which one should i get??? PLEASE HELP!

[twistingawrench]

ok this is my first season racing and im going to purchace my fire suit. i only have about 300 to spend on the suit.. i have narrowed it down to 2 differant ones. which one is better in your opinion.. please help me, thank you!!

first.) G-Force GF505 suit. 3 layer, SFI rating 5, TPP of 26..

second.) Sparco "one plus" suit.. i believe its a single layer suit but it is "nomex". SFI rating of 3.2s1 and i cant find the TPP rating.

the reason im asking is also because they are the same price. one layer vs 3 layer?? is the nomex that much better? HELP!!!

[Jarvis]

Hmm im afraid race suits is not somwhere you should try and go budget on. Just think how much is my skin worth $ 300 i think not.

If you simply cannot afford any more go for the sparco yes nomex is that good and a lot less heat so more comfortable also lighter.

But if you want my humble opinion. Shell out the extra money and get the Sprint 6. Its FIA homoligated so you KNOW its good.

[OldStroppeTeam]

I bought the same G-Force 2 years ago. I am very satisfied with it. I also wear 100% COTTON longsleeve t-shirt and long-johns I think I have done myself justice safety wise.
Next is gloves and shoes.....Definetly nomex gloves and I wear leather boots, even though they are not the shoe of choice I feel they give me more protection than nylon tennies....

[twistingawrench]

ok so that is one vote for both.. but i looked at the "sprint 6" and it has the same FIA&SFI rating as the G-Force GF505.. what im trying to figure out is if the ratings are the same then they should both offer the same protection right? i know i cant put a price on protecting my skin but i also know that some companys cost more because of the name.. Alpinestars suit is 1400!!!

if anybody knows anything about this, please throw it out here.. more layers = more protection, right?

[OldStroppeTeam]

You are correct, more layers = more protection...as long as its nomex or cotton.. no nylon,no underarmor or any other synthetic cloth...
The more expensive suits usually satisfy the requirements, and because they use different fabric combinations may do a little better than just satisfying the standard in certain areas. Combinations could include nomex & kevlar or something similar...
Sure you are paying for the name, but the standard is still the standard....but it's like anything else, how much vanity do you want to pay for ??

[twistingawrench]

i think that 3 layer G-Force suit is what im gonna go with. it has high ratings and a decent price. i guess ill see it when it arives. :D

[AZ45]

It looks like I'm a little late, but here's my 2 pesos.

The GForce is a good suit, but they're not Nomex. It's probably a safer bet than the Sparco single layer.

You can but a great Alpinestars suit for 699.99, they're not all 1400.

I think the best deals are on the suits in the UPR Garage sale. Some of them are aalmost 50% off.

http://www.upr.com/categories/racewear.asp?id=4214

[DailyPedal]

Old Stroppe Team, maybe one of the safety experts can chine in here but this is what I heard...do not wear cotton underwear as the cotton absorbs water, not letting it evaporate and in the event of fire the water can burn-scold as well (under the most intense conditions of course) as water holds or transfers heat very well. Use any of the fire resistant, sweat wicking under garments to give you more time (additional layer) in case of fire.

[OldStroppeTeam]

Old Stroppe Team, maybe one of the safety experts can chine in here but this is what I heard...do not wear cotton underwear as the cotton absorbs water, not letting it evaporate and in the event of fire the water can burn-scold as well (under the most intense conditions of course) as water holds or transfers heat very well. Use any of the fire resistant, sweat wicking under garments to give you more time (additional layer) in case of fire.

Just the opposite, cotton not only wicks away moisture, but it also doesn't melt/burn like synthetics. Yes there are synthetics that wick away moisture better than cotton, but they melt really well, fusing with your skin in a fire. Then you get to endure the agony of brillo pad scrubbings twice a day by a lovely caring nurse in the burn unit !!

[AZ45]

What oldstroppe said +
If the expert you’re talking to is saying don’t wear anything, have him put a torch to his chest with a sweaty cotton shirt, and then have him try it without. After to take him to the hospital, ask the burn unit nurse which burn is worse.

Cotton is probably better than anything except for a under layer designed for thermal protection like Nomex or CarbonX.

[DailyPedal]

As I stated, "Use any of the fire resistant, sweat wicking under garments to give you more time (additional layer) in case of fire" as in Nomex or CarbonX underwear. At no time did I say to not wear anything, I simply recommended the same thing you did.

[bcampbell04]

i am going to get the Sparco One-Plus suit and use it for awhile. its a great suit for $270. everyone i've talked to that has it likes it quite a bit. then get a nice 2-3 layer suit someday too

[AZ45]

One Plus suits are $250.00 at UPR and SparcoRacing. There is also a new One Pro Sparco thats cool for only 299.00. All still single layer. and a proper under layer would be reccomended.

[zoomy97acr]

does any one know if there is a "wear out" date for the driver's suits? in scca and other events it is, if i remember correctly 3 years then it has to be replaced. i cant find any reference to a replacement date for the suits for score, only the type and material.

Thanks, Derrick

[OldStroppeTeam]

does any one know if there is a "wear out" date for the driver's suits? in scca and other events it is, if i remember correctly 3 years then it has to be replaced. i cant find any reference to a replacement date for the suits for score, only the type and material.

Thanks, Derrick

Several years ago, I had my 20+ year old single layer Diest suit inspected and recertified ith a new SFI tag installed. I don't know about other series, but as long as the suit is in good condition and has an SFI tag, it appears off road allows you to use it. I know everybody has a rule about harness dates, but I have never heard anything about suit dates.

[desertracer]

I wear a sparco one plus suit with simpson carbon X underneath. The carbon X does not get too hot, I have the pants and long sleeve shirt. The carbon X was about $90 each for the top and bottom so it is a close call between going for the 2 layer sprint 6 vs the one plus if you decide for the carbon X. The one plus has been a great suit and seems to be much higher quality than the cheaper pyrotech suits you can buy. I got my Sparco through Camburg.

[MH20]

does any one know if there is a "wear out" date for the driver's suits? in scca and other events it is, if i remember correctly 3 years then it has to be replaced. i cant find any reference to a replacement date for the suits for score, only the type and material.

Thanks, Derrick

According to the SFI website the SFI 3.2A/1,/3,/5 suits have a recert period of N/A which I take to mean they are not a dated item.

However when you get into the SFI 3.2A/10,/15,/20 suits, they have a 5 year recert period

http://www.sfifoundation.com/speclist.html

[zoomy97acr]

thanks for the info......

[AZ45]

The SFI 3.2a 10 and above suits are typically used by drag racers, land speed guys.
The suits are usually 5 layers and up.

Any suit that has FIA certification, which would be most of the European brands have a "year of manufacture" that is sometimes used in other worlds.

Nomex won't wear out, so if you buy Nomex you will have lasting protection assuming the suit is free of holes our severe wear that would thin the material.
There are Non-Nomex, chemical treated suits out there that carry the SFi certifications that will be less effective after washings.

The Gforce 505 is not Nomex, but a good value for 239.00, but spending more to get a Nomex suit is also a good value.

[HAMSTEAK]

so im going to be getting a suit someday too and i was wondering the differenece between the layers ;ike 1 2 and 3, what are they??

[HDRA1]

does sparco or alpinestars or someone build men size suits i have a beat up crow that i have repaired numerous times but they shrink and i can face it i am a fat guy but they never fit right in the cheast i tried to see about a custom suit but never get a reply on cost any ideas thanks

[AZ45]

If you're a plus size guy, Alpinestars is not a good choice. Sparco has sizes that will fit up to about 260lb guy.

Check the suit sizer on UPR, it's very accurate. If it gives you a size, the suit will fit. If it doesen't, give us a call.
http://www.upr.com/products/apparel.asp?id=2633#

As far as a suit shrinking, that's pretty odd unless it's a cotton suit with a fire retardant treatment.

[ppumper]

I am staying out of this one. You know waht we have.

[patcsg]

Many mfgrs charge extra for + sizes. I know Simpson does.

Once again, just like the helmet issue, why have the minimal amount of protection? Just look back at the photos of Travis Pastrana watching his ride burn in the desert. Then imagine if you were trying to get out of it. Wouldn't you want the most protection you could get?
Wear the 2 or 3 layer Nomex or CarbonX suit. Get the Nomex socks, gloves, SA helmet and Nomex underwear. If everyone did that we wouldn't have this thread.

[Patricio]

Try out the Impact suits, I tried on all sort of suits and nothing fit me well until I tried on the Impact and it was awesome. 2 layer nomex is around 499.

[twistingawrench]

just an update here.. i did end up getting the gforce 3 layer 505 suit, and have since race twice in it. one short course and one dezert race. i must say that it is a good fitting suit and has a good quality feel to it. the only down side is that it is a little warm when you are sitting in line waiting to start the race, but once i got going it wasent even on my mind. then i broke down 35 miles into a 200 mi race. sitting in the nevada desert for 2 and a half hours was a little hot so i ended up just shoving my parker pumper hose down my suit and all was good... if you are a noobie to racing and actualy have to go out and buy all your racing gear like i did, then it is realy tough to beat the price, fire rating, and comfort in that 505 suit.. just my opinion, and thanks for all the help guys!!:D :D :D

[bcampbell04]

just got an older simpson 3 layer suit from my uncle that i will be wearing for awhile until i need a newer one. can't beat the best price out there, FREE!!! i wore it at the SNORE Caliente race this past weekend. ya, 3 layers is thicker, which means hotter, but i'd rather have the extra protection just in case