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EN heat jersey - prototype testers ?

Hi folks,

I’ve started work on the Perfect Race Top ™ v.2k12, and I’m looking for a few teammates to share the love and buy / test one of 3 prototypes. 

Here’s what they are:

-DeSoto full-sleeve skin cooler jersey, in white.  See it at Desoto: http://www.desotosport.com/product/LST1 . 

-Printing will be large EN logo / wordmark on front and back, space permitting.  Sublimated in black lettering.  No colour, b/c no colour is badass.  Black Ops style. 

-I’ll have two men’s medium, and one men’s small (see Desoto site for sizing) for testing.  Tester's price will be actual cost of jersey, and actual cost of printing (I think this is going to come out around $60 all in …  the jerseys were on deep discount.) 

-extra-special-sauce optional upgrade will be a full zip … intention will be to put this on like a jacket in t1, with none of the typical struggles of pulling on a jersey over yer head.  Tailor tells me the zipper will $10 or so per unit, but I won’t pursue this unless the tester wants it. 

-lead times will be long … don’t count on it for an early season race.  Why?  (1) I’m doing this as a hobbist; (2) I’m in Canada while working with a US seller and US printer, and customs sucks. (3) printers will probably have a delay because we’re setting up the artwork and doing a very small batch during their peak time.   

 Next steps / teaser:

-If the testers like the jerseys, I’ll make another batch based on interest and commitment that I’ll solicit in a future posting.  The basic zipperless model should be maybe another $20-30 more than the prototypes. 

-If there’s a lot of interest, I might ask someone with a US address to proxy the batch (volunteers?) to get these puppies turned around quickly.

-If there’s an insane amount of interest, I’ll approach P & R to see if we could ask various EN Partner Companies to subsidize these in exchange for 3”x3” logo placement on chest.

So … do I have two medium and one small tester out there?   

 

Comments

  • Awww man, if only you had a large. I would look like 10lbs of jello in a 5lb bag.

  • "I'll be your huckleberry!" Sign me up for a SMALL (good thing I checked the size chart) with the full zipper... I've got lots of late season opportunities to test it. So I owe you about $70 or so. You can PM me the payment details.

  • This big dood would take a L or XL to test in Texas, if available.
  • When you get past the test phase I'm definitely interested. I'm a XL or XXL though.
  • I'll be happy to test a medium. I live in Northern VA which gets pretty toasty (and humid). I have two races this year that I expect will be similarly hot and humid namely Eagleman and Louisville.

  • alexander x2 if you can get another Large for a tester, full zip
  • Dave, thanks for making this happen!!
  • I have been using a long sleeve Desoto Skin Cooler top for three years - both white and black. The only caveat is the white top starts to look like shit after many uses as the white fabric gets sweat stains that discolor the top (I can take pictures later). These stains do not come out and because of the nature of the fabric limits how you can wash it - no bleach/whitening products can be used, cold water only, blah, blah, blah. My white top looks bad.
  • Hey Bob - I knew that going in and figured that the jersey would only be good for a half-dozen races or so. I've used DeSoto Skin Coolers and the one with shoulder covering and both look like hell after a single summer season. The spray sunscreen lotion is particularly bad for discoloring them. But then again, I find the problem extends to anything that is white...after one year (rotating with many other outfits) the white just becomes a dingy light gray that nothing will take out.
  • Oxy-clean will solve the dingyness problem with the dss skin cooler line.  protocol is soak in hot water w/vinegar (maybe 10:1 mix) for about 12 h, then general soak overnight in concentrated oxy-clean / water solution, mixed as on package.  Wash as normal, and they're white again. 

    Bafflingly, doesn't work with craft compression.   

  • Posted By Dave Tallo on 12 Apr 2012 01:26 PM

    Oxy-clean will solve the dingyness problem with the dss skin cooler line.  protocol is soak in hot water w/vinegar (maybe 10:1 mix) for about 12 h, then general soak overnight in concentrated oxy-clean / water solution, mixed as on package.  Wash as normal, and they're white again. 

    Bafflingly, doesn't work with craft compression.   





     

    Thanks, Dave.  I will give that a try.  Of course, all that goes against the wash instructions for the top.  It holds up pretty well through all that?

  • Dave, if you need a medium tester, I'd be happy to help out. Only issue for me is that I'm not doing any long course this year (longest race is Oly), so I may not be as good a beta tester. Let me know what you think.
  • I am not getting the link to give me a product. I might be a S or M, depending. Usually small...maybe you have everyone you need anyway.
  • Where are test products for the women?
  • Hi Dave,
    Sounds like you have 2 medium testers already, but if you need another one I am in.
    Thanks.
  • This has failed. So far.

    De Soto: "don't sew a zipper on our skincooler stuff. It will shred the fabric and just won't work." (I did it with skin cooler last year, but didn't really put it up to any meaningful wear and tear). And they won't do a custom model.
    Craft: Not even a skin cooler tight jersey in their NA lineup. they do have a 3/4 sleeve compression skincooler from EU retailers, but licensing restrictions prohibilt shipping to NA. And they won't do a custom model.
    Dunning (formerly Rip'n'HAmmer): still trying to work out proper denier of fabrics for such a monster. Had a few conversations with Ralph Dunning about this in the fall, and he was actually intending to bring this very item to market this year, but it hasn't materialized. Won't do a custom model.

    Down, but not out. Gonna loom fabric and sew this bugger myself if that's what it comes down to. Man against jersey.

    Stay tuned.
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