

Hey, guys & gals - thanks for the replies!

SunDevil - just what I like to hear.
(The only coach at my DZ who I've talked to about jumpsuit stuff has grips on his suit made out of a material that feels/looks similar to cordura...so I suppose I pretty much assumed it was standard. My mistake.)

Bigway - true, looking cool isn't tough with a rig on your back...my problem is that I'm a graphic designer by trade, so I find myself being extra-picky about color/pattern stuff.

Wish I could break the perfectionist habit about the way things look...but getting color right as a designer was so tough to get down for me that it's tough to not be a perfectionist with the suit.
Bonnie - Thanks for the tip on Tony Suits! I wish they'd put more of their crazy fabric stuff on their website so you could see it right offhand...but then again, that goes for most jumpsuit manufacturers whose websites I've visited (well, besides Da Kine...it doesn't get any louder than Da Kine, now, does it?).

As for grips not being made from cordura, though, Merlin (and a few of the other RW suit manufacturers linked on the site) didn't seem to get the memo...

Thanks again, y'all! Blue skies!!

Signatures are the new black.

[GravityGirl 0]

Did you look here?

http://www.tonysuits.com/specialty.php4

If you want an actual swatch, PM me your snail mail and I'll send one to you. Then you can see and feel the actual fabric.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[Icon134 0]

Quote

I would expect cordura to be more difficult to grasp, with less friction.

As far as I know, polycotton is standard. I haven't yet noticed anyone with cordura grippers.

I guess they would be more durable, but it seems like a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

I have Cordura Grippers on my bev suit and they're great...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

And grips are not made from cordura. They are made from Polycotton.

my wife's makes suits with cordura grips, Mich's "Tetris" suits (great suit) comes with cordura grips standard and as an option on the others (I believe), Bev's order form allows cordura, ........

My wife buils two color grips all cordura as the base, then the second color an application in (PC or supplex, I don't recall). She just did a special request for a suit with the app also as Cordura (It looks really beefy), that was pretty thick and harder to sew but turned out really nice.

I think Cordura grippers are a must for durability. I suspect most manufacturers will have it as an option or even standard.

Both my suits (Skimmer, Tetris) and all my teammates' suits (Tetris) have Cordura grippers - they are great and very grippable.

For custom material - my wife did hers with a custom tiedye app. Here's a pic. Black cordura grippers with a (PC?) tiedye app on the gripper fronts (legs) backs (arms). I've heard other manufacturers that will use material if you send it to them (not all, original poster needs to discuss. They are the pros, they'll know what he's talking about)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[GravityGirl 0]

I stand corrected.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[rehmwa 2]

I suspect you have a ton more experience in equipment sales than I ever will. So it's really nice of you to say that.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants