I have been sent on a mission by my team to find out the PROS and CONS of using this company for our team’s clothing order in 2012. We are a small team, so the low minimums and low prices are enticing. I have read the reviews that I could find using the search function, but thought that they may be somewhat outdated.
We would be using the triathlon and cycling clothing.
Thoughts?
My tri club switched to using Champion Systems in 2011 for all our gear from a different vendor we had used the year before. The quality of the Champion Systems stuff is top notch! I didn’t hesitate to wear their products all the way up to and including iron distance races. They are well constructed, have great a great chamois pad in them, and the seams are well put together and non apparent when you are wearing them. I have a tri suit, long distance tri short, and tri tops from CS and I’m very happy with all of them, as are the other members of my club. I would highly recommend them. The quality of the colors and printing on the suits is also top notch as well.
The club i am part of switched from endura to champion systems last year.
Kit seems good, better than endura in some respects. The only issue i had was a skinsuit zip go pretty quick which they replaced in a couple of weeks.
Endura on the other hand we had issues with stitching etc :S
I have used them for the past year. Like you, I was enticed with the low cost and low minimums. I also like the number of different options they have. I think the quality is ok. I didn’t find it superb. I personally favor zoot and LG stuff. But then again, those are twice the cost. Our team has ordered: tri tops, tri bottoms, tri suits, cycling bib shorts, cycling jerseys, sleeveless jerserys, knickers, tights, windbreakers, running jackets, LS jerseys and fleece jerseys.
I am not really pleased with their sales staff. They appear to be short staffed for the amount of volume they handle. So questions would sometimes go unanswered. I really had to stay on top of my sales person to make sure the process moved along. And depending on the time of year, getting artwork done can be a hassle (I assume that is the same anywhere). Getting my tri stuff done took several (4-6) weeks. For some reason, my winter stuff only took 24 hours. (shrugs shoulders). Just make sure you build that into your time frame. Printing, shipping etc takes about 8 weeks, so you are looking at a 3-3.5 month process on their end. On your end, you will need to build in 2-3 weeks for gathering orders. And another 2-3 weeks if you are going to order fit kits for people to try own (suggest it). Bottomline is that it becomes a long process. Just be prepared if you have never ordered before.
Overall, I am pleased with them and have an order that they are currently working on. If you want to shop around there are a few different options: epix gear, pactimo, hawk racing.
I have been sent on a mission by my team to find out the PROS and CONS of using this company for our team’s clothing order in 2012. We are a small team, so the low minimums and low prices are enticing. I have read the reviews that I could find using the search function, but thought that they may be somewhat outdated.
We would be using the triathlon and cycling clothing.
Thoughts?
Champion System the company is great. Some of the clothes are not the the highest quality in terms of durability - they’re designed to feel good and perform well, but perhaps not last for years. I think this comes from a bike racing background where it’s assumed sponsors and details will change from year-to-year so low cost, good feel, great appearance and fast delivery are the most important things.
They are excellent for the price. Their summer stuff is very airy and some of their winter stuff (I have a winter jacket) is so nice.
I have a bunch of their skin suits from 2008-2011. High quality construction and their speed suit fits like a dream and utilizes every aero advantage except Garmin “wings”. No tri gear though.
I have some of their clothing from this year and last year and I like it. The material is soft, durable, and doesn’t chaffe. The colors are good & bright and their sizing seems correct- don’t run too big or too small.
No complaints here. Our small club made an order a few years ago; variety of options. I’ve got the ITU suit, no pad, but I just do sprints so it’s all good . Pretty slick in the water. Love de Soto and worn plenty of it and still do, but as far as racing attire, I’ve found Champ Sys stuff to be a bit more durable in the stitching. Just me, though. As far as sizing goes, I’d get some samples for your club to check out. Trying to swap out for a different size after the order was made was impossible due to the custom order. That stunk, but otherwise, pretty pleased with the stuff.
except you may find the speedsuit slower than any run of the mill skinsuit
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I ordered a kit from them and the process was great, it didn’t took the close to 3 months one of the posts here states but I guess it was luck and the time of year.
quality is really good and the colors are awesome!
Would recommend without a doubt and I am having a training camp kit made with them too.
Used Champion System for my company’s kit for 5 years now. They are great to work with and very reasonable.
The only problem we have had is with the zippers in some of the items. Wind vests and jerseys could use a better quality zipper.
Go with the upgraded chamois short. Its worth it.
Dave
Champion system did the gear for the age group team for Canada this year.
My race suit turned out alright I guess. Some minor pilling after just one use…and I apparently ordered the ‘elite’ model for an extra $75. Rain jacket was fine, sweat pants were fine, visor fine. All fine…except the bike jersey we were given. I wore a back pack for 30 minutes the morning of a race while I walked to transition and back and was also wearing this zip up jersey. The backpack wasn’t heavy it just contained my race nutrition and helmet. Jersey was completely pilled-out where the back pack had touched it; shoulders and back. My girlfriend and her dad had the same issue with theirs. It seemed if there was more in my pack it wouldn’t worn it right down. Anyhoo, I guess 4/5 is good? I emailed their sales rep about how the jersey after showing it to some champsion system people who were there and said it was “not right at all” to look like that and never heard back, so can’t say much good about their customers service. Just be careful what you order, most other people have had good luck it seems with their product quality.
except you may find the speedsuit slower than any run of the mill skinsuit
I’m intrigued about what you found in the windtunnel with a Champion System speedsuit as I’m thinking of getting one of those for myself. I know it’s always risky business to extrapolate someone’s n=1 experience, but you can’t help but wonder. I need a need a skinsuit for skinny people that will be long enough but still be tight around the belly, chest and arms. Maybe their cheaper suit would actually be faster if it’s the same fit but the textile used is smoother?
Our triathlon federation is placing an order with Champion Systems for try suits, tops and shorts. It is not practical to get any samples to check fit. Do you have any comments with respect to using the sizing charts to select size? Do stated sizes fit too small or too big? How much stretch do you get from the material? Did you know anyone with a long torso, was length of tri top an issue?
Have tried De Soto, Champion Systems and Cannibal out of Australia. More recently tried F2P Sport which is the company that works with Pete Jacobs. Have found them to be the best value and product quality so far. The design process was very good (very outside the box thinking by them at times which was good) thoigh delivery did have a 1 week delay (took 7 weeks in total) but very very happy with the overall outcome.
Our triathlon federation is placing an order with Champion Systems for try suits, tops and shorts. It is not practical to get any samples to check fit. Do you have any comments with respect to using the sizing charts to select size? Do stated sizes fit too small or too big? How much stretch do you get from the material? Did you know anyone with a long torso, was length of tri top an issue?
Read the fitting guide on the website, there sizing is pretty straight forward.
I am putting together my teams 6th order with them. We typically order 50-75 pieces each fall and spring. I find most of their sizes to be true. I don’t do fit kits due to the hassle and time. I put the burden on the athlete to look at the charts and figure it out. I also have a number of extra pieces from years of ordering so I can almost do a fitting on my own. Here are the issues (all minor) that we have encountered over the last few years:
Overall I still like their stuff, especially at the price point that it is offered. I personally own about 15 different pieces from them.
Our triathlon federation is placing an order with Champion Systems for try suits, tops and shorts. It is not practical to get any samples to check fit. Do you have any comments with respect to using the sizing charts to select size? Do stated sizes fit too small or too big? How much stretch do you get from the material? Did you know anyone with a long torso, was length of tri top an issue?
I would rather see Champion’s site refer to waist and chest measurements rather than flat measurements.
That said, ind Desoto, I have a medium jersey and large bibs. In Champion, I have large race cut jersey and large bibs. I have the XL Champions skinsuit.
The quality of the Desoto is far superior. The only thing I don’t like about Desoto is that the jersey is a bit long, rides up, and then flags below my neck.
hth
Thanks for the info. I too have encouraged the athletes (adults and kids) to use the sizing charts in determining their size. Do you recall the style of the longer version tri top? We have a few long torso people in our group is this just a case of you can’t please everyone? Can you provide any feedback on tightness around the thighs particularly at the end of the short/suit. Generally the group is finding the actually body measurements line up with different sizes on the sizing chart. For example I am looking at the sizing chart for the Performance Blade tri suit my actual body measurements are A = 19.5, B = 16, C = 26, D = 30. This appears to put me in a medium or large according to the chart. I am tempted to go with medium to get a good snug fit but based on measurements A and C will it be too tight? Any insight you can give would be appreciated.
I’d size down.
I’m a “perfect” fit for their medium one-piece, but at 6’ 160-165, I’m too skinny for the one that was shipped to me. Should have bought a small, even though I own other 2-piece CS tri gear in a medium that fits just right. Lots of extra material in the leg (the grippers are holding fine for now), seat, and around the waist. Chest fits well and the length is just right–I’m sure it’s my fault for not being more careful about the sizing chart and going off prior experience, so I’m not upset with CS in any way, shape, or form.
Not sure what these correlate to on their fit guide, but I have a true waist of around 30" (just under the ribcage) and a thigh diameter around 22". A friend of mine is going to take about 1-2" of fabric out of everything ribcage down to make it fit tight. Then again, I prefer a one piece that requires help to get into (it should be snug!).