Team Jackets

[davincisop]

My coach told me the other day she's working on getting us reregistered as a competitive synchro team (it dropped off because we had a lot of people quit and just not have time for it). This summer she's trying to get a synchro camp going so we can recruit more people. Since right now I am a recent graduate from graphic design I offered to do the logo for the team since we don't have one and she said "YES! And I want us to get jackets too!".

My question is, what brand of jackets do your teams use and what would you recommend?

In a perfect world I'd love for us all to get black Stride jackets from Lululemon because I wear one for all my LTS coaching and practices and it keeps me really warm, but those are too expensive to order as a team. Plus, they're almost sold out.... But I know personally I don't want a jacket that stops right at my waist because I have a long torso and it makes me look shorter! 

Any suggestions are welcome!!!

[Sk8tmum]

Lululemon does do team orders. Did you get in touch with them directly? And, they wear very well, they work very well as skating jackets. We've had some "cheap" ones that frankly are - cheap - and don't hold up at all well.  I'd rather have paid the extra $15 or $20 to get something good. Sixo Skatewear also does nice ones ... they are a Canadian company, but, they do do US orders.

[FigureSpins]

Our synchro teams have had lightweight windbreakers for the last few seasons.  I don't like wearing them because they're nylon outside, which is slippery for shoulder holds, and the inside poly-cotton linings are hard to take off and put on quickly over regular long-sleeved cotton or cotton/poly shirts.  I will say the quality and embroidery is excellent and they hold up for a long time.  It's just that I don't like the fabrics our team uses, but the company has other products.
http://gtmsportswear.com/gtm/cs/default.asp

My coaching jacket is from Jammin' and I love it; I just wish someone had told me I could have ordered it with a custom sleeve length - I have super-short arms so my jacket's got cuffs now, lol.  In fairness, the company reps offered to alter it for me.  It was expensive though and our parka-style jackets are so warm, I only have to wear a t-shirt underneath, as opposed to my usual seven-layer cake, lol.  http://www.jammin.com/

I think my favorite jacket for skating is still the fleece zip-up that my old rink ordered from Kobe.  We bought the fleece one year, with our names and the logo embroidered on it.  Two years later, they ordered a parka-style "shell" that the fleece zipped into as a liner, with similar embroidery.  It was great for a year-round rink where you might need an both layers in the winter, but only the fleece in the summer.  Best feature: the outer jacket had a hood that rolled up into the collar. 

Fleece liner/jacket: http://www.kobesportswear.com/kobe2010/products_detail.php?pcat=4&type=Fleece&pid=50&catid=6&catnm=Adult

Outerwear shell: http://www.kobesportswear.com/kobe2010/products_detail.php?pcat=3&type=Outerwear&pid=5&catid=4&catnm=Adult

[davincisop]

Thanks guys!  I talked to my coach today and she mentioned she liked my lulu jacket.... I think I might contact them soon (have to find out how many skaters we will have) and see how much it would cost. This jacket is lightweight but it's so nice and warm and if we got them plain black and then got our logo embroidered.... ideas ideas....

[AgnesNitt]

Anybody know if you can order individual coaching coats from Mee Sports. They took over Blue Skies patterns and I love my 2nd hand Blue Skies coat (a coat that formerly belonged to Evelyn Kramer). I'd love to get another one.

[fsk8r]

We just use a fruit of the loom fleece jacket. The back has been embroidered with the team name and club and the front has our names on it (so we know who's is who when there's a pile at the end of practice). the jacket is cheap but it seems to be lasting well as I've had it 3 seasons now.

[Schmeck]

Are you looking for jackets to wear on the ice, or coats to wear outside, or warm-up jackets (like ones with matching pants?)  My older daughter has had all three types for synchro.

The best jackets for warm-up were from Charles River Apparel, the warmest team travel coat was the LL Bean one, (they last forever!) and the on-ice ones she liked the best were from under-armour.