Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 15:42:41 -0500 From: "Mike Brookman" Subject: Re: Strength_List: equipment recommendations - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Helfst" To: Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 2:12 PM Subject: Strength_List: equipment recommendations > Since there aren't many posts today, I thought I'd ask a rookie question. I have >now competed in 2 meets and am hooked. I thought that I'd always lift raw until >Mike Brookman talked about competition and keeping the field level with those >who use equipment as well as how he feels about equipment helping to protect old >injuries or at least make life a little more comfortable. I have never had anything >against equipment, just didn't think I'd care to wear it. > After the meet I bought a pair of Inzer Z knee wraps. Yesterday, I wrapped my >knees (as best I could) and squatted with them just to see what they were like. I >couldn't believe the difference. > My question is, where do I go from here? Would you recommend a squat suit >next or a bench shirt? I would get the squat suit 1st, get one that is not too tight for your first suit, so you can get the feel for pushing against the suit. When you think you are ready you can get a bench shirt, or you can get them both, only bad thing is you will need help with the shirt to get it on. :) > If so, which ones are your favorites? At this point I don't have any federation >allegiances so I'd like to stay with equipment that most federations will allow. I >apologize for bringing up and old topic, but I never paid much attention to >equipment discussions until I talked with some of the guys at the meet in Pittsburgh >last weekend. You can respond to me directly if you don't want to clog up the list. > Thanks in advance. > Bob Helfst > Muncie, IN > I prefer the Inzer suits, I use to wear a champion but have beeen using a Z suit for over a year now and have adjusted quit nicely to it, I may go back to the champion one day who knows. I am getting ready to get a denim single ply bench shirt made with velcro so that I can use it in the USPF nats in June, since my injury I would like to have all the help and support I can get (yes, I am looking for a few more lbs, but oh well who isn't?) I will get a denim or canvas squat suit made soon so that I can use it in APF meets in the future when I decide to lift with the team that is at my gym when they need someone (but this is assuming that TSO is not competing, if they are my allegiance is TSO all the way.) I would probably get an Inzer Champion as your first suit to get use to one. I don't know if the Z legs would be a comfortable first suit, its really up to you. It takes some getting used to with the Z suit more so than the Champion. - ---------------------------------------- Mike Brookman Roanoke, VA THE POWER PAGE: http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/9757/power.html Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 16:42:42 -0600 From: "Allen M" Subject: Re: Strength_List: equipment recommendations Definitely go for the squat suit. For your first suit, you probably want a single-ply suit that is not radically tight. It should be tight enough that you can't do a paralell squat without weight on your back, but you should be able to pull yourself down to deadlift (personal opinion). After you get accustomed to the feel of the suit, you can get radical -- multiple layers, insanely tight, etc. You can keep your single ply to deadlift in. Allen Mays Lubbock, TX Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2000 00:07:55 -0600 From: Roger Subject: Re: Strength_List: equipment recommendations If you want something legal in all federations stick with single ply poly. Go with INZER. I bought a Titan and have regretted it. Champion would probably be the best way to go for a first squat suit. For a first bench shirt...I really like my HD. As far as whether to buy a shirt or suit first..ask yourself this...Are you going to be more likely to do Powerlifting meets or Push/Pulls. If powerlifting meets get the suit first. If Push/pulls get the shirt first. Roger Broeg Burlington Iowa http://www.willinet.net/~broeg/index.html Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 09:33:58 EST From: TSteve4220@aol.com Subject: Re: Strength_List: equipment recommendations I had always used a marathon squat suit. But I recently tried a Crain Genesis suit. I liked it much better. Alot more rebound in the bottom. As far as bench shirts, I use an Inzer EHPHD. I tried a denim and didn't like it. It seems my groove is wrong for a denim. Tom Stevenson Wheatfield, NY Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:07:43 -0700 From: "Linda Schaefer" Subject: Strength_List: Equipment - another opinion.... Feather likes Inzer - shirt and suit. Deep is an Inzer user too. I like the Crain shirt and the Titan dual quad suit, for both squat and deadlift right now. (I have a Crain deadlift suit to test, but not an Inzer - oh well. LOL) You'll get as many opinions as there are people here....my recommendation - try them, see what works best for your. The Crain and Titans are also comp legal. IPF has one of the strictest equipment standards, and the Crain "megapower" shirt - order through japan - and the Titan suits, the single poly - are legal. Just another opinion - dual quads are an acquired taste - once you get to like them, they are wonderful. And the material in Inzers vs. Titans is very different. The third major suit mfr is "Marathon" - and their deadlift suits are particularly legendary BUT getting one is like the holy grail - and let's just say it's not a good idea if you need a more "custom" fit like I do - if that suit is too loose in the back - will not fit me, or do any good. Love my Titan signature wraps too - those are my faves - I didn't like the material in the zwraps - again, just another opinion. In the end - use what's comfortable for you. Borrow from a friend, or buy a used one - see what it feels like...use it for a training suit or shirt. Used ones - sometimes only been used one time, like new. Again, it's all a matter of what works for you. The Phantom Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:52:58 -0400 From: "brookman@rev.net" Subject: Strength_List: Re: Help! Wade: Suit slippers are nothing more than a pair or tight running pants that are separated. They are the same slick material as the pants you see these runners wear. Simply go to the local sports store and buy you a pair, cut the legs off of them, and put them on. Now since you are short on time, you can simply have Wes hold the pant leg up on the thigh until you get the suit above the knees so the legs don't fall off (they will since there will be no elastic at the top of each leg like the slippers), and then once to this point they should stay up good enough to get the suit up. - ---------------------------------------- Mike Brookman Roanoke, VA THE POWER PAGE: http://www.powerpage.net FREAK FORUM: http://www.deepsquatter.com/forums/freak/ >>>> Now that is a good idea. Only one question for you...does the legs of the compression shorts sticking out of the suit allow the legs of the suit to ride up when you dunk into the hole? >>> Cen72180@centuryinter.net 06/14/00 09:41AM >>> Just use compresion shorts and pull the legs of them down real low, it works better than suit slippers, only thing I don't think you can wear them in a meet???? But for just trying out a suit, it will work. Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 15:55:41 -0800 From: "Brian and Terri Williams" Subject: Recreational lifter turned PL'er breaks the gear barrier Finally broke down and ordered a Champion squat and set of Z wraps to tinker with. Took a gander at the Z's - liked 'em immediately. Eagerly yanked the Champion out of the box to squeeze into the thing. Things going through my mind - the posts archived on Tom's site about gear and how to get the stuff on. Recent posts about deadlifting in it. Recent lengthy posts about folks switching to newer and more supportive gear. "My Champion was much easier to get into than the Titan..." was a general consensus, with the name of the older gear changing. So there I am, thinking that climbing into the Champion would be an experience, but certainly doable. I start in my bedroom and get the thing up over my scrawny arse. Started to get things further up on my torso. Time to head to the squat rack. Up it goes, until it is time to get the first strap up. 10 minutes have passed. After 10 more minutes passed I won! The squat suit was containing the hirsute leprechaun! I waddled over to the bar, marveling at how my quads were squished into the thing. One minute I can look into my mirror and see nicely separated quads (like I really care - honest...). The next I am oozing out of this black abomination like a binge eater at a picnic. Somewhat liberating, I think. I ducked under the bar (with some effort) and set up to give the old squat a try. Not paying much attention to the weight, I step back and descend into the hole. Halfway there, I realize that I am going no further. There is only 150 or so on the bar, and I'm going no where. I guess it fits. At the end of things, I have a size 30 Champion that I was able to get on my 5'5" 160 pound frame, after some work. I have a nice set of bruises from the shoulder straps - cool. I have a new kind of training to consider - putting my squat suit on. I think I'll log it as GPP. I have a question if someone would be so kind as to indulge me. Like I mentioned, I am quite hirsute. Probably the worst thing about squeezing into the suit was dragging the shoulder straps over my traps, stressing the fur that covers my chest to the limit. At the risk of sounding like a BB'er, do any of you guys (or gals...) shave down to get into gear easier? Brian Williams - hirsute, bruised, and gear wearing neophyte Zillah, Washington Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 16:29:49 PST From: "Dean Reece" Subject: Re: Recreational lifter turned PL'er breaks the gear barrier >Up it goes, until it is time to get the first strap up. 10 minutes have >passed. After 10 more minutes passed I won I hate to say this Brian, but if you got the straps up by yourself the suit is probably a skosh too loose. Personally, when I tried this I got stuck with the straps halfway up each bicep, sweating/swearing like a pig! When I ran downstairs to have my wife help, I actually had to wait for her to stop laughing before she would help me. Ask Jason about his bench shirt story BTW! >Like I mentioned, I am quite hirsute. Probably the worst thing about >squeezing into the suit was dragging the shoulder straps over my traps, >stressing the fur that covers my chest to the limit. At the risk of >sounding like a BB'er, do any of you guys (or gals...) shave down to get >into gear easier? OK I had to look up hirsute. Given the sad state of public education in Oregon and all. Just wear a very tight t-shirt. You can shave from mid delt to the tops of your traps, and this will help also. Suit slippers will help your leg fur. For the record I shave the tops of my traps, the front of my thighs and trim the hair in my pits to 1/2 inch when I start getting into gear. All other hair remains intact and shaved areas grow back immediately after meet. >Brian Williams - hirsute, bruised, and gear wearing neophyte >Zillah, Washington > At the risk of being offensive, I must know....Do you guys tell God-Zillah jokes on Sundays after church? Dean Reece Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 10:17:22 -0800 From: Jason Burnell Subject: Re: Recreational lifter turned PL'er breaks the gear barrier Brian Williams wrote: > Like I mentioned, I am quite hirsute. Probably the worst thing about > squeezing into the suit was dragging the shoulder straps over my > traps, > stressing the fur that covers my chest to the limit. At the risk of > sounding like a BB'er, do any of you guys (or gals...) shave down to > get > into gear easier? Yes. I take the mustache trimmers to the back and chest to the shirt easier to get on. Also, my training partners and I have a "who can rip the most hair out" contest when putting on the shirts. It seems that we all have shorter hair now.....LOL. That will help but the other thing is a tight fitting T-Shirt. One size too small will help. Jason W. Burnell