The Armour Archive

I recently ordered a full-coverage Zoombang shirt as discussed on here.

I got it in the mail yesterday. The trouble is, it seems to cover everywhere except for my floating-ribs. Is that normal?

It's a XXL size. Here is an image of the side:



My floating ribs are right in the middle of the large patch of un-padded spandex at the bottom.

On the following image from the zoombang website, you can see that the top of the side section starts well below the top of the front section.



On mine, they are about level.

Is that normal? If it were positioned lower, it would come down far enough to cover the floating ribs.

As it is, the shirt is pretty much useless as a replacement for kidney protection.

I will get in touch with Zoombang about what can be done about it, but I wanted to get some feedback here first.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Vitale

Is the material spandex? I thought it was cotton. I was going to get one but not spandex.

I'll let you know, as I'm getting mine tomorrow.

liviatasia wrote:Is the material spandex? I thought it was cotton. I was going to get one but not spandex.

Its the same sort of high-tech polyester as used on underarmour shirts and the like.

Vitale

Thanks - good to know. I find that material uncomfortable. But I might just try it anyway.

You can also buy the pads only and sew them to a shirt of your choosing.

Oh cool. I didn't remember that. Thanks!

Halbrust wrote:You can also buy the pads only and sew them to a shirt of your choosing.

you can? Where? from them? because that might be a better way to have a shirt that fits right.

Maire O Halowrane wrote:you can? Where? from them? because that might be a better way to have a shirt that fits right.

Call and talk to them about which pads you want to buy, and they'll work with you.

just send it back and tell them your issues.
they are great to deal with.

Maire O Halowrane wrote:

Halbrust wrote:You can also buy the pads only and sew them to a shirt of your choosing.

you can? Where? from them? because that might be a better way to have a shirt that fits right.

Yes, from them.
The pads as a set are a little cheaper too.
you can also order pads individually to make your own design of pads on a shirt.

I would think that sewing those pads to a linen shirt would be the best solution. Hmmmm.

Sir Omarad wrote:just send it back and tell them your issues.
they are great to deal with.

Yep, I'll likely do that. Postage to New Zealand was $60, so I wanted to get a good handle on things before we start burning up money posting things around.

Vitale

Anybody know anything about the washability of those pads? Will they hold up?

We had a fighter who had been using their stuff give our group a run down of his experiences in the gear, really convinced a lot of us to pick it up. What he does to wash it is hang it up, hose it down, and then wipe it down with soapy water, rinse again, done. I think his only complaint was the pads and shirt stick to sweaty skin and you would need someone else help slide it off you, so a cotton shirt underneath is vital.

I got mine and wore it for about 30 mins and just didn't feel that it breathed enough. I was soaking wet and didn't even have my chain on over my gambeson yet. I was looking for a way to boost my kidney protection up, but am going to stick with the chain, and padded gambeson, padded pourpoint, for now.

I am sending mine back tomorrow. Might be great for somewhere cooler but for me just can't get over that.

All the best of luck to the rest of you.

machine wash cold, no bleach, gentle detergent, hang dry.

Blackbow

Luca Sogliano wrote:Anybody know anything about the washability of those pads? Will they hold up?

Sir Vitale: two things to keep in mind. One, I know Zoombang sells shirts that aren't the Max Coverage line, so make sure you get that one. Two, they're all hand made, and it looks to me like yours was off a bit. As Sir Omarad said, just send it back. Call them and tell them what's up as you do.

blackbow wrote:Sir Vitale: two things to keep in mind. One, I know Zoombang sells shirts that aren't the Max Coverage line, so make sure you get that one. Two, they're all hand made, and it looks to me like yours was off a bit. As Sir Omarad said, just send it back. Call them and tell them what's up as you do.

I certainly ordered the max coverage shirt, and from comments here it does look as if it was off.

Reading through other threads, it seems that the protection offered over 'soft' areas isn't that great, due to the nature of the padding. I would have thought they would be better in general if they didn't have the stomach padding at all, but rather continued the kidney padding around the sides.

How much smaller are the next sizes down? I ordered the XXL and it fits OK but is a tiny bit loose. If I'll be sending it back for a replacement, I'm considering getting the XL instead. Is it a lot smaller?

Thanks
Vitale

Instead of sending it back and paying the shipping.. why don't you REMOVE the pads from the shirt and re-attach them to linen? It's definately a cheaper option and will save you money in the long run. Just cut them out of the shirt and then sew that onto a linen shirt and go!!

Not to mention it would save you time as well waiting for all the shipping to be done.

SirVitale wrote:

blackbow wrote:
How much smaller are the next sizes down? I ordered the XXL and it fits OK but is a tiny bit loose. If I'll be sending it back for a replacement, I'm considering getting the XL instead. Is it a lot smaller?

Thanks
Vitale

I have one of each. The XL is not significantly smaller then the XXL. The XXL is maybe a little easier to put on or take off, but once on there is no noticeable difference. YMMV of course.

it's an underarmour-like material. wicking.

Blackbow

liviatasia wrote:Is the material spandex? I thought it was cotton. I was going to get one but not spandex.

you are correct. the "soft" areas don't do well with just that padding. The padding basically reacts between two hard areas, which nobody's stomach will provide. so i wear a minimal breastplate over that area to deal with it.

as for sizes, I had to have a 4x but I'm 6'5". Omarad isn't small either. YMMV. You could certainly cut the pads off the shirt and put them on something else if you like the idea.

Blackbow

SirVitale wrote:

blackbow wrote:Sir Vitale: two things to keep in mind. One, I know Zoombang sells shirts that aren't the Max Coverage line, so make sure you get that one. Two, they're all hand made, and it looks to me like yours was off a bit. As Sir Omarad said, just send it back. Call them and tell them what's up as you do.

I certainly ordered the max coverage shirt, and from comments here it does look as if it was off.

Reading through other threads, it seems that the protection offered over 'soft' areas isn't that great, due to the nature of the padding. I would have thought they would be better in general if they didn't have the stomach padding at all, but rather continued the kidney padding around the sides.

How much smaller are the next sizes down? I ordered the XXL and it fits OK but is a tiny bit loose. If I'll be sending it back for a replacement, I'm considering getting the XL instead. Is it a lot smaller?

Thanks
Vitale

I'm not particulary keen on cutting them out and adding them to another garment, I already wear a gambeson with a very minimal kidney belt of leather and foam incorporated into it as a series of pads. I was wanting to go with something more low profile that would allow an outer garment to move around while still covering all the required areas.

Vitale

Well, I tried mine on and a couple of notes:

1. on mine, the pad layout has a ring of pads that do cover my ribs and kidneys. They are all at the same level, though. I even checked with my wife, who is a doctor, and has a much better idea of where my kidneys are than I do.
2. once you get it on, you'll never want to take it off. Not because its comfortable (it is) but it is a beast to get off. You'll want to make sure you never have to take off your zoombang shirt in view of the public. They will laugh at you. For a good five minutes.

looking at the images of these shirts they look like they well cover the kidneys. most folks dont understand that their kidneys are not in the lower part of their back but, rather, even with your elbows.

regards
logan

SirVitale wrote:I recently ordered a full-coverage Zoombang shirt as discussed on here.

I got it in the mail yesterday. The trouble is, it seems to cover everywhere except for my floating-ribs. Is that normal?

It's a XXL size. Here is an image of the side:


My floating ribs are right in the middle of the large patch of un-padded spandex at the bottom.

On the following image from the zoombang website, you can see that the top of the side section starts well below the top of the front section.



On mine, they are about level.

Is that normal? If it were positioned lower, it would come down far enough to cover the floating ribs.

As it is, the shirt is pretty much useless as a replacement for kidney protection.

I will get in touch with Zoombang about what can be done about it, but I wanted to get some feedback here first.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Vitale

exactly right.

dukelogan wrote:looking at the images of these shirts they look like they well cover the kidneys. most folks dont understand that their kidneys are not in the lower part of their back but, rather, even with your elbows.

regards
logan

SirVitale wrote:I recently ordered a full-coverage Zoombang shirt as discussed on here.

I got it in the mail yesterday. The trouble is, it seems to cover everywhere except for my floating-ribs. Is that normal?

It's a XXL size. Here is an image of the side:


My floating ribs are right in the middle of the large patch of un-padded spandex at the bottom.

On the following image from the zoombang website, you can see that the top of the side section starts well below the top of the front section.



On mine, they are about level.

Is that normal? If it were positioned lower, it would come down far enough to cover the floating ribs.

As it is, the shirt is pretty much useless as a replacement for kidney protection.

I will get in touch with Zoombang about what can be done about it, but I wanted to get some feedback here first.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Vitale

By kidney protection, I meant 'kidney area protection' ie the kidneys and the floating ribs. It covers the kidneys ok, but most certainly doesn't cover the bottom floating ribs on each side. It's not a matter of having to guess where they are, I can put my thumb on them and feel them.

Anyway, I've got in touch with zoombamg, and they are happy to accept a return and will make a new shirt with betterr coverage on me.

Vitale

dukelogan wrote:looking at the images of these shirts they look like they well cover the kidneys. most folks dont understand that their kidneys are not in the lower part of their back but, rather, even with your elbows.

regards
logan

SirVitale wrote:I recently ordered a full-coverage Zoombang shirt as discussed on here.

I got it in the mail yesterday. The trouble is, it seems to cover everywhere except for my floating-ribs. Is that normal?

It's a XXL size. Here is an image of the side:


My floating ribs are right in the middle of the large patch of un-padded spandex at the bottom.

On the following image from the zoombang website, you can see that the top of the side section starts well below the top of the front section.



On mine, they are about level.

Is that normal? If it were positioned lower, it would come down far enough to cover the floating ribs.

As it is, the shirt is pretty much useless as a replacement for kidney protection.

I will get in touch with Zoombang about what can be done about it, but I wanted to get some feedback here first.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Vitale

ahh, ok.

ive never worn anything over my lower ribs and have never had an issue. of course i do not, for a second, believe our combat can harm kidneys but the rule makers make rules and claim they are for safety all the time and this one has been around for decades. breaking a rib in the back with a wrap would be way easier than harming a kidney but oh well......

sounds like these folks are pretty willing to work with our sport so im sure you will get what you want or need.

regards
logan

SirVitale wrote:By kidney protection, I meant 'kidney area prote

ction' ie the kidneys and the floating ribs. It covers the kidneys ok, but most certainly doesn't cover the bottom floating ribs on each side. It's not a matter of having to guess where they are, I can put my thumb on them and feel them.

Anyway, I've got in touch with zoombamg, and they are happy to accept a return and will make a new shirt with betterr coverage on me.

Vitale

dukelogan wrote:looking at the images of these shirts they look like they well cover the kidneys. most folks dont understand that their kidneys are not in the lower part of their back but, rather, even with your elbows.

regards
logan

SirVitale wrote:I recently ordered a full-coverage Zoombang shirt as discussed on here.

I got it in the mail yesterday. The trouble is, it seems to cover everywhere except for my floating-ribs. Is that normal?

It's a XXL size. Here is an image of the side:


My floating ribs are right in the middle of the large patch of un-padded spandex at the bottom.

On the following image from the zoombang website, you can see that the top of the side section starts well below the top of the front section.



On mine, they are about level.

Is that normal? If it were positioned lower, it would come down far enough to cover the floating ribs.

As it is, the shirt is pretty much useless as a replacement for kidney protection.

I will get in touch with Zoombang about what can be done about it, but I wanted to get some feedback here first.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Vitale