Freefly jumpsuit material

[staticnewbie 0]

Just wondering what material all your freefly jumpsuits are made from, as I'm planning to get with the sewing machine and make my own over Easter.

I know most companies offer cotton, but all the guys at my DZ seem to have a 'shiny' material. They claim it's cotton, but does anyone know if it's a particular type, and where I can get it from?

Cheers,

Nick

This username sucks, so I'm BBKid now instead. Replies, insults, sexual favours and death threats to be sent there from now on.

[rigging65 0]

We don't use any pure cottons at all. Almost everything is a Poly-cotton blend, although you could use cotton if you wished, we just don't.

I'd suggest you get the highest thread count you can. Stay away from Acrylics, they fall apart. You'll want to either over-lock the seams or bind them for strength!

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[PhreeZone 20]

Try to find "Supplex". Its a nylon based fabric (I think) that a lot of companies, Firefly, Merlin, Tony, use in their suits.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[jerry81 10]

Way to go! Even if you're not really experienced, making a freefly suit shouldn't take more than a week. The fabrics aren't that big a deal- cotton is probably the best and most simple option, but if you find another fabric with similar weight/texture that you like better you can use it instead, but try to use just one type of fabric if you make the suit multicolored.

I have to warn you about one thing, though; if your profile is correct I'm guessing you haven't done any freeflying yet- unless you have some tested patterns for the suit, it's possible that you'll make it too baggy or too tight- either might cause you problems when you start learning to freefly or when you're flying with other people (I had to take my suit apart from the waist up and correct it because I was simply too slow in it)
Other than that, have a lot of fun- I know I did.
(If you feel like wasting some more time here are a few design templates I made for my suit. I ended up using number 4 because it was the most complicated)

---

[rigging65 0]

Quote

Try to find "Supplex". Its a nylon based fabric (I think)

Yes, it is a Nylon Blend..it's what we (Flite Suit) use as the base material for most of our suits...although we use a heavier "medium-weight" material for many, many of the Bomber Freefly Suits. Depends on height and weight.

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[cmnorris 0]

I'm planning on making my own as well. Check out this site: http://www.seattlefabrics.com They have supplex, 4-ply, cordura, among others and you can always request samples.

Hope this helps.

[staticnewbie 0]

Hey jerry - no I haven't done any freeflying yet, but the problem is that at my DZ all the suits are too short or too narrow-shouldered for me (6'2''), and I figure it's easier to make a freefly suit myself and save the cash for a RW suit. That will probably work better than trying to do it the other way round!

Plus we have symbiosis suits over here in the UK, and very few companies who make FF suits (at least that people reccommend - hope I'm not offending anyone ).

Regarding the other info. people have posted, thanks a lot, I'm not sure where I will get all this smart material from, but since Mum/Mom is an experienced seamstress with an overlocker I think I'll manage OK - may even start my own company if it works well....

Nick

This username sucks, so I'm BBKid now instead. Replies, insults, sexual favours and death threats to be sent there from now on.

[floormonkey 0]

My FF pants are made of hemp...from Tony Suits

[AndyMan 7]

Both my freefly suit and jumpsuit are made of Supplex. My RW suit is made of PolyCotton.

The supplex is thinner, and flaps about a whole lot more.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.