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FIRST IMPRESSION:
I got a Fieldsheer Highland suit this past weekend, total paid $215 (ebay). Rode in to work this morning; 30 miles in 43 degrees and rain. Kept me warm and dry. Not a drop of water got through (I looked). This had to be the first day in a while that I didn't even feel the need to turn my heated Gerbing liner on. While my hands got chilly, the rest of me was warm and dry.
About the fit. First off, in six years of riding I have never found a pair of pants that were comfortable with the hip pads in. I decided to give the suit a try with them in; I should have learned from my experience. The pads poked me in the sides, and pulled on the suit in funny ways, making it incredible uncomfortable. Ripped them out the minute I got to work. Other than that the fit seems to be really nice, I'll update the fit after some more riding tomorrow.
Getting the thing on is a bit of a trick. It's got a sweet zipper that goes from the neck all the way down to the left ankle. However, getting the zipper past the crotch is difficult, but I expect it to be easier once the material has broken in some. The warm quilter liner is pretty nice. It is a 2-piece bit that zips together in the middle, and the top zips to the suit, and the bottom buttons in (I would much prefer a zipper).
All in all, I'm really happy, specially so considering the price I paid, but expect to be more so once I've removed the armor.
1- WEEK UPDATE:
I can't remember if I mentioned it before or not, but I'm 5'8" and 145 lbs. The suit is definitely a little big around on me. It's actually about 3/4" long in the sleeves, but about an inch short in the legs when on the bike. I'd rather have it too short than too long, though, and my boots provide more than enough coverage for my ankles.
After wearing it for this week of commuting (it was 28 degrees this morning), I'm really happy with it. The hip pads have come out, and it's really comfortable. I feel a bit like the marshmallow man, but that allows me a little extra room for additional layers. The stomach has velcro adjusters, so I can sinch it in. The biceps also have a velco adjustment, but it's only a single adjustment and not realy as nice as the ones on my fieldsheer mach 2. Today was the first day that my legs actually got a little chilly. Getting in and out has gotten much easier; I can put the suit on in less time than it took me to put on a jacket and pants before. I just learned to zipper down to the crotch, and up from each leg to the crotch. Getting the shipped all the way down (from neck to ankle) is easy, but getting it back up is another story. I also wish that they'd make the two zipper halfs detach - it seems dumb to zipper the whole suit apart, only to have to try and fit your boot out through the ankle hole, which is too small for my boots!
Anyhow, I'm very happy with it. I haven't worn it on my VFR yet (only my shadow), but it seems like it would fit just fine. I expect the legs to be even shorter, but like I said before, the boots will take care of that. There's enough room in it to conform to sportbike posture.
I got a Fieldsheer Highland suit this past weekend, total paid $215 (ebay). Rode in to work this morning; 30 miles in 43 degrees and rain. Kept me warm and dry. Not a drop of water got through (I looked). This had to be the first day in a while that I didn't even feel the need to turn my heated Gerbing liner on. While my hands got chilly, the rest of me was warm and dry.
About the fit. First off, in six years of riding I have never found a pair of pants that were comfortable with the hip pads in. I decided to give the suit a try with them in; I should have learned from my experience. The pads poked me in the sides, and pulled on the suit in funny ways, making it incredible uncomfortable. Ripped them out the minute I got to work. Other than that the fit seems to be really nice, I'll update the fit after some more riding tomorrow.
Getting the thing on is a bit of a trick. It's got a sweet zipper that goes from the neck all the way down to the left ankle. However, getting the zipper past the crotch is difficult, but I expect it to be easier once the material has broken in some. The warm quilter liner is pretty nice. It is a 2-piece bit that zips together in the middle, and the top zips to the suit, and the bottom buttons in (I would much prefer a zipper).
All in all, I'm really happy, specially so considering the price I paid, but expect to be more so once I've removed the armor.
1- WEEK UPDATE:
I can't remember if I mentioned it before or not, but I'm 5'8" and 145 lbs. The suit is definitely a little big around on me. It's actually about 3/4" long in the sleeves, but about an inch short in the legs when on the bike. I'd rather have it too short than too long, though, and my boots provide more than enough coverage for my ankles.
After wearing it for this week of commuting (it was 28 degrees this morning), I'm really happy with it. The hip pads have come out, and it's really comfortable. I feel a bit like the marshmallow man, but that allows me a little extra room for additional layers. The stomach has velcro adjusters, so I can sinch it in. The biceps also have a velco adjustment, but it's only a single adjustment and not realy as nice as the ones on my fieldsheer mach 2. Today was the first day that my legs actually got a little chilly. Getting in and out has gotten much easier; I can put the suit on in less time than it took me to put on a jacket and pants before. I just learned to zipper down to the crotch, and up from each leg to the crotch. Getting the shipped all the way down (from neck to ankle) is easy, but getting it back up is another story. I also wish that they'd make the two zipper halfs detach - it seems dumb to zipper the whole suit apart, only to have to try and fit your boot out through the ankle hole, which is too small for my boots!
Anyhow, I'm very happy with it. I haven't worn it on my VFR yet (only my shadow), but it seems like it would fit just fine. I expect the legs to be even shorter, but like I said before, the boots will take care of that. There's enough room in it to conform to sportbike posture.