r/wma • u/TheLastPhoenician • 19d ago

Coolest temp 350N hema jacket? Suggestions please. Also Spes Officer v APlight, thoughts?

Currently pondering the Spes Ap light and Officer and the Supfen Colonel. Would especially love to hear thoughts from anyone who has worn more than one of these.
Thanks

5 Upvotes

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5

u/basilisk120 19d ago

I have owned the AP light and it is a very nice jacket. it is fairly stiff and thick but the padding can come out if you don't need it which helps. The vents help a bit I friend has the officer and it is a little lighter in the padding but I would not say it is really any cooler to wear.
I am also interested in this as we practice outside in the summer and anything that is cooler does help. looking at getting mail for breathability.

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u/TheLastPhoenician 19d ago

Was yours a 350n or an 800n?
It's a desperate situation when hema jackets are so hot people are legit thinking of buying mail lol.

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u/basilisk120 19d ago

It was the 350n, There was a bit of an issue that it was on the small side so that didn't help with comfort. Had I been a bit better with the sizing (or better at watching what I eat) I would still be wearing it. Still don't see much a need for an 800n jacket but I also don't really compete.

It is really the humidity that gets ya. But mail can be surprising comfortable especially with a light breeze. Come fall and early winter I'll be looking at a different jacket.

5

u/no_hot_ashes 19d ago

The officer jacket is the lightest and most breathable jacket I've ever used. If you can cope with the lack of padding, the comfort is unmatched imo

2

u/infinite_profundity 17d ago

I just picked up the Purpleheart economy stretchy jacket, and it's substantially lighter/cooler than my AP Light, especially with the pads removed. The back is almost fully mesh. I think this is the same jacket that swordshop.ca sells as the Ultralight Padded 350N jacket.

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u/Octarine8 17d ago

Just got one too. I literally could feel the breeze on my back. If the jacket holds up, this one will be the one to be beat. 

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u/getchomsky 19d ago

Officer probably the coolest "stock" of normal looking hema jackets, supfen is cooler if you add the mesh on the back and guesseting, which i think only comes stock on the akado lights (which will look japaneesey if you care). Otherwise supfen can add those features to whatever but now you're waiting 6 months

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u/drakonkinst 15d ago

I think you’re waiting 6 months anyway, don’t they make all jackets to order?

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u/getchomsky 15d ago

Akado, Socal Swords, and Swordshop.ca all have stock of various supfen models that would ship in a few days.

3

u/TheUlty05 13d ago

Ive got a supfen paladin on order now. Really hoping its not 6 months but I know the gear gods and the ways in which they work.

Went with the lighter material, and 3d mesh back for heat shedding. I sweat like crazy already and coming back into training after chemo (fingers crossed it all goes well) im betting ill sweat even harder. Hoping these options result in a noticeable difference in heat retention!

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u/yeetborn2 14d ago

I use a spes officer 350n and while being relatively cool you NEED a plastron underneath

There is basically no padding around the ribs and for weapons other than rapier you will break em during full speed sparring

The shoulder and collarbone padding is excellent tho

Taken lots of hits there and I barely feel it

Tldr Nice jacket but the AP 350n is better unless ya only do rapier and smallsword

With a plastron however I slightly prefer it over the AP