What are your harness fitting tips for comfort?

[Shane Smith]

My own training in Historically-accurate armoured fencing has taught me many little things that go a long way in making practices safer and more comfortable. Lightly easing the edges on lames and plates with a fine stone to reduce abrasions while grappling at the bind and wrapping the knees and elbows with a bit of thin batting to protect joints from the impacts accompanying heavy throwing come to mind immediately. What little tricks do you guys use to keep you performing at maximum capacity with maximum comfort and safety during your long days in harness?

[Aaron Pynenberg]

underarmor "heatgear" is a must- that stuff is awesome-

[SzabolcsWaldmann]

What do you mean, "heatgear"?

The one tip I can give is to put on your harness slowly. Make every litle nick in your clothing even. Strap everinthing correctly. A nick in your shirts can cause hell on earth after the 8th hour of armoured existence. After 22 hours in harness, we could count every little fault in the fabric of our clothes <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> (And I had problems with muscles, I didn't know they existed at all)

Make the Armour tight. It should not move when you fight. Fill most hole areas with spare clothes (like belly and chest). it keeps the armour from moving and when it's tight, you can shift the weight from your shoulders to your chest and back, when you take a deep breath. It only works when it's really tight. The same works for hands. Make sure the underclothes are made even before you starp your hand-irons to them <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

And before you begin with the taking on of the first plate, sit down once, then stand up again, jump up and down two times. Your clothes will make their own needed space. Then you can begin. Like before said, delicatelly and slowly. You can never know - last time I took on my armour for a few minutes, and after long hours I still had to wear them....


Szab

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Heatgear is a type of underarmor, which is the name for a brand of tight fitting clothing marketed to sports and law enforcement. For Police, we use it for under our bullet resistant vests to help manage the sweat. The stuff wicks away the sweat keeping it off your skin, making you feel cooler and more dry. It's very pricey though, and some guys do not like the feel of how tight fitting it is- it's kind of like tight fitting spandex, but it feels softer than spandex- Aaron