I own Metal Pro briefs and an Ace suit. The pro briefs are great. They are snug but I can get on myself as I train alone also. I have to put them on “cold” or getting them on with pumped up legs makes them go from easy to kinda hard. The Pro briefs also have a very forgiving groove, meaning they don’t mess with my form or pull my knees in or anything like that. I squat in mine at least once a week for the past 2 years and the briefs are still going strong. Very little stretch out and still give tons of carryover. Without a belt, I can air squat down to a low box easily. Throw on a belt and I get 100-125# carryover. The Pro briefs are strong but will give you a little give in the hole and some rebound when free squatting. The briefs fit well and will not give you too many “bite marks” like single ply shit will. You really won’t go wrong with the Pro briefs if you squat with a wide stance. I have squatted narrow IE shoulder width but the carryover is lessened.
The ACE briefs will perform similar to the Ace suit when the suit straps are down. The ACE material is stiffer and will stop you dead in the hole. That depth will be determined by how tight the suit is and if you have a belt on. Unlike the Pro briefs, the ACE requires weight on the bar to hit depth. Not much, but weight is needed for me, about 95#. The ACE briefs leg openings are tighter than the Pro’s. They will NOT slip up your thigh at all. This may be a problem for some and the brief may need to be stretched out a little bit with a basketball to dial in the fit. The ACE stuff groove is easy if you can box squat properly. Just keep sitting back and pressing the knees out and the suit will take care of you.
There are also the JACK brief which is supposed to be similar to the ACE but have a bit more stretch in the hole like the Pro’s to be more user friendly.
Cliff note comparison:
PRO BRIEFS / ACE BRIEFS
easy on / semi easy on if legs are fit correctly
good stopping power / great stopping power
wide stance- wider is better / med to wide(er) stance
easy groove / semi easy, must find the groove of the brief. may be different than what you are used to.
Fit guide: for the PRO briefs measure around your pelvis - ie from the base of your junk around the widest part of your butt. I measure 44 and I got a 44 brief. Measure your quads half way down as this is where the leg opening will sit with the suit / briefs.
ACE briefs you are supposed to add 2" to your pelvis around per the fit guide I copied below…
SUITS
"Viking and Pro Briefs: Go straight off your PELVIS AROUND measurement (inches). If you measure 42 inches, you will need a 42 brief.
All Suits (excluding Ace): Add 4 to your PELVIS AROUND measurement (inches). If you measure 42, you will need a size 46.
Ace Briefs: Add 2 to your PELVIS AROUND measurement (inches). If you measure 42, you will need a size 44 Ace brief.
Ace Suit - Add 6 to your PELVIS AROUND measurement (inches). If you measure 42 then you will need a size 48."
Ok so your plan is to do a brief / suit combo. If you go this route you’ll need to add an additional size to the SUIT to allow for the brief underneath of it. I’ve heard good reviews of the Pro brief / Ace suit combo FWIW.
Hope this helps you out man.