I've changed my mind again and decided to go with the Todd Cook patch
You'll see why soon.
Here's a brief review of the new Magnoli clothiers GB1 ripstop flightsuit.
All of these photos were taken in natural light, However I'm no photographer so I was never going to be able to accurately capture the true colour.
The best I can do in that regard is explain as it appears to the naked eye.
You'll also see in some of these pics that it looks very close in colour to the nomex suit (Nomex on the left, Magnoli on the right)
In person though this was not the case.
The Nomex by comparison is actually quite a bit warmer in hue with a more reddish or yellow tone in certain lights where as the Magnoli is much more muted khaki, leaning more to the grey side.
I'll start with the details the Magnoli suit has which a nomex lacks.
Ripstop fabric
Side zip pockets
Including internal lining as seen on the screen used Stantz suit
Accurate cuff closures
Pen pocket on the right shin pocket
no flap over the left arm pen pocket
Polished brass zippers
The fabric:
Thicker and more substantial feeling than nomex yet breathable due to it being cotton.
so should be far more comfortable in the heat and better able to help wick away any sweat unlike the saunaesque properties of nomex we've all come to "love"
It's very comfortable as a result of this.
Fit:
Assuming you go with a standard size this is a 1:1 match to nomex sizing.
For example, I wear a 42S nomex because I'm a shortass and ordered the same from Magnoli.
The fit is identical.
Given that you have the correct size using the two sizes up from your chest measurement rule of thumb, it gives you just the right amount of room and bagginess for that screen accurate look.
Colour:
A muted greyish khaki tone in person.
Very close to that of the pics shown by ZedR of his screen used stantz suit.
The following pics show how differing lighting can affect the colour.
This pic was taken in direct light when the daylight was unobstructed by cloud, giving it a much brighter appearance.
You'll also see a nice wee easter egg which was added to the label.
the next two pics were taken right after when the clouds had rolled in making the light less harsh.
These images are much closer to how the suit appears in person but still not quite there.
Quality of construction:
No complaints here, this is a premium flightsuit in every sense of the word and you more than get your moneys worth.
Every stitch and seam is well executed with reinforcement added where its needed (and where it's accurate) the YKK zippers and pulls are a nice bright polished brass and feel pretty robust with no snagging issues to report.
The extra thickness this material has gives it a real feeling of substance and quality without feeling heavy but there is a marked difference to nomex, which feels tissue thin by comparison.
The patches are very well made, nice and thin which makes them conform to the suit as it moves, giving an accurate appearance which can be lacking in thicker patches with less give.
The NoGhost patch. (compared to the Todd Cook Stantz)
First of all, this is a great patch and certainly one of the most accurate offering available out there.
I especially like the more off white tone of the felt which makes up the ghost.
I actually prefer that to the Todd Cook patches more stark appearance (as new) by comparison.
However it doesn't quite reach the level of the Uber accurate Todd Cook Designs patch for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it is slightly oversized by around 6mm.
Not a huge deal I know but I'm trying to give as accurate information as possible.
Secondly, the red border.
While it does appear to have the correct thread pattern, on close inspection the thread is much thinner and as a result the border lacks the dimension and overall appearance and hand made feel of the screen used patch, instead being much closer to that of the border on the GB2 patch.
The TCD patch on top for size reference
Final verdict:
This suit is by far the closest we've ever gotten to what appeared onscreen.
It may be a good deal more expensive than a nomex or other alternatives which are still fantastic options but this is very much a case once again of you get what you pay for.
There really is no comparison based on quality alone.
The ripstop cotton, the colour, the added details missing from other commercially available offerings all add up to make this suit something really special and a perfect addition for anyone who likes to deep dive on their builds and go that extra mile.
Is it perfect?
No but as my only real issue was with the patch which lets face it, is a bonus compared to the suit when we already have such accurate patches available, all things considered its damn close.
And certainly much closer than we've ever gotten.
If I had one negative to mention it would be that my suit didn't come with the leghose connector which is why it wasn't part of this mini review.
I hadn't planned to use it out of personal preference for another connector but I would be remiss not to mention that although in an effort to be fair the one other person who I've seen receive a suit did get a connector with his.
I informed Indy Magnoli of the oversight so hopefully I'm an isolated case for those who wanted to have that particular part.
If I've left anything out that you wanted to know, feel free to ask.
Now i just can't wait until we can go out to events again and show these off with the rest of our gear, hopefully soon