here's my review with pics....
I ordered the Striker Ice suit online, so I had no chance to try it on and do a direct comparison to the competition – and not much in the way of user reviews to go on being that suit it so new. The few reviews I found really sold me on the suit ‘sight unseen’ – and the pre-sales customer support I received was amazing. I asked many very specific questions of the company concerning warranty, materials, design and details and all were answered within a few hours by Shawn K – big thumbs up!
Please excuse the photo quality
First Impression:
I took the suit out of the box and was pleasantly surprised to see the jacket and bibs both came with extra button hardware ( a nice touch to accompany the warranty )
Having ordered the regular suit (not the lite version) I was surprised at how light the suit was. I have tried on all the major float suits and this one seems light and malleable. The material is flexible and slightly ‘pre-shaped’ in the knees and elbows.
The styling was a nice blue-ish grey with black trim, white highly reflective banding and best of all, SUBTLE branding…I don’t want to be a walking billboard.
The Details:
I don’t think I can summarize all the intricacies of this suit as I’ve only worn it for about 15 minutes. Our grass is still green and wearing this suit in the house is pretty warm. Every time I put this suit on I find a new expandable, pocket drawstring, clip or zipper and they are all very well thought out with placement and pocket design. Some easy access fleece lined hand-warmer type, some large ‘cargo’ style expandable button top, and several water tight zipper pockets, along with ‘zip through’ to get at stuff inside or make that awkward scratch easier.
The little extras:
Most of the above mentioned features you will find on one suit or another, here are some key features that tell me a true outdoorsman had a say in the suit’s design:
The suit is 100% water proof, but we all know how water on the ice tends to find it’s way through gaps in outwear – the inside leg cuffs have an extra splash guard with elastic and button closure:
As well as ankle to hip zips:
And for anyone that’s ever lost something down the hole or in the snow, a great place for keys (zipper small pocket on the sleeve):
Additional interior cuffs are soft and water proof:
And the ingenious idea of customizable cuffs – a simple, super strong velco cuff:
Fully extended (note the bands of velco moving up the leg, these are “hem points”
And as a 6’ tall guy, rolling up the cuffs to the mid-way point tells me tall or short, you should have a good fit
Rolling up the cuffs:
Finished “hem” job:
And then there’s the venting…I can’t believe this is a “revolutionary” idea for a float suit meant to be worn for sporting:
The magnetic closures over the zips (legs and coat) are a nice touch, as is the 3 way zip on the coat and bibs:
makes an easy access for bathroom breaks. The pliable wire brim in the (detachable) hood is another breakthrough I wish I had on all my coats. And then there’s this James Bond-esque feature (Beveridge not included):
Some shots of how the suit looks/fits:
Notice where the padded knees are – I jacked up the suspenders and rolled up the cuffs and they are still in the right spot – nicely padded knees and seat.
I’m sure there’s some features I haven’t found yet – so feel free to ask questions, I wish I’d had this info before buying, would’ve made the decision much easier. I will report back details of how it handles the cold and wet once we get some ice! Based on my initial findings I would highly recommend this suit both for safety and warmth.
The Fit: I’d say, tall and somewhat slim. I’m 6’ 180lbs, 36 waist. I ordered the large bibs and coat and they fit great. Enough room for a layer or two and not at all bulky.
The suits fit very close to their sizing chart
http://www.strikerbrands.com/store/c/20-Striker-Ice.aspx
