Just browsing the interweb for nomex clothing and I'm seeing a wide range of prices. Anywhere from $300 to $1300 for a suit.

Wondering if I sacrifice safety or just comfort with the price. I wouldn't like to burn to death due to being a Jew. (Kinda ironic that'd be, being in a vehicle with a German designed engine... I also meant no offense to anyone. I am part Jewish.)


Could the suit run dual purpose as a motorcycle riding suit, as I'm considering buying one fo those too. Or are suits more purpose built?

 

You want a Kevlar suit? You worried about people shooting at you while on track?

Motorcycle racing suits are designed more for impact and abrasion and contain extra bits of reinforcement (like that hump on the back of the neck that'd get in the way in a car), auto racing suits are designed for fire protection. I highly doubt that one suit is available that'd be legal to use for both forms of racing, or that you'd want one to be, as it'd be ill suited to one form or the other.

For reference, the SFI rating is a measure of the time to a 2nd degree burn, it breaks down as follows:

3.2A/1 = 3 sec
3.2A/3 = 7 sec
3.2A/5 = 10 sec
3.2A/10 = 19 sec
3.2A/15 = 30 sec
3.2A/20 = 40 sec

The same rating system applies to suits, underwear, shoes, gloves, and balaclavas.

 

if the ratings are the same then the only reason to buy one brand over the other is comfort and style.

 

But there are differences of materials within the same ratings and sometimes that's what you are paying for. I'm having a stupid moment right now and can't think of anything other than nomex but there are different materials and each have their own distictive properties. Pros and cons.

 

... and just like a suit you wear to work tailoring is everything. Different brands and models will fit your body better than someone else's.

If you spend much time in your suit when it's hot outside the more expensive models are often made of materials which are MUCH more comforable to wear in the heat.

 

Chris may be thinking of the treated cotton suits, which are cheaper but have a shorter lifespan.

 

I went cheap on my race suit. I really regret it. Its very uncomfortable, It doesn't breath well and its big in some areas and small in others. I could have a 38" waist and still fit in it, but I have no room in the shoulders and its too short in the legs. I think it shrunk a little the first time I had it washed.

 

While browsing Racer Wholesale's add I saw what I was referring to about different types of flame retardant materials. Nomex, Nomex III, Gabardine, treated cotton, Carbon X, etc. etc. There was a great thread on the pros and cons of the different materials on improvedtouring.com quite a while back. As someone who has been in a burning car I can say it's not much fun and to protect yourself very well. Even if you are just doing DE or TT you never know when you'll be trapped in a burning car.