0
AggieDave

Favorite Suit manufacture

Recommended Posts

As one of my other postings stated, my parents "gave" me a new FF suit, I just have to go find one that I like and buy it. Any suggestions? I've been looking at Freedom Means Choice (www.freedommeanschoice.com) and like what I see, has anyone had any experience with her suits? Any other favorites out there? I need something BIG and durable since I'm a fairly small guy and float just about everything. I'm sort of looking for advice on one of the larger companies instead of a "well, one of the guy's at the DZ brother's cousin's friend makes FF suits..." type situations, if possible. Thanks. :)AggieDave '02
-------------
Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I got one from Freedom Means Choice a few months ago, and I like it. It isnt as flashy as some freefly suits, but for the price I think its great. BUT.... I have to give the biggest props to JumpBubble (located in DeLand, FL)- she makes some sweeeeeet suits. Also...she wont make two suits exactly alike- so you know your getting something unique. You tell her the colors you want and a rough idea of the design, and she comes up with something I garuntee will not disappoint you. I would highly recommend one from them....
-Marshall

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I have both a suit and a pair of pants from Firefly and they are awesome! I am a rather large guy as well (210 naked) and the extra wide legs and arms are plenty to slow me down. I have had the suit for a year and as far as I can see there are no threads out of place. Really durable suit. I have seen some really cool looking jumpbubble suits as well. Firefly will make custom suits as well, just let them know what you are looking for.
michael hunt (yes, that is my real name...and i've heard them all)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

I've been looking at Freedom Means Choice (www.freedommeanschoice.com) and like what I see, has anyone had any experience with her suits?

Karen is awesome. She used to be based out of Skydive Dallas and she's very nice and really talented. You can ask around SDD this weekend and I bet you can see a buuuunch of examples of her work. Pretty much all the FFers out there jump her stuff.
Pet me! I'm harmless and cute!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

for some reason it doesnt seem to be working tonight.


I've been working on a custom order with Jumpbubble. Just got off the phone with Emily and she's working on a new website.
If any of you want to get in contact with her about a jumpsuit drop me a private message and I'll give you her home number. You can at least talk to her and make arrangements for a suit that way until she gets the new site up and rolling.
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I'm very pleased with my RW suit that I have from Merlin Suits, and will get my freefly suit from Christine there. But, I also have to give a thumbs up to Jumpbubble too. Alot of people wear those in Deland, and the colors are great, and the designs are really cool too.
Andrea
The brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I've got to second aufreefly's recommendation. I have a Firefly freefly suit and a Firefly RW suit. Both have what I consider to be bombproof construction; when I'm dumping almost $300 into a suit it better be built to last 1000 jumps minimum and Firefly suits are. Check 'em out - http://www.fireflysuits.com
pull and flare,
lisa

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
If you want the total best its a Firefly. The will make it for the kind of flying you are going to do, as well. They take into consideration you body size and etc. But for you Dave, you might not want to shell out that kinda cash. Bubble has some good stuff, but not real sure about it. Tony has some FF suits and I must say this... I have 2 Tony FF suits and I am hard as hell on mine. These suits have been thru the wringer in a big way... and have held up. My blue and teal one -which you see me in the most and I have crashed, broke legs, off airport landing on my knees, on my ass 100's of times and nothing, not a ripped stich. Now one of the seams is coming undone. But compared to what I have put the suit thru it should have desingrated long ago.
I have the two stock suits seen on their website. The space suit that is red and checkerboard, blk and wht and the blue and teal.
I am telling you there is no other way to test a suit. Just put me in it.
http://www.AirAnn.com
Ugly Girl #6

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Add mine to the list of FireFly are the best. I have a 2 piece freefly suit and love it. They really put sometime into figuring out what I would need (as far as flare and lengths). They are only company I know of that makes a 2 piece suit. I have had a ton of compliments on the suit. Only one problem with FireFly if you order one don't be in a big hurry most of the people @ my dz that have FireFly took 8-9 weeks to get. Mine took 6 weeks and that was calling each week to see if they could rush it. Other than that I think they are great !!!!
Blue skies
Kirk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I will toss in my vote for jump bubble....I love my suits from emily.....and my pants I have from her are kick ass too....she totaly will take your design and make your suit as unique or as boring as you want it...she has some really cool hologram stufff now too.....way freaky stuff...
Marc
Res Firma Mitescere Nescite

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I just received my Bomber FreeFly Suit from Flite Suit. (www.flitesuit.com).
I'm quite impressed with the careful construction, use of high-quality materials and attention to detail. It fits perfectly, looks great and has helped me slow my fall rate. It was a tad pricey.
All in all, I'm delighted.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
yo dave,

i'm a huge guy too, and freedom suits has me sold. i've jumped a tony suit and tony pants, and neither have handled the test of time very well. i've seen the jumpbubbles, and they look nice, but i thought that they had stopped production for awhile. maybe the person i heard that from was on crack. that guy does have a nice jumpbubble, and i think that there are many similar characteristics between jumpbubble and freedom. i also really thought of going with firefly since they are based out of my hometown. but, i didn't like how the fireflys look so much like bell-bottoms, with narrow legs and wide flares at the hands and feet. in the end i chose freedom for my new suit last year after seeing a great suit on a TM out at skydive chicago.

so anyway, i got it nearly a year ago and it is still holding up very strong. i got the "wacky phat" model that is a step bigger than the "fully phat" that is on the freedom website. i got the double material on both the arms and legs.

karen did a dam fine job on the sewing on that suit. i've done plenty of sewing with my rigger and know what to look for in a stitch, and i tell you they are all well done. there are no stiches on the "outside" of the suit, except for the zipper front, the velcro cuffs, and the stripes down the side. the rest of the seams are folded in, wrapped with half-inch binding tape, and then double stiched through that. (that would be the practice for connecting the body, arms, crotch, knees, legs, etc)

karen also has a great sense of style, so feel safe if you grant her some artistic license if you don't know quite what you want. i sent her in a couple different types of fabrics for the stripes down the sides of the suit along with a basic idea of what i wanted, and she just went to town.

enough about all that, it also flies great. it took me a jump to get accustomed to the feel of all of that material flapping on my arms, but i quickly adapted and never notice anymore. the fabric is the proper length near the arms, and does not balloon out so far that it would ever interfere with handle operation.

weighing in around 260-280 with gear, i have always been on the fast side when it came to belly flying. i know they say that the suit doesn't make the jumper, but this one has definitely increased my range. i found that when chasing my first few tandems with it, i could be on the level with the TM and go up and down the length of the bridle like it was nothing. before, with if there was a small tandem and i was chasing, i would be de-arched so much that it would make basic manuvering around much more difficult. ever since i got that suit, there has not been a single tandem that i haven't managed to dock on.

oh and it works dandy for RW dives too. again, i can concentrate more on the points i am supposed to turn and not so much about trying to not be low.

freefly i can't complain at all. i have changed my sit stance from more of a "laz-e-boy" style closer to an upright sit to stay with my friends. i can also now do head down with more people than just the other big boys that i did it with before.

i really like it, and so does everyone else at my dz. i am the only one there with a freedom suit and it just makes peoples' jaws drop. many of them are planning on picking up a freedom suit when their current suits wear out.

so that is my testimonial!B| not a doubt in my mind that my next suit will be another freedom, but i probably won't need another one till i pick up my tandem rating and want a suit to take the wear/tear of butt landings. lemme know if you want anymore info.

later,
b

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Man, this is a thread from way back. I posted this before I had even 100 jumps.

I have a FMC and have had one since March of 2001, its about reached its life's end, a lot of jumps on a suit and sliding in some tandems have really put a lot of wear on it.

Its been a really good suit, and I highly recommend FMC!B|
--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
LOL, you know, i thought you had a freedom suit last time i saw you in eloy! i didn't even look to see when your original post was, but thought the thread was recent cuz of a post from may 4 of this year. oh well. maybe it will help spread the word and get FMC some more business! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I'm ordering my next freefly suit and I'm getting it from Nancy at Ouragan Suits (DeLand, FL). I've never really been excited about many of the freefly suits out on the market in the past 8 years. I DO have to say though that the suits and swoop pants I've seen Nancy make are THE BEST. The quality and style are absolutely amazing and I'm excited to get my next freefly suit from Ouragan. She will design ANYTHING you want her to and the customer service is the best I've ever experienced. I can't wait!

Check out: www.ouragansuits.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
This thread is starting to crack me up.

Folks, I asked this question back in 2001 when I had about 60 jumps.:P

The thread somehow reappeared up top.

I appreciate the comments, but its not needed. I've since bought a FMC and put about 700 jumps on it or so.

I'm actually about to buy another FF suit to add to my "collection" of suits, FF/RW and otherwise.B|
--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0