Product Review - Fieldsheer Highland Suit

Based on a inspecting gothicbeaST’s suit personally and after reading his review, I decided to pick up a Fieldsheer 1-pc. Highland Suit.  Since I wanted to start commuting to and from work on my motorcycle routinely, I realized that I did not have the proper gear - oversuit & boots.  I originally went for the jackass factor and bought a bright green 2-pc. German Police suit off of ebay.  If fir the purpose, but the reality was the fit was a little snug, and it was a PITA to get the pants off quickly.  Bottom line is that I re-sold them.

After the decision was made to get the Highland suit, I shopped it to death with the online outlets.  Best price I could find from a true retailer was around $270 + shipping.  The final step was to check ebay.  I normally support the real outfits versus the ebay outlets if the price is close.  Once again, it wasn’t.  I found this suit on ebay (through a “best offer” auction) and bid $210 shipped and the bid was accepted.

The Good:Fieldsheer 1-pc Highland Suit

  • Very easy to get in and out of the suit.
  • Big enough that it functions as an oversuit so that work clothes are worn underneath.
  • Tons of pockets of which several are useable with gloves on.
  • Seems to be well constructed.
  • Complete set of CE Approved armor included that molds to your body very well.
  • Warm, warm, warm…  I have ridden into work several time with 37F indicated on the ambient temp gage with no problems.
  • Removeable liner and heavy-duty zippers throughout.

The Bad:

  • On a cold-weather suit, I would like the option of a taller collar around the neck.  This has only a standard collar that provides minimal protection from the elements from the bottom of the adam’s apple to the helmet line.
  • It’s pretty heavy - I haven’t weighed it, but GB’s review claims 12 pounds.  Regardless, it’s a little heavy off the bike (how important is that really???).  You will need a reinforced plastic or wooden hanger to support that hung weight for your closet though.

The Ugly:

Sizing still seems to be not well understood.  Going by GB’ information, I sent the seller a question about the correct sizing stating something like this “I have heard from others that I should go one size larger, but the Fieldsheer sizing chart puts me right in the middle of the Medium size.  Shold I go with Medium or Large?”  They responded by saying that I should go with one size larger that Fieldsheer’s chart, so I did. 

That suit was WAYYY too big for me.  I am 5′10″ and 165 lbs. and I could swim in the Large size suit.  It also put the crotch down by my knees, and since I hate rap music… 

SIDEBAR: This is the downside about ordering from non-real stores.  Even though they were will to exchange the suit…given their recommendation for sizing…I would have to buck up the add’l $30 or so of shipping to and from.  I therefore decided to post the suit on the Aprilia Forum for the $210 + shipping.  To my surprise, I got a response wanting to know if I would consider a trade.  This guy was 5′11 and 180 with a medium that had been worn only once from being too small.  Perfect!  We each shipped our suits and both of our problems are solved.  A rare find I am sure, but proof that it never hurts to ask.  End SIDEBAR.

Bottom line: the Medium is perfect for me.

Overall, I am very happy with this suit.  It has not been water tested or warm-weather tested yet and I will edit this review when it has.  For those of us that don’t want to shell out 3-5X its cost for an Aerostich, I think the Highland suit is an excellent lower cost alternative.  It is very comfortable on and off the bike, but off the bike its a little heavy.  It’s respectable enough looking that I don’t look or feel like a Power Ranger when I’m wearing it.  The armor is excellent and forms to the body well.  This suit provides all the cold-weather warmth I will ever need, aside from a taller collar.  I would highly recommend this suit to anyone lookinf for an easy-on and easy-off suit that is affordable, practical, armored, and well made.

Overall Rating:

****½

7 Comments

My biggest question about this suit is be safety compared to the Aerostich. I have no idea how the suit is stiched/what it is stiched with. It also has “600 denier PU coated Carbolex® nylon”. The Aerostich Roadcrafter uses nylon thread in its stiching (which is supposed to be good as it is supposed to stretch to some degree when pulled.) It uses “1050 denier, urethane-coated ballistics nylon” to protect shoulders, elbows, forearms, knees and shins. Whether any of this makes any difference, I don’t know.

I hate shopping for protective clothing because:
1. I have little basis to compare different safety features of the products. Is more deniers good? How good? Is Carbolex crap compared to Cordura? Does stitching matter? I feel like I have no way to know.
And 2. Even if I did have a sense that the Aerostich would be, say, 10% safer than the fieldsheer, I find it next to impossible to put a value on this. Is that added safety worth $100? $500? One MILLION dollars?

When I get in the market for a 1-piece synthetic suit, I’ll look at the Fieldsheer. But I’ll have a headache while doing it.

Comment by Kipio | January 26th, 2006 2:33 pm | Permalink

Its an excellent point. To some degree, I am embarrassed to admit that I am unwilling to spend the extra hundreds to potentially save me from a skin graft. But notice that word “potentially”.

We’ll likely not know until it’s too late how good our choice of suits are. I read some reviews, I did some homework, and I even held on in my hands before the purchase.

That’s the best I can do, so I am comfortable with my decision.

Comment by angrybob | January 27th, 2006 1:13 pm | Permalink

I’ve been holding back on the Highland until I could get reliable sizing info, so it’s good to read the experience of someone close to my size. I’m 5′ 11″ and 160-165 lbs. What do you think, bob — would the medium be too tight? Would the large be huge? TIA

Comment by charlie | February 4th, 2006 10:59 pm | Permalink

I traded my large with a guy who was 5′10″ and 180 lbs. He was happy. I would in your (our) case definitely go with the medium. We are the same weight and one in in hieght won’t make a difference. The large made me look rather ‘urban’ with my crotch at my mid-thighs and the girth of the Michelin Man!

Comment by angrybob | February 4th, 2006 10:59 pm | Permalink

I’ll go with the medium then — thanks, bob!

Comment by charlie | February 4th, 2006 10:59 pm | Permalink

i’m 5′8″ and 150…smalll you figure? just guessing if your suit would be rapper larger on me? thanks

Comment by rob | December 17th, 2007 11:59 am | Permalink

I would go with a small given the two inches of heighth difference. You should be just fine. Report back whe you get it.

Comment by angrybob | December 17th, 2007 7:43 pm | Permalink

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