You guys have either used or been sponsored by a number of companies (metal, inzer, overkill, etc). What was your favorite shirt, suit, and briefs?
I’ve been sponsored by every gear company as you probably are getting at. Titan in 2006. Inzer from 2006-2009. Metal from 2009 to 2014 and OK from 2014 to 2015, then back to Inzer from 2015 to present.
None of these manufacturers make bad gear. But there is the obvious winner – Inzer. Inzer is well rounded and has many different types of wear for those who are built differently.
the SDP is the most user-friendly shirt ever made. Literally guys bench 300-400 in the same shirt they hit 700 in. I’ve seen it happen for over 10 years. I saw Mike Schwanke bench 335 in the same shirt warming up as he hit his 3rd att at 694 in.
Predators are the most durable brief I have ever used. They will last a long time and when you triple ply them with grid, they will last forever. I still have the same pair I got 10 meets ago. They are just now going to back-ups after 30+ (maybe more) squats over 1000 just because I can do that and want a new pair.
The new LUP is the easiest suit to use, and the best canvas for your buck, by far. They take some getting used to as they have a lot of different setting capabilities with the side panels, but the majority of canvas sucks for a reason – they are impossible to fit correctly – the LUP takes care of it. Go out a weight class and you’ll have to buy everything but a LUP, keep that in mind.
I don’t have nearly the experience that Brian does, but one comparison that I can easily make is Metal bench shirts to the SDP.
I wore a couple different Metal shirts, the Bash in both single and double ply and an Ace. I really had a hell of a time with these, struggled to make them work at all. I actually had to abandon the 2-ply Bash during the training cycle that I using it in and go to a single ply. There was no way I was going to get one in at the meet. I was also training with former WPO pro Chris Mason at the time so I had a good teacher. We just couldn’t make it work. Lot of dumps and a heck of a 2 board shirt.
The SDP has been a completely different experience. 2 meets, 6 successful benches and I am continuously going down in sizes to get tighter and tighter shirts. The SDP is just so forgiving, the groove is wide and flexible, allowing you a much larger margin for error. I’m a 500 pound raw bencher and in my second meet in an SDP I benched 700. Not too bad! +200 pounds and 6/6. I really don’t think the SDP can be beat.
Also- ditto to Brian’s comments on the LUP. I wore a Metal Pro Squatter years ago. Tight poly suit, took 30+ minutes to put on and about the same to get off. The LUP is so freaking easy to get off and on. The strings make it a very versatile suit. Generally, I think canvas would be reserved for experienced lifters, but the LUP changes that completely. Buy one suit and tighten it as your abilities let you. A beginner could definitely start in one and be able to use it all the way to the highest levels even if they go up a weight class or two.
