Kitsune
05-22-2009, 01:33 PM
ok, so I finally got my Forcefield undies in.
This initial review is going to sound super nerdy because some things I can only explain one way, and it's the 'nerd' way. The jeans these were tested with are standard Levis 501s, broken in a little. I wear 30x30s so maybe you can assume the fit will work the same for most with the same waist/inseam. I bought the 'S' tpro pants for a waist 27-31. In retrospect I could probably have gone with 'XS' but I didn't want to risk getting them too small.
First impressions:
Very comfortable. Loafing on the couch, however, I can see how someone could take issue with the coccyx protection.
I got the 100j armor from Motostrano, which is super thick and the armor thickness-to-wearer ratio definitely applies. Someone bigger than I am would have this stuff probably about disappear, but it's pretty bulky, at least the thighs. I don't mind the extra 'bulk' to my hips because it's well hidden by my jeans , especially when I'm sitting down, but the thighs were really chunky.
Since I carry my wallet in my back pocket, the coccyx protector and twin 'buttock' (more like your piriformis and obturator externus, blah, blah) protectors were nearly invisible under jeans.
I wore them under my normal jeans (which were 'too snug' during my 'chunky' stage but are now my 'baggy' jeans) and they were quite comfortable. I was kinda worried about how my hips would feel because tight pants bother my pelvic ridges (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_superior_iliac_spine)sometimes when I'm walking around or sitting hunched forward, but these were just fine.
Because these are available (or used to be?) as the 'sport' model and the 'pro' model, the 'sport' model being two layers of their proprietary armor, and 'pro' being four (and other stuff relating to the amount of joules to be absorbed, where the 2-layer is rated for 50J which is still 15J over the requirement for CE lvl 1 certification) I decided I'd be in the clear slightly modifying some of the padding.
I left everything around my hips/pelvis just the way it is. I figure these are going to be pretty common impact areas. Knees were left as-is, too. Also major, common impact areas. The thigh pieces I took out, and as the armor is really just four layers of their proprietary foam matting spot-glued in three little spots, I just carefully separated the glue in half (effectively reducing it to the 'sport' rated lvl 1 armor padding) and slipped it back into the pockets. That done, the legs were much more form-fitting.
I repeated this with the coccyx and buttock protection, and felt reasonably safe doing so because the Alter-Ego pants I'd been considering don't even HAVE protection in ANY of these places. Most "CE-Certified" armored pants don't seem to.
Having streamlined everything, I put the pants back on. Much smoother. The knees didn't 'pop', even having reduced the thigh armor, so that was great. I modeled in front of the mirror for awhile (nothing new about that...) :lol: to make sure I was seeing everything right in various everyday poses. I can safely say that while my hips look a little wider for the armor, it's not a bad or even obvious difference. Like I said, I was REALLY looking. The coccyx armor, when thinned, is totally invisible, but very present if you feel for it. (go ahead, grab your butt..) :lol:
My only other gripe is that while these are sold by waist size, they're not necessarily sold by inseam length.
To make them fit *exactly* right, I rolled the waistband a couple times and spot-stitched where belt loops would be to have a nice, strong connection, just to keep it rolled and keep it from wrinkling.
The stirrups on the pants seem to fit just fine, however.
I figure for $179 I got pants with armor more protective than most of the stuff in that price range. They're also stealthy and with minimal rutching around and effort, I can go out riding wearing jeans that are not only aesthetically pleasing but breathable, without worrying about sacrificing my skin or joints, should the unthinkable happen. I don't have to go to the store looking like Spaceman Spiff (cuz I'm an ATGATT girl, and want gear I'll WANT to wear) and can still walk around in my armor comfortably for a while.
...don't hold your collective breaths waiting for me to crash test these and provide a report that way, though. I'm gonna keep you waiting on that. :cool:
Peace and rock on! :D:wootrock:
This initial review is going to sound super nerdy because some things I can only explain one way, and it's the 'nerd' way. The jeans these were tested with are standard Levis 501s, broken in a little. I wear 30x30s so maybe you can assume the fit will work the same for most with the same waist/inseam. I bought the 'S' tpro pants for a waist 27-31. In retrospect I could probably have gone with 'XS' but I didn't want to risk getting them too small.
First impressions:
Very comfortable. Loafing on the couch, however, I can see how someone could take issue with the coccyx protection.
I got the 100j armor from Motostrano, which is super thick and the armor thickness-to-wearer ratio definitely applies. Someone bigger than I am would have this stuff probably about disappear, but it's pretty bulky, at least the thighs. I don't mind the extra 'bulk' to my hips because it's well hidden by my jeans , especially when I'm sitting down, but the thighs were really chunky.
Since I carry my wallet in my back pocket, the coccyx protector and twin 'buttock' (more like your piriformis and obturator externus, blah, blah) protectors were nearly invisible under jeans.
I wore them under my normal jeans (which were 'too snug' during my 'chunky' stage but are now my 'baggy' jeans) and they were quite comfortable. I was kinda worried about how my hips would feel because tight pants bother my pelvic ridges (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_superior_iliac_spine)sometimes when I'm walking around or sitting hunched forward, but these were just fine.
Because these are available (or used to be?) as the 'sport' model and the 'pro' model, the 'sport' model being two layers of their proprietary armor, and 'pro' being four (and other stuff relating to the amount of joules to be absorbed, where the 2-layer is rated for 50J which is still 15J over the requirement for CE lvl 1 certification) I decided I'd be in the clear slightly modifying some of the padding.
I left everything around my hips/pelvis just the way it is. I figure these are going to be pretty common impact areas. Knees were left as-is, too. Also major, common impact areas. The thigh pieces I took out, and as the armor is really just four layers of their proprietary foam matting spot-glued in three little spots, I just carefully separated the glue in half (effectively reducing it to the 'sport' rated lvl 1 armor padding) and slipped it back into the pockets. That done, the legs were much more form-fitting.
I repeated this with the coccyx and buttock protection, and felt reasonably safe doing so because the Alter-Ego pants I'd been considering don't even HAVE protection in ANY of these places. Most "CE-Certified" armored pants don't seem to.
Having streamlined everything, I put the pants back on. Much smoother. The knees didn't 'pop', even having reduced the thigh armor, so that was great. I modeled in front of the mirror for awhile (nothing new about that...) :lol: to make sure I was seeing everything right in various everyday poses. I can safely say that while my hips look a little wider for the armor, it's not a bad or even obvious difference. Like I said, I was REALLY looking. The coccyx armor, when thinned, is totally invisible, but very present if you feel for it. (go ahead, grab your butt..) :lol:
My only other gripe is that while these are sold by waist size, they're not necessarily sold by inseam length.
To make them fit *exactly* right, I rolled the waistband a couple times and spot-stitched where belt loops would be to have a nice, strong connection, just to keep it rolled and keep it from wrinkling.
The stirrups on the pants seem to fit just fine, however.
I figure for $179 I got pants with armor more protective than most of the stuff in that price range. They're also stealthy and with minimal rutching around and effort, I can go out riding wearing jeans that are not only aesthetically pleasing but breathable, without worrying about sacrificing my skin or joints, should the unthinkable happen. I don't have to go to the store looking like Spaceman Spiff (cuz I'm an ATGATT girl, and want gear I'll WANT to wear) and can still walk around in my armor comfortably for a while.
...don't hold your collective breaths waiting for me to crash test these and provide a report that way, though. I'm gonna keep you waiting on that. :cool:
Peace and rock on! :D:wootrock: