OG Racing: Lets Talk about Fire suits
08-18-2014, 02:27 PM
#1
OG Racing: Lets Talk about Fire suits
Any questions you might have. post them up! We'll do our best to answer.
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800.934.9112
703.430.3303
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OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
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08-18-2014, 05:23 PM
#2
Elite Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Anacortes, WA
Posts: 2,478
Total Cats: 144
Being an engineer geek I like to see data but you cant find any on fire suits. some kind of quantitative comparison of weight, breathability, and flexability would be nice. I would like to know something ahead of time instead of just spending the most money I can with the assumption it cost more so it must be better.
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08-19-2014, 05:44 PM
#5
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Birmingham, AL
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Best 3 layer light-weight suit under $1000? Of course, it has to look badass too.
This is on the list of things yet to purchase.
As Bundy pointed out, I live in Alabama and snowmobiling happens every 20yrs or so around here. So no snowmobile suit like Gfarce
This is on the list of things yet to purchase.
As Bundy pointed out, I live in Alabama and snowmobiling happens every 20yrs or so around here. So no snowmobile suit like Gfarce
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08-19-2014, 07:35 PM
#6
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Under the car in a pool of oil
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Cool idea for a thread, cheers!! What sort of lifespan do these suits have? I bought one to go racing about 10 years ago ... it's never been used as I had to shelve my plans, I'm close to finishing my car so will need a suit soon, but will this have degraded or something? It's a 3 layer Nomex suit, has been hung up in a wardrobe so not in daylight. I can get you more details if needed.
Thanks, Russell.
Thanks, Russell.
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08-20-2014, 07:37 AM
#10
RE 3 vs 2 + U. I've only ever worse 2 layer suits, which were hot *** snow suits and combined with getting black on black with a black helmet in a open top car, even a two trips around a skidpad + staging it was not pleasant. But man, carbon-x undies are pretty amazing at cutting down how hot you feel in the suit, its like wearing under armor. That said 2 + U sounds like a better idea than just 3.
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08-20-2014, 08:17 AM
#11
This is sarcasm right? Every "standard" sized suit I've ever tried on / worn seems to have been based on some chunky American. It's hard to find a suit for a 6'2" guy that doesn't have a 38"+ waist.
I usually wear a 3 layer suit + nomex underwear. Being on fire is no joke, I'll take as many layers as I can please.
Like so many other things in life, you get what you pay for. 3 layer suits under $1000 aren't going to be lightweight (unless you get one on a good sale). A $500 suit isn't going to be nice, 2 layer or 3.
I have multiple suits from multiple manufacturers. A*, Sparco, Impact, Simpson, etc etc. The Alpinestar is the best suit by far, and it was the first suit I bought. A* GP-Tech. Super comfortable, fairly lightweight 3-layer. But...it's a $1600 suit.
As for washing vs dry cleaning. I machine wash all my suits and use the "Molecule" brand cleaners. I wash on the shortest, gentlest cycle and then air dry. I try not to wash the suits that often, but it's kind of obligatory any time you get soaked in champagne....
I usually wear a 3 layer suit + nomex underwear. Being on fire is no joke, I'll take as many layers as I can please.
Like so many other things in life, you get what you pay for. 3 layer suits under $1000 aren't going to be lightweight (unless you get one on a good sale). A $500 suit isn't going to be nice, 2 layer or 3.
I have multiple suits from multiple manufacturers. A*, Sparco, Impact, Simpson, etc etc. The Alpinestar is the best suit by far, and it was the first suit I bought. A* GP-Tech. Super comfortable, fairly lightweight 3-layer. But...it's a $1600 suit.
As for washing vs dry cleaning. I machine wash all my suits and use the "Molecule" brand cleaners. I wash on the shortest, gentlest cycle and then air dry. I try not to wash the suits that often, but it's kind of obligatory any time you get soaked in champagne....
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08-20-2014, 10:48 AM
#12
This will teach me to post on monday and come back on wednesday lol! lets of fantastic questions guys!
i'll see if i can get threw most of them.
The majority of driver burns are not from open flame, but from your sweat boiling on your skin.
more layers does not make it safer! that is the single most important lesson Everyone should learn from this.
the Layer question was brought up 2 vs 3 layer. When looking at a suit you want to have the lightest and most breathable suit you can. the lighter a suit the faster your sweat will evaporate. removing allot of the Damage sustained by burns. Focusing on only the amount of layers is not the whole picture, and you want to focus on the rating, and material used instead.
Example a 2 layer PFP suit will be healthier and less breathable than a 3 layer nomex suit. a PFP suit will carry a lower safety rating too.
a quote from OG racing blog..
i'll see if i can get threw most of them.
The majority of driver burns are not from open flame, but from your sweat boiling on your skin.
more layers does not make it safer! that is the single most important lesson Everyone should learn from this.
the Layer question was brought up 2 vs 3 layer. When looking at a suit you want to have the lightest and most breathable suit you can. the lighter a suit the faster your sweat will evaporate. removing allot of the Damage sustained by burns. Focusing on only the amount of layers is not the whole picture, and you want to focus on the rating, and material used instead.
Example a 2 layer PFP suit will be healthier and less breathable than a 3 layer nomex suit. a PFP suit will carry a lower safety rating too.
a quote from OG racing blog..
If you're racing in the U.S., an SFI rated suit is usually sufficient. While the single layered SFI 3.2A/1 suits are less expensive than the SFI 3.2A/5 suits, there are a couple of considerations you need to make:
Most sanctioning bodies will require a full set of Nomex long underwear to be worn with a single-layer suit. If you are looking to save some money by going with an SFI 3.2A/1 suit, keep in mind that the cost of Nomex underwear can actually make the underwear & suit combo more expensive than just getting an SFI 3.2A/5 suit.
The two options are somewhat similar as far as protection goes, so going with the SFI 3.2A/5 suit makes putting on and taking off the gear easier in between runs. We still highly recommend using Nomex underwear, even if your suit has a SFI 3.2A/5 tag. The rules state the minimum required protection, but when it comes to fire, wouldn't you rather be more protected than you have to be?
The FIA standard is an international one, so if you are going to be using the suit outside of the United States, an FIA 8856-2000 rated suit may be required. Some suits such as the Sparco Sprint, Sparco Technica X-7, and the Sparco X-Light Evo-4 are both SFI and FIA rated, meaning you'll be able to use them almost anywhere.
Most sanctioning bodies will require a full set of Nomex long underwear to be worn with a single-layer suit. If you are looking to save some money by going with an SFI 3.2A/1 suit, keep in mind that the cost of Nomex underwear can actually make the underwear & suit combo more expensive than just getting an SFI 3.2A/5 suit.
The two options are somewhat similar as far as protection goes, so going with the SFI 3.2A/5 suit makes putting on and taking off the gear easier in between runs. We still highly recommend using Nomex underwear, even if your suit has a SFI 3.2A/5 tag. The rules state the minimum required protection, but when it comes to fire, wouldn't you rather be more protected than you have to be?
The FIA standard is an international one, so if you are going to be using the suit outside of the United States, an FIA 8856-2000 rated suit may be required. Some suits such as the Sparco Sprint, Sparco Technica X-7, and the Sparco X-Light Evo-4 are both SFI and FIA rated, meaning you'll be able to use them almost anywhere.
__________________
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
Last edited by OGRacing; 08-20-2014 at 11:34 AM.
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08-20-2014, 11:02 AM
#13
Cool idea for a thread, cheers!! What sort of lifespan do these suits have? I bought one to go racing about 10 years ago ... it's never been used as I had to shelve my plans, I'm close to finishing my car so will need a suit soon, but will this have degraded or something? It's a 3 layer Nomex suit, has been hung up in a wardrobe so not in daylight. I can get you more details if needed.
Thanks, Russell.
Thanks, Russell.
your suit on the shelf might look dated, but will still be good to use.
when you're looking at suits check out fire rating, material used, and then layers. A Sfi 32.a/5, nomex, 3 layer is going to be miles better than a SFI32.a/1 PFP, 2 layer suit with underwear. by "better" i mean safer and more comfortable.
__________________
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
Last edited by OGRacing; 08-20-2014 at 11:44 AM.
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08-20-2014, 11:03 AM
#14
Because models have bills to pay, and nobody wants to buy a suit that i'm wearing.
Every suit manufacture is different when it comes to washing. check the tag on your suit to see what they recommend. In an attempt to make them last longer I dry clean or hand wash my suits.
Two words, crotch gussets...
check out the boys area.
check out the boys area.
__________________
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
Last edited by OGRacing; 08-20-2014 at 11:37 AM.
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08-20-2014, 11:26 AM
#15
G-Force GF545 Nomex Racing Suit - Boot $399.95
If you don't want the G force your left left with "you get what you pay for". on clearance you can cheat that system a little. We like to move last years inventory by getting it outta here. If your lucky enough to match the sizes then you can get a really good suit for less.
The suit you that come in under 1k is the technica.
$1300 Retail - Closeout price of $899
__________________
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
Last edited by OGRacing; 08-20-2014 at 11:38 AM.
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Props given lol.
08-20-2014, 03:30 PM
#17
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800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
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08-20-2014, 07:27 PM
#19
Anyone ever touched a 1-layer HOCOTEX suit?
Once you have your 3-layer will feel like wearing a bunch of beach towels.
I still run my old 3-layer OMP with underwear, which soaks up a fair amount of sweat. The cheapest Hocotex (Sparco RS-5 is available in a Hocotex version here) would cost me about $1600 and tires always seems more important.
For that price a custom size would not be that much extra (percent-vise), to get away from the bulky sizes.
Once you have your 3-layer will feel like wearing a bunch of beach towels.
I still run my old 3-layer OMP with underwear, which soaks up a fair amount of sweat. The cheapest Hocotex (Sparco RS-5 is available in a Hocotex version here) would cost me about $1600 and tires always seems more important.
For that price a custom size would not be that much extra (percent-vise), to get away from the bulky sizes.
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