Power Lifting Gear Q's

Training Powerlifting
21

[quote]chrisarmes wrote:
sorry for hijacking the thread, but Hanley, I’ve got a quick question for you. The Centurion Suit; I squat wide but deadlift conventional, is it any good for either sumo or conventional deadlifts? I’m hoping to do a meet in the future, probably within the next year, and I’m just starting to look into suits.[/quote]

The super plus material is not good for a DL suit. You can have Titan make a Centurion in NXG+. It will take a little longer to get but that will make a better DL suit.

We have sumo pullers who are getting 70+ #'s out of a Centurion. It is all in how you alter it and set it up.

Conventional pullers will likely get less, but 40-50# is not unheard of if you can tolerate tight straps.

The problem is most people get frustrated quickly with a suit when deadlifting and convince themselves it won’t work. It takes practice and tenacity, just like everything else in the sport.

22

Hey all, I was just on EliteFTS and noticed that they have a new line of IPF gear, KING ( http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=203&pid=2666 ). i am Assuming that it is like Viking in the respect that it is even tougher, stronger material. Has anyone heard anything about this new material?

As i said a few posts above I am 95% sure I will go with an Inzer “the Rage” for a bench shirt and Metal IPF Squatter; now i am unsure as to WHICH Metal squatter, original, Viking, or KING- the cost is within 20 so cost is negligible in the overall decision on the suit. Thanks!

23

What has made you decide to go for the Metal single ply gear?

I’m not gonna knock it because I’ve no exp. with it other than my V-type squatter which I pull in, but if you look at nearly ALL the top single ply lifters, they’re in Titan or Inzer equipment.

Elitefts has done a great job marketing the single ply Metal gear off the back of the success some lifters are having with their double ply squat suits. But again if you look at the shirts the top guys are wearing, they’re almost all Inzer Super-Phenomns or multiply rageX’s.

24

Honestly Hanley, I don’t know! I guess a major factor would be customer service, I had issues with Inzer getting my first belt and I’ve only had great experience with EFS, so i guess that is a big factor… those little things really affect you I guess. I will not be buying till mid summer, so there is still plenty of time to change my mind, and back again!

One ‘logical’ factor for wanting the metal squatter is that it is designed for closer stance squatting, which i do. Any more input is appreciated! Thanks again!

25

I would really recommend Titan for your first squat suit, if thats what you decide then don’t order from Titans website itself, same with Inzer or Metal it will take way longer. I recommend Priscilla Ribic’s if your ordering Titan gear in the US, http://www.plgearonline.com/ fast delivery and good service.

Just how wide is your squat?

In the powerlifting (IPF/single ply) world, at least from my and my clubs point of view, Titan seems to be the tried and tested company, many of us wear or have worn Centurions’ and all of use have used an F6 or Fury with a few of us attempting to tackle the Katana. However none of us use Titan deadlift suits.

Metal has double the selection of any company in terms of cuts and material for suits, and are quickly making a name for themselves, many of us use their deadlift suits and are beginning to use their other gear. From my point of view Inzer seems to be dieing or dead in the single ply world, very few use their deadlift suits, seldom do you see anyone wearing a Hardcore anymore and I haven’t seen someone in a Rage or Rage X for awhile.

First squat suit choices…

Titan Centurion NXG Super+

(order regular stance for just outside shoulder width, anything past that go wide stance)

Metal Squatter
Metal Viking Squatter
Metal King Squatter

(these are all the same cut of suit, the original squatter being the oldest, the King the newest, the only changes come in the form of stiffer material and different seams, the stiffer material may be harder to master but should give you more in the overall, I would only recommend the V Type if you are an exceptionally wide squatter.)

26

[quote]Power GnP wrote:
I would really recommend Titan for your first squat suit, if thats what you decide then don’t order from Titans website itself, same with Inzer or Metal it will take way longer. I recommend Priscilla Ribic’s if your ordering Titan gear in the US, http://www.plgearonline.com/ fast delivery and good service.

Just how wide is your squat?[/quote]

I’m tall, 6’1" and change, and my squat width is probably between 18" and 24" at the heels, my toes point out at between a 25 and 45 angle

[quote]In the powerlifting (IPF/single ply) world, at least from my and my clubs point of view, Titan seems to be the tried and tested company, many of us wear or have worn Centurions’ and all of use have used an F6 or Fury with a few of us attempting to tackle the Katana. However none of us use Titan deadlift suits.

Metal has double the selection of any company in terms of cuts and material for suits, and are quickly making a name for themselves, many of us use their deadlift suits and are beginning to use their other gear. From my point of view Inzer seems to be dieing or dead in the single ply world, very few use their deadlift suits, seldom do you see anyone wearing a Hardcore anymore and I haven’t seen someone in a Rage or Rage X for awhile.[/quote]

Is the Rage a good shirt? I am looking at that one due to price as it seems to be a mid-high end shirt for 2/3 to 1/2 the cost of a comparable shirt from metal or titan.

[quote]First squat suit choices…

Titan Centurion NXG Super+

(order regular stance for just outside shoulder width, anything past that go wide stance)

Metal Squatter
Metal Viking Squatter
Metal King Squatter

(these are all the same cut of suit, the original squatter being the oldest, the King the newest, the only changes come in the form of stiffer material and different seams, the stiffer material may be harder to master but should give you more in the overall, I would only recommend the V Type if you are an exceptionally wide squatter.)
[/quote]

Thank you very much for your advice!

27

I’m 6-6’0 200-205lbs with a similar stance to you and have done very well with my Centurion.

A Rage would be fine for a first shirt I’m sure although I wouldn’t compare it to a F6 or Fury, it not quite at that level, a Rage X would be more on par with the Titan shirts.

28

Yeah, I’m pretty much the exact same size as you, so that helps.

I was also just pondering… In the world of 600cc sport bikes, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki… they are all within a few dollars of each other, litteraly dollars, not hundreds, and their performance is all on par, in numerouse reviews professional racers have basically summer up which on is best by- “pick which color scheme you like best,” basically brand loyalty. Would anyone agree this is how PL gear is? GnP seems to be a titan man, as does Hanley, another guys Avatar looked like he was an Inzer sales rep, and I’m sure that others have METAL tattoed on their foreheads. Thoughts?

29

[quote]SamuraiWannaBe wrote:
Honestly Hanley, I don’t know! I guess a major factor would be customer service, I had issues with Inzer getting my first belt and I’ve only had great experience with EFS, so i guess that is a big factor… those little things really affect you I guess. I will not be buying till mid summer, so there is still plenty of time to change my mind, and back again!

One ‘logical’ factor for wanting the metal squatter is that it is designed for closer stance squatting, which i do. Any more input is appreciated! Thanks again![/quote]

That’s what I thought alright. Dave’s done a great job marketing the company. I personally just feel there is better single ply gear out there, and if it were I, I’d rather get good gear with decent customer service.

This however is a moot point, I get all my Titan gear off liftinglarge.com and the customer service is absolutely impeccable. Mike or Teale will pretty much ALWAYS reply to any email that I send within a day and my gear always arrives within 5 working days, and that’s to Ireland!! There customer service is on par with Elite, and in my opinion probably a little bit better.

Titan has a r/s and w/s option for their sutis too. R=regular and W=wide so there’s the freedom of choice there too. I have a regular centurion and wide stance centy breifs and Ihave to say the difference is minimal. I squat the samw width in both and they’re nearly identical.

Whereas with Metal gear there seems to be an extreme taper on their v-type gear. I’ve a v-type squatter and the legs are flared REALLY aggresively. Bit of a tanget really…

If you do end up going with Metal, I’d probably suggest not getting the regular material. Go with the Viking or King. I haven’t used either, but my v-type squatter is certainly not stiff enough to squat in.

30

As always, thank you for the honest and in depth information. I will check out litinglarge.com and book mark it for future reference.

31

As I said www.plgearonline.com is good as well both Titan gear both good prices.

Actually I do like my Titan gear and am within weeks of ordering a Custom Dual Quad Centurion, but my current deadlift suit and bench shirt are Metal, a Viking Presser and Viking Deadlifter.

32

[quote]Power GnP wrote:
As I said www.plgearonline.com is good as well both Titan gear both good prices.[/quote]

looked over and book marked, thanks!

Thanks again!

33

I’ve got good service from PLgearonline before too. BUT I was charged an arm and a leg for shipping. Many multiples of what I was charged with liftinglarge.

I need the item in a hurry and LL didn’t have it so I went with PLgearonline. It’s probably not a factor to consider for you since you’re in the US, but any international customers who happen to read this should be mindful of that!

34

So I’ve been doing more reading and what not, so this Titan Power wash, is it a good idea to prolong your gear? for how inexpensive it is i think it would be worth it.

35

[quote]SamuraiWannaBe wrote:
Thanks very much for all the advice!

And to Pinto (or others if it gets more advice)- My Bench is currently in the mid 200’s if i had to guess (which i do, as i havn’t maxed since the summer) I’d say 265 +/- 5-10#; so i dont know if that changes a good first shirt? (note, i think my technique is the biggest problem with my bench) My squat is in the High 300’s (365 easy, can probably get closer to 385), i squat at about shoulder width, wide squats do not go well for my hips. Deadlift like bench i have to guess for the same reason- Mid 400’s best DL to date is 425, conventional stance. Those are all raw (belt on squat, wrist wraps on bench, nothing on DL).

thanks again for all the advice![/quote]

Yeah- maybe give it minute for a tight-fitting shirt until you get a little stronger. That said, I think you should buy a good shirt. I started with shit shirts and I put up hard-won sub-par benches. When i switched to a tight shirt, the world changed and suddenly a 100lb+ carryover was do-able for me. Here’s the thing, if you train in a shirt regularily (i.e almost every week), you can learn to touch in damn near anything. It just takes practice.

36

Powerwash is worth it, remember don’t machine dry any suits/shirts. It will prolong the life of the fabric and not effect it strength, normal detergent breaks down the material.

To be honest though…most powerlifters don’t wash their suits. One of my team members has a two year old centurion, where you can still read the RS (regular stance) in wax pencil still written on the ass.

37

[quote]SamuraiWannaBe wrote:
So I’ve been doing more reading and what not, so this Titan Power wash, is it a good idea to prolong your gear? for how inexpensive it is i think it would be worth it.[/quote]

Definately get power wash, and use it religiously. I attribute the use of it long lastingness of my gear!! If you’re gonna spend $250+ on gear you way as well spend the extra $8 or whatever it is to prolong the life of your investment!!

Just checked inzernet… the regular rage is $95 there and the fury/f6 is only $100 off liftinglarge. I’d say either of the 2 latter shirts are worth the extra $5!!

38

I thought of another question, surprise surprise!

My personal benching style, how much of a factor does this play? I’ve seen two basic types of shirts, ones with sleeves at 90 degrees or close to there and shirts with ‘less agressive’ sleeve angle, the only one i’ve seen inbetween is the Metal Viking and King Bencher/Pressers. I naturally have my elbows at about a 45 in regards to my torso at the bottom position and they flare out a few inches off my chest to lock out. However, I am thinking I need to change this since my shoulders have ALWAYS been an issue I’ve worked religiously on (I am pretty sure i inherited dads malformed shoulder sockets, cool!) I can shoulder press all day with my palms facing each other or even towards my face, when I do DB bench I keep my hands faceing each other as much as possible. Ideas?

39

[quote]SamuraiWannaBe wrote:
I was also just pondering… In the world of 600cc sport bikes, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki… they are all within a few dollars of each other, litteraly dollars, not hundreds, and their performance is all on par, in numerouse reviews professional racers have basically summer up which on is best by- “pick which color scheme you like best,” basically brand loyalty. Would anyone agree this is how PL gear is? GnP seems to be a titan man, as does Hanley, another guys Avatar looked like he was an Inzer sales rep, and I’m sure that others have METAL tattoed on their foreheads. Thoughts?[/quote]

Everybody likes different shit, you gotta try stuff out and see what you like. I am partial to Metal suits and briefs, but I am an APF super cheater also. For shirts I like Titan the best. Never used a Titan suit, but I have tried damn near every kind of shirt there is.

Check eBay for cheap gear and also Fortified Iron has a really good used gear trading/selling section.

40

[quote] Matt wrote:
SamuraiWannaBe wrote:
I was also just pondering… In the world of 600cc sport bikes, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki… they are all within a few dollars of each other, litteraly dollars, not hundreds, and their performance is all on par, in numerouse reviews professional racers have basically summer up which on is best by- “pick which color scheme you like best,” basically brand loyalty. Would anyone agree this is how PL gear is? GnP seems to be a titan man, as does Hanley, another guys Avatar looked like he was an Inzer sales rep, and I’m sure that others have METAL tattoed on their foreheads. Thoughts?

Everybody likes different shit, you gotta try stuff out and see what you like. I
[/quote]

I agree with matt, it really just boils down to personal preference. at the end of the day its all the same shit for the most part: a few pieces of polyester stitched together. Some companies use slightly better fabric and stitching and others don’t. the designs of the shirts and suits at this point are all pretty similar to one another. Angled sleeved for an arch and tuck, straight sleeve for high and elbows out. Flared legs for a wide stance, or without for a regular stance.

Each company offers the same options. just pick one. titan makes a good product, their vendors are pretty quick and easy to order from and their prices are reasonable. inzer has good stuff too and has good customer service. metal gear gets a lot of publicity and has a good reputation though they are bit more expensive and tend to stretch a bit too easily in my opinion. the you have lesser known companies like crains and frantz. don’t overthink it. your first suit/shirt wont be your last, trust me…