Stretch air Gladiator

[Billy]

I've searched on here and looked around quite a few retailers websites and can,t find what the difference is between normal stretch airs and the gladiator model so can someone tell me, please?

[Lumberjack Pad]

The gladiators have a tougher outer material. I've had a pair for about 6 month now and i'm not that impressed to be honest. The material is actually not lasting as long as the normal stretch airs.

[Dean Lofthouse]

...and the material seems to not allow moisture out like the normal ones so getting wet through on the inside and inside the side pocket

[Rupe]

Also the gladiators are from the old style stretch air pattern, like the old red and blue ones, so the pockets are different on the right leg i.e. no cover over the tool/phone pocket so it will fill up with sawdust.

[Swedish Dave]

Gladiators are type A standard stretch air are type c thats the most important (Front protection,All round protection) they are a very good trouser imo

[Clark Forest]

There's a type A and type C available in the standard Stretch Airs (or Full Stretch as they call them). The type C's are certainly the most popular Stretch Air's that we do.

Edited September 21, 2010 by Steve Bullman

[Theocus]

Either way, the flys will break!!! 6 pairs now and they have all gone bang!!! Now on oregan fiordlands and they seem good so far. Stretch airs are also very warm.

[ArbjobsNick]

Either way, the flys will break!!! 6 pairs now and they have all gone bang!!! Now on oregan fiordlands and they seem good so far. Stretch airs are also very warm.

 

Theocus I am sorry to hear you have had problems with the zips in older models the zip has gone through a number of amendments in the last 48 months to try and make it as durable as possible and since its last amendment in March 2010 I know there have been a lot less problems so hopefully they have resolved this issue. It is also important to check you by buy the right size and would suggest if you are a climber and on the cusp between two sizes go up a size to give yourself the movement you need when climbing over stressing the material and zip will not help. In addition can I ask if you washed the trousers with this zip open or closed? It clearly states in the care instructions that they should be washed with the zip closed to prevent damage to the zipper teeth but we are men and I don't know about you but I hardly ever read the instructions so its well worth knowing this info.

[Steve Bullman]

i didnt know that

[ArbjobsNick]

i didnt know that

 

"Not a lot of people know that !!"

 

Gladiator Type A's diviate quite a bit from the standard "Stretch" Airs as the front panel wont stretch its a waterproof Kevlar material being waterproof the rain can't get in but your sweat can't get out so to help breathability the stretchy rear panel is lighter contruction than the 6633 Type C Climbing Stretch Airs to allow the heat out.

 

Being a non stretch material these are best suited to ground use. As HSE and AFAG 401 both recommend type C's should be used when climbing this shouldn't be an issue.

 

Certain manufacturers of Type A trousers have promoted to full use of Type A for climbing this information is not only misleading but potentially putting inexperianced climbers in jeapordy please read and digest the full AFAG before buying your next pair.

 

http://http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/afag401.pdf

 

Excert from AFAG 401:

 

Leg protection* and groin protection (complying with BS EN 3815). HSE strongly recommends Type C leg protection for aerial work, because of the high all round chainsaw cut protection. However, where wearing Type C is impractical (eg because of the higher risk of heat stress associated with it), it may be appropriate to use Type A, where justified by risk assessment.

Edited September 21, 2010 by ArbjobsNick
amendments and adding hyperlink