proud owner of 2011 first drop, here is my review of their product after using it for 30 days this season in every type of condition you can think of.
User Specs: 6'4" 185lbs 6'8" wingspan
Product Tested: XL black jacket w/ Red n' Black sleeves, XL Red n' Black pants
QUALITY: 8/10
Pleased with the material they used, it has held up for me wonderfully.
I roll my pant legs up when walking and I haven't received any rips or tears in my pants nor jacket.
Main concern are vent zippers getting caught as well as seems and stitching starting to frey.
Ventilation 9.5/10
I am very happy with the ventilation system used for the product this year. LARGE zippers create great space for airflow to pass through, however, this is a downfall as it makes the material very vulnerable to catching in the zipper. Not too sure how to prevent this.... Maybe elastic mesh... dunno.
Zippers 7.5/10
My reasoning for the lower rating is due the zippers on the inseam cuff of the pant. I broke both zippers within my first 5 days of riding. No idea how Did but now I had to tie a string to them to allow them to work.
Also as mentioned before, the ventilation zippers catch very very easily and become very difficult to undue without ripping the mesh.
On a positive note, the zipper for the removable bib as well as sleeves are great. easy to remove are return the item.
Insulation 9.5/10
I am extremely overjoyed with the insulation in this product. I have skied in some of the coldest weather i have ever been in with this product on and my body temperature was perfectly regulated. At -20 degrees Fahrenheit with a -35 degree windchill. i had zero issues with this suit (My boots/feet did however, went to the hospital). One downside are the gaps in the zippers where the sleeves and bibs are removable
Customization 10/10
First Drop really hit it spot on in this category. With so many different possibilities of bibs, pants, jackets, and sleeves it is amazing the different creations that have been put together. A+ guys i really enjoy being able to change my all black jacket every once and awhile.
Seems/Stitching 7/10
I am quite disappointed with this aspect of the product. with high scores everywhere else the seems and stitching seemed to be an area of slacking. Threads holding magnets in place are beginning to Frey as well as the stitching holdy my suspenders together on my back.
Pockets 7.5/10
Skeptical upon receiving and wearing for the first time, however I found uses for many of the different pockets as I spend 70% of my time on the hill filming or carrying gear to/fro.
To clarify the score. many of the jacket pockets are hard to get into with the angle of the zipper other than the two great "sweatshirt" style front main pockets.
The pant pockets couldn't be more perfect. with zippered and magnetic wallet pockets as well as side pockets they couldn't have done any better.
Overall 8.4/10
With great versatility this suit makes for an all year suit. Being able to open all vents and remove the sleeves and bib allow you to ride the hottest days with just minor adjustments. And vice versa, you can ride the coldest days with a few layers underneath. Quality and strength of the material is decent and can last a long time with just a little care and a few seconds of rolling up your cuffs.
Hope this helped for anyone looking for a bit more personal info
