need help

[random thought]

I was just cehcking out some equipment vendor sites looking for some new knickers. I noticed a disturbing trend, alomst everyone goes to a size 50 or 52 jacket but no one seems to offer a size knickers larger than 38 or 40 with out going to a custom size. Now I know that I will never be the slimmets person in the world but what is wrong with these companies understanding that if someone has a 50 or 52 jacket requirement then wouldn't it make since they would need bigger pants than a 38 or 40? other than losing weight or paying the custom fee what our the options? I know and understand that there are not many fencers that share my problem but come on vendors! Use your heads and understand that if there are those of use that need a 52 jacket we will need bigger than a 38 or 40 waist. I hate to name drop but have any of you ever seen Justin Meehan or his brother? Not small guys and never will be. I heard that Justin was working for Blade now and they seem to be the worst offender of this problem. Wake up people! I know it will not your biggest seller, or even in the top ten, but it wouldn't hurt to have some larger size knickers for those of us who need them. If these big guys and girls want FIE stuff then make them pay the custom charge but you vendors should have either stretch or duct material knickers available for us to buy without having to pay a custom fee of some ridiculous amnount of money just because you vendors are too short sighted to realize that not every fencer is 5'10, 160 and is great shape.

Please help me with this logic(if any exists).

[damianip]

Random Thought,

I'm definitely in your demographic. I wear a US size 50L jacket (which I got from American Fencing Supply) and Euro size 58 Uhlmann knickers (which I got from Physical Chess... oddball overstock on sale).

That said, I think your best bet is Triplette which makes their own clothing and is sensitive to the "Big and Tall" group.

My first jacket came from them, and ,if it wasn't a back zip, (lesson: never buy a back zip unless your're a club..I did because I'm ambidextrous and hadn't settled on a side yet) I'd probably be still using it. It was a tad shorter in the torso than I'd like but I'm a tough fit.

Try Triplette, they have knickers up to a very large size. They charge a bit more than the smaller sizes, but let's face it: they use more material to make them, and the call for these sizes is less.

Paolo

[Zelda]

random thought,
try the Soudet, they go from French 40 to 80's or so. I took a 44 jacket and 78 breechs, but as they shrink a bit my new ones are 48 and 88 and they fit really nicely.

[latenight]

Triplette will make whatever you need. I don't use them anymore, but some members of our club are large and actual drove to elkin to be measured for gear

[damianip]

Zelda,

If one is in the US, Soudet gear is hard, if not impossible, to find. I don't think they have any US distribution channels.

My SO has been going to Paris on business lately but she hasn't had time to check out FIE jackets for me. Maybe next time.

Do you know of any online sources of info on the Soudet line?

Paolo

[Arturo]

There are a few larger individuals in my club and they were able to get knickers from Triplette. I know one of them is a stock 56. They might not have it on the catalog, but I am sure that you can call them and find out... 336-835-7774.

[Zelda]

Paolo, they do have a web page BUT its actually part of the Prieur range. If you want to talk to someone ask for Bruno, he speaks english. I have thier phyiscal street address in Paris if you want it, even down to what train station to get off at. PM me if you want it. the web page works occassionally, its address is http://www.vpi.orianne.com/prieur
Zelda