This article is designed to help compare the changes to the options available on our FS suits from 2018 onwards.
Our latest forms are designed to be a simple as possible to understand for a skydiver looking at them for the first time, but will take some adjusting for dealers and loyal Symbi customers who may be used to the old options. Referencing this document should help, but please feel free to contact us should you require further assistance.
Fall Rate
Pre-2018 (Rob's era) | 2019-2021 | 2022- | Materials | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Excel Lopo / Standard Fit | Fast / Standard Fit | Fast | Taffeta (slippery) front | Excel and Lopo/Std were the same fit suit with different options. Recommended for 4 way / competition suits - taffeta fronted |
Lopo / Loose Fit | Fast / Loose Fit | Not available | Not recommended in most cases, but may still be available by special request | |
Poly / Standard Fit | Average / Standard Fit | Average | Polycotton fronted | |
Poly / Loose Fit | Average / Loose Fit | Slow | Polycotton fronted | Equivalent to most other manufacturer's "Slow" suits, and the most suitable option for people with a naturally faster fall rate |
Slowpo | Slow | Extra Slow | Polycotton fronted, zero porosity lined at back | Very slow suit, baggy and lined at the back. Generally for heavy bigway jumpers. |
The Excel suit was the "Competition Suit" with additional reinforcing. We now add the extra reinforcing to al our suits.
The loose fit Taffeta fronted suit is not recommended in most cases. If you want a Taffeta fronted suit with space for additional winter layers, we recommend getting measured in your winter layers.
The loose fit Polycotton fronted suit is now listed as "slow" on the new order forms. This is the right suit for the majority of people who need to achieve a slower fall rate, and is roughly equivalent to the slow version of other manufacturer suits. One of the reasons we made this change was to emphasise that the Slow/Slowpo suit is exceptionally slow, and is not necessary for most people.
Booties
Pre-2018 (Rob's era) | 2019-2021 | 2022- | Materials | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
No booties | Not an option / now included in base price of FS suit | Not an option / now included in base price of FS suit | All FS suits now include booties in the base price. For a belly suit without booties, look for the AFF suit | |
Standard booties | Special request only | Special request only | Polycotton | Polycotton booties don't hold their shape as well, or create as much drag |
Cordura Mega booties | Standard Pleated booties | Standard Pleated booties | Cordura | What was introduced as the "Mega Bootie" is now the standard option. We improved the shape a little in 2021 |
Vented Mega booties | Special request only | Special request only | Cordura | Good for giving a big fall rate range, but not very effective for precise turns. Useful for specific bigway suits, not recommended for 4 way |
- | - | Non-Pleated Competition booties | Cordura Ballistic (coming 2023) | Our newest design, without pleats and shorter, the shape is created by strong tension knee to toe. |
In 2021 we made all our booties slightly shorter, to ensure the wearer can easily get tension on the bootie. For more info, see our bootie specification.
Non-Pleated competition booties are recommended for experienced flyers / competitors, and take more training to learn to fly effectively.
Pre-2018 (Rob's era) | 2019 - 2021 | 2022 - | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Zip & Pop Stud Closure | Standard on all suits | Option | Option | Not available on new competition bootie |
Elastic Backed | Special request only | Option | Option - recommended | |
Bungee bootie | Special request only | Special request only | Special request only | Not recommended due to very high wear rate |
Since 2021, we've sized elastic backed booties based on a show circumference measurement. Prior to this, all booties were based solely (pun intended!) on shoe size.
The elastic backed booties have a slightly better shape than zip and pop stud, and for this reason we recommend them by default. They are also less prone to failure, due to the reduced number of moving parts.
Grips
Feature | Pre-2018 (Rob's era) | 2019 - 2021 | 2022 - | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Single arm grip | Standard | Standard | Standard - (new bidirectional design due mid 2022) | |
Double arm grip | Only available on Excel | Available on all suits | TBC | |
Single (outside) leg grip | Standard | Standard | Standard | |
Double (inside) leg grip | Paid option | Paid option | Standard |
The leg grips were shortened in 2021 so that they don't extend as far down the calf, since grips should be taken from the knee or higher. This has also reduced the weight of the suit.
Around 2018 the grip size was increased from 38mm to 44mm. In 2019 we introduced a slimmer 25m grip option.
The latest arm grip, due for launch later in 2022, is intended to negate most benefits of double arm grips.