Replacing an AF Ultralight Foil Lamé

[erik_blank]

Well, after four years of dependable use, my old AF Ultralight Foil Lame has finally given up the ghost. After an appropriate mourning period where I alternately cried, hid under the blankets and or destroyed small local villages, I have finally accepted the fact that I need to replace it.

Unfortunately of course AF is no longer producing this wonder for the piddling fact that they had a large number of them die within 3 months... (how mine lasted this long is beyond me considering how much I abused it, throwing it in the back of the car and never washing the thing until it failed and then washed as a last resort to try to bring it back to life.... )

Since I am feeling too lazy to actually use the search tool (I have never had success with that anyway) I figured that I would see what tthe rest of you are getting these days, and if there are any other mid priced ultralight lamés out there that anyone is willing to support.

I noticed that both BlueGauntlet and Triplette have an ultralights for sale. Any feedback on these two? Any others in the same price range that people would recommend?

[neevel]

The BG lame uses a material that appears to be similar to what Leon Paul uses for their ultralight lames. I don't have enough experience with them to comment on their durablilty (they've only been around for a couple of years, IIRC).

The Triplette ultralight has been around for a long time and is quite durable. I used to have a couple of them in my club's stock of lames; they held up for several years and were retired due the the fabric finally starting to fray apart at the seams. The one caveat is that, like most of Triplette's non-custom jackets, they are made with virtually no taper in the torso and so tend to fit most people (even those with 'well filled-out midsections') like a potato sack.

[fencerchica]

I know you mentioned you were looking in the BG/Triplette price range, but I just wanted to mention my old LP ultralight's lasted for 4 years of constant club use, 6 years of living in the rough climate of my bag, and countless washings. It finally developed a dead ring-around-the-collar but is otherwise just fine (<5ohms in front, <2ohms in back). So, it's pricey but the durability might be worth it.

[erik_blank]

thanks folks. Unfortunately my budget is pretty limited here... the two ultralights above are probably going to strain my budget as it is... *sigh* I will look at Tripplete again (since I have fond memories of them from 20+ years ago.. I always loke to give them another chance when I can.. I got my last glove from them over a year ago and it is still servicable...)

[erik_blank]

Well I decided to go with Triplette for the lamé... And another glove.. I really do like their gloves..

[jkormann]

Is it still Walter over there? I was bummed when he sold.

[brtech]

Walter is back, although:
a) There are many who think the circumstances were ugly
b) He rarely shows up in person

I concur that the Triplette ultralight is a fine product.

We have enough experience now with the Edge ultralight from BG to say that it's pretty good. We see some failures, but really, it's decent.

The new AF is "too soon to tell".

The LP ultralight is, in my personal opinion, the best lame available.

[Mac A. Bee]

after four years of dependable use, my old AF Ultralight Foil Lame has finally given up the ghost...a large number of them die within 3 months...I abused it, throwing it in the back of the car and never washing the thing until it failed

When you get your new lame, cold-water rinsing it for a couple of seconds after every use extends its tournament conformation. Also, since I had an ultralight fail precipitously at a tournament equipment check versus a stainless-steel's gradual degradation, pre-tournament test using a foil weight and ohm meter. That's a good approximation of a standard tester, unless you want to make a plastic-liter-bottle-with-bolt DIYer.

[Mergs]

<snip>a good approximation of a standard tester, unless you want to make a plastic-liter-bottle-with-bolt DIYer.

Actually you want to use a 1/2 liter bottle (500ml). Density of water is 1g/ml, ergo, 500ml = 500g. Use a 5/16" brass bolt with the end of the bolt rounded off and a 4mm hole drilled through it.

[SJCFU#2]

Also, since I had an ultralight fail precipitously at a tournament equipment check versus a stainless-steel's gradual degradation, pre-tournament test using a foil weight and ohm meter. That's a good approximation of a standard tester, unless you want to make a plastic-liter-bottle-with-bolt DIYer.

An even better approximation might be to cut the head off of a 5/16th" or 3/8" bolt (brass is ideal however IIRC the FIE recently decided that other metals are acceptable), round one end to approximate a 4mm hemisphere to get the proper shape, and simply fit your 500g foil weight over the other end.

Yes, it will weigh a little more than 500g, but not enough to make much of a difference, and it eliminates concerns about using the correct size water bottle - all you have to do is remember to pack a foil weight.

[erik_blank]

Thanks everyone for the advice...my lame s howed up on Tuesday from Triplette, and while it is not the same incredibly thin airy material that came from Absolute, it is nice and fits well... I'll be trying it out for the first time tonight at practice...