New GEO 'Kingsdale' Suits
- Thread starter thehungrytroglobite
- Start date
I bought one as I saw similar group at winch meet and thought they looked to have borrowed a lot of the AV design but were much cheaper. When it arrived it felt quite thin and the hood cavity wasn't really sewn wide enough for the hood and there seemed to be a lot of loose stitches around the velcro and seams. I tried it on (L comfort) which felt okay but I was unconvinced and sent it back before use. My AV titan has had about a year of use pretty regular / some extensive trips and recently the double layer ripped at the bum area. I think I'll patch this up and then continue to look for something that offers a bit more flexibility but is also super durable!
dougle89
Active member
Landjoff cordura extreme is holding up okay for me, only done a handful of trips but has no marks on it where my warmbac had marks after 2 Dales trips. Landjoff has been mine digging too
paul
Moderator
Except Cordura is made of Nylon or a Nylon blend with cotton or other fabrics and Nylon is a polyamide.
tim.rose2
Well-known member
Just for balance and to counter some of the above...
I bought one of the Geo Suits a few weeks back on a bit of a punt as I was after something which fitted like the old style Warmbac suits, which I've use and been happy with for a couple of decades. Obviously being cheaper than the alternatives was an attraction. I recently purchased a new style Warmbac (with black cuffs) having run out of the old style ones to destroy, found the fit has changed and for me is really uncomfortable. The Geo suit however fits great and is very comfortable to cave in. It's obviously a slightly thinner fabric but to me the cut seems to be on a par with the old Warmbac's. I've used it for 5 trips so far and seems to be standing up fine. That said these were all 'nice trips' and I haven't yet tested it somewhere shit and gnarly (that will come). In my hands I used to get 60 to 70 trips out of a Warmbac before I was bored patching it and moved onto the next. Only time will tell how this one fairs, but my initial impressions are good.
I should also mention I had a few questions before purchasing and found great customer service.
The only negative - the fitting around the neck and the hood. Personally I'd do away with both.
I bought one of the Geo Suits a few weeks back on a bit of a punt as I was after something which fitted like the old style Warmbac suits, which I've use and been happy with for a couple of decades. Obviously being cheaper than the alternatives was an attraction. I recently purchased a new style Warmbac (with black cuffs) having run out of the old style ones to destroy, found the fit has changed and for me is really uncomfortable. The Geo suit however fits great and is very comfortable to cave in. It's obviously a slightly thinner fabric but to me the cut seems to be on a par with the old Warmbac's. I've used it for 5 trips so far and seems to be standing up fine. That said these were all 'nice trips' and I haven't yet tested it somewhere shit and gnarly (that will come). In my hands I used to get 60 to 70 trips out of a Warmbac before I was bored patching it and moved onto the next. Only time will tell how this one fairs, but my initial impressions are good.
I should also mention I had a few questions before purchasing and found great customer service.
The only negative - the fitting around the neck and the hood. Personally I'd do away with both.
underground
Active member
Probably a few wannabe candidates but the only true PBMM is revealed in my photo above
Like I said, it just didn't look and feel right to me so didn't try it on an actual trip. Good to hear yours is fairing well though. Maybe they'll adjust the hood 'pocket' measurements and neck a bit and everyone will move to these. I think I'll repair my current suit first and then decide on a replacement after a bit more research and tried & tested accounts of quality like your own
Loki
Well-known member
For info Cordura is a trade name for a fabric from a single manufacturer. The same fabric is made elsewhere but can’t be called cordura. Like Dyneema which is HMPE anywhere else. Now if someone were to make a cordura type fabric woven from hmpe we’d have a bombproof suit afforded only by those who didn’t spend all thier brass on a scurion
As mentioned in the AV thread, the kiwis are making suits with Kevlar reinforcing for £240 (which is only £50 more than their cordura):
www.aspiring.co.nz
Aspiring NG Kevlar Caving Overalls - Aspiring
Same as the Cordura option but manufactured from a lightweight Kevlar fabric, Weight is just over half the weight of cordura overalls, Very flexible and
www.aspiring.co.nz
john_tapeworm
Member
Cringe
AlexR
Well-known member
I’ve made (well, commissioned more like) a suit made from a mix of woven UHMWPE and stretch with ripstop of the same material.
It’s been down a deep alpine cave in it and I generally quite like it, but the cost is prohibitive. Also the only true woven UHMWPE I’m aware of still uses a polyester film backing, which gives it the breathability of a bin liner (Challenge Ultra). For me that’s the biggest downfall, I prefer breathable/ light suits and to keep moving swiftly. (Put on a cheap waterproof if you’re ending up stationary)
Although Cordura is chemically a polyamide, not all polyamide fabrics are created equal even beyond the thickness. The type of weave can have a bigger effect than whether it’s e.g. a polyester yarn vs polyamide.
Oversuits are a consumable item, one that lasts very long does so for one of these reasons:
- it’s made from heavier fabric - less breathable, more restrictive to movement
- the mileage and/ or type of cave
You can dangle on ropes with any oversuit forever, take it through a couple of sharp meanders and things change. Horses for courses.
I find the GEO suits suspiciously cheap. Somewhere someone is getting screwed, and I’m willing to bet they’re sat in front of a sewing machine.
AlexR
Well-known member
That may be true, and as a disclaimer I have no direct/ insider knowledge about the manufacture of GEO suits.
But: they’re available in 8 gradings, 4 colour schemes and with features “comparable” *cough* to the AVs. Which come in 6 gradings and 2 colourways.
(Ok, ok, that’s wilful misrepresentation on my part: 12 gradings counting their M/F versions)
Variety costs money, pattern complexity costs money. Especially when you won’t be selling a lot of them.
Another direct seller, Landjoff has considerably higher prices. Then again they use branded Cordura.
Everyone should go for the oversuit they can afford and works for them, just be mindful that a cheaper suit with what appears to be questionable quality control and thinner fabric may be a false economy anyway.
But: they’re available in 8 gradings, 4 colour schemes and with features “comparable” *cough* to the AVs. Which come in 6 gradings and 2 colourways.
(Ok, ok, that’s wilful misrepresentation on my part: 12 gradings counting their M/F versions)
Variety costs money, pattern complexity costs money. Especially when you won’t be selling a lot of them.
Another direct seller, Landjoff has considerably higher prices. Then again they use branded Cordura.
Everyone should go for the oversuit they can afford and works for them, just be mindful that a cheaper suit with what appears to be questionable quality control and thinner fabric may be a false economy anyway.
Got mine a few months ago. Its holding up pretty well through 15 trips so far, though our trips aren't that intense. Mostly muddy trips in fluorspar mines with the odd crawling scramble in other places. washed several times on cold and fits pretty much the same. sewing on the cuffs and velcro feels a tad dubious but they aren't coming off at all. Pretty happy with it for the price. And its green! (genuinely one of the major selling points for me haha.) chest pocket will house my phone quite nicely. Certainly not perfect, but happy with it. Fits nicely, especially with a belt around the waist
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