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-   -   OG Racing: Lets Talk about Fire suits (https://www.miataturbo.net/race-prep-75/og-racing-lets-talk-about-fire-suits-80477/)

OGRacing 08-18-2014 02:27 PM

OG Racing: Lets Talk about Fire suits
 
Any questions you might have. post them up! We'll do our best to answer.

bbundy 08-18-2014 05:23 PM


Originally Posted by OGRacing (Post 1158600)
Any questions you might have. post them up! We'll do our best to answer.

Whats the best value suit if your biggest concern is not having a suit that feels like it would be most useful for snowmobiling in -20 degree weather rather than sweating your ass off in a poorly vented hot race car cabin. I hate feeling that hot and movement impaired as I have found trying to go with a cheap suit. rather not always rely on a cool suit system either.

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.

mx5-kiwi 08-19-2014 06:49 AM

this mightnot br what you had in mind but it is a racesuit question!! :)

I have an entry level FIA Alpinestars, can suits be washed and not dry cleaned?

ericwh 08-19-2014 08:42 AM

If you're spending less than $500 on a suit is it better to get a 3-layer suit or a 2-layer with undies?

GeneSplicer 08-19-2014 05:44 PM

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

vindi49 08-19-2014 07:35 PM

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.

sixshooter 08-19-2014 07:46 PM

My 3 layer suit has taught me to never again think that my crotch is a normal distance from my shoulders.

#shitstightyo

wannafbody 08-19-2014 10:18 PM

Why do suit manufacturers not use bulky models for sizing?

sixshooter 08-20-2014 07:28 AM

My shoulders are not bulky, either. #dontevenliftbro

Leafy 08-20-2014 07:37 AM

RE 3 vs 2 + U. I've only ever worse 2 layer suits, which were hot ass 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.

Efini~FC3S 08-20-2014 08:17 AM


Originally Posted by wannafbody (Post 1159110)
Why do suit manufacturers not use bulky models for sizing?

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....

OGRacing 08-20-2014 10:48 AM

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..

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.

OGRacing 08-20-2014 11:02 AM


Originally Posted by vindi49 (Post 1159068)
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.

Life span of a suit is like life span of brake pads. it's all about usage. if your suit sees action once a year, then it will most likely last your entire motorsports career. That is considering you're not wearing your suit while rolling around on the ground fixing the car...or being on fire. after your on fire, replace the suit. If you're in the industry like I am, you're in the suit every weekend. Then it will last the same amount of time as a pair of jeans you wear every week. I go threw a suit every year if not two a year.

your suit on the shelf might look dated, but will still be good to use.



Originally Posted by ericwh (Post 1158803)
If you're spending less than $500 on a suit is it better to get a 3-layer suit or a 2-layer with undies?

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.

OGRacing 08-20-2014 11:03 AM

1 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by wannafbody (Post 1159110)
Why do suit manufacturers not use bulky models for sizing?

Because models have bills to pay, and nobody wants to buy a suit that i'm wearing.


Originally Posted by mx5-kiwi (Post 1158777)
this mightnot br what you had in mind but it is a racesuit question!! :)

I have an entry level FIA Alpinestars, can suits be washed and not dry cleaned?

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.


Originally Posted by sixshooter (Post 1159069)
My 3 layer suit has taught me to never again think that my crotch is a normal distance from my shoulders.

#shitstightyo

Two words, crotch gussets...
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1408547437
check out the boys area.

OGRacing 08-20-2014 11:26 AM

4 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by GeneSplicer (Post 1159012)
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

Bast bang for your buck is our closeout section. if you cant find anything there the G force nomex 545 is the next best bang for your buck suit. @ $399.99 it has all the same features as a $1000 sparco. arm gussets, back gussets, boot cut, made from NOMEX. It's not as heavy as the sparco jade, but it's on the heavy side. It is the single "diamond in the ruff" exceptionally good value suit on the market. A very popular suit in club racing.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1408548364
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.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1408548364
$1300 Retail - Closeout price of $899

EErockMiata 08-20-2014 12:05 PM


Originally Posted by Efini~FC3S (Post 1159176)
I try not to wash the suits that often, but it's kind of obligatory any time you get soaked in champagne....

LoL that's a pretty solid power move. :dealwithit: Props given lol.

OGRacing 08-20-2014 03:30 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by EErockMiata (Post 1159262)
LoL that's a pretty solid power move. :dealwithit: Props given lol.

Indeed :vash2:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1408563025

sixshooter 08-20-2014 07:14 PM

Sweat boiling? So with my cool shirt/wet t-shirt I'm totally screwed.

NiklasFalk 08-20-2014 07:27 PM

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.

wannafbody 08-20-2014 08:03 PM

Carbon X is really good stuff-much more comfortable than nomex. You can usually find the best price on CarbonX at an internet safety store.


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