I thought I’d share my positive experience with this company. I know that’s not the Slowtwitch way, I’m supposed to complain then everyone bashes me for being an idiot, or they bash the company and tell me why I should have used someone else.
I’m racing for a charity (see below) and found that converting an existing trisuit had too many limitations and was far too expensive for what I was getting. What I needed was a semi-custom printed suit (full sublimation). After reading reviews on here, I went with Epix over Champion systems.
First off, let me say that like other reviews, customer service has been excellent. The designer has been easy to deal with. I think I went through 4 design changes, and they even made one final change 5 days after I had already placed my order. Lead-time was still just 4 weeks even despite being the busy season. I’d expect 3 weeks normally.
The suit - While I haven’t received the final product, I did order one of their retail “airflow” (long course) suits to train in. Overall fit was pretty good. I prefer the legs longer, but I’m told this was a previous generation, and they now have longer legs and a leg gripper band instead of silicone grippers. But the cut, fit and chamois are unchanged. My one trainer ride so far gives the suit a thumbs up. Good fit overall, chamois is well shaped, and actually overall just the right size, where as most are a little bigger than needed. Just enough butt pad for when you’re sitting up climbing or for those with less aggressive positions, but good padding in the aero position. Good overall stretch from the material. Not a lot of compression going on, but it’s a $99 suit without a lot of extra panels. The rear zip pocket is just the right size and shape for 2 honey stinger waffles and a gel without bulging. I could do without the side pockets, but they may be handy for empty wrappers and maybe a couple gels on the run. I suppose I could get a local tailor to remove the side pockets. I wish they were optional.
Overall I feel it’s equal or even just a little better than other suits at the same price point.
Price - it’s hard to beat. I mean seriously, $200 for the suit including with unlimited color logos or graphic files added and they’ll even get creative with rearranging text as needed. Overall the final result exceeded my expectations. Yes, it’s a little busy, but I figured it would be. Getting the same results with a Desoto suit would have cost me over $1200 including the suit based on what one print shop quoted me and the suit would be just black and white and you can’t have graphics over a seam.
The only limitations are you have to select from about 8 different base graphic designs, and about 40 colors for those graphics. They can also quote a fully custom design as well. For teams, events and shops, there’s another price sheet (even cheaper) but with some minimum quantities.
I’m really surprised more mfg’s haven’t considering doing a similar process. The fabric itself is made in Italy, but like most all the major brands, it’s assembled in a shop in China. Like bicycles, it’s all in the same region. In this case, it’s done as single piece work, and the bare white fabric is custom printed, then cut, and sewn together. Full digital sublimation.
The design is a little busy. For those that donated over $200, they received a logo. Those over $300 made the front of the suit. Those at $25-$100, got their name listed in the back with $100 donors getting larger print. The largest donor got their name on the front and back… and I made an exception for one logo because it had to be a little smaller and at the bottom.