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HELP! Vest digging in...


Brandon Zachary

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I'm on my first gig as a steadicam operator flying a rented Glidecam V-25 with an HVX, Redrock adapter, and a set of primes.

 

I finished a 12 hour day mostly in the gear. When I got home I noticed a red spot on both hip bones where the vest was digging in. I didn't notice any pain while shooting, but now it's a little sore.

 

I'm pretty sure the issue is that the vest isn't fitted for me properly. Should the vest rest on your hips? It feels right when I'm operating, but it does dig in a little.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We still have one more day of filming...

 

Thanks,

Brandon Zachary

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Hi Brandon,

 

First gig.... rented rig.... 12 hours.... sore hips...

 

Sounds about right frankly. Congratulations!

 

Seriously, your vest is a very personal item and something you have to adjust, fit and break-in to your body over time; but also adjust sometimes based on the shot you are doing. It's like breaking-in a pair of shoes or hiking boots; it's part break-in for the vest and part acclimation for your body.

 

I don't know the Glidecam gear but if you search around the Forum archives you'll find a lot of opinions and a lot of money spent on custom fit handmade vests. Some ops have multiple vests. When I bought my first rig for larger cameras I upgraded to the Ultra2 vest, when I upgraded sleds the next time I kept the used Ultra2 vest because it was broken-in to my body and the guy who bought my old rig got the new vest. My vest is my vest and anything else feels awkward.

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Robert is right.

I got an old master vest, that i use on a daily basis for the last few years. Bought it used at the time.Now i have a almost new ultra 2 vest, but i still prefer my old master vest. Thats why i sell the ultra2 vest. Its just not my vest.

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Brandon,

 

Congratulations on your first gig, brother! I actually just joined that club too as of Friday. I think everyone would tell you sore hips means everything was right, and a sore back is a giveaway something was wrong. If you don't mind getting personal, what kind of pants/shorts were you wearing? At my workshop, I noticed wearing jeans or anything requiring a belt dug into my waist too hard and bugged me. I wear gym shorts with a draw string and it worked well for me. Congrats again, you going to upload your footage and face the critique firing squad? :lol:

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I'm of the same philosophy as William.....I can't wear anything like jeans or cargo shorts....because of my physique, the hip pads on my vests dig into whatever is there and cause a lot of discomfort.....nothing but gym/workout type gear for me on my regular warm weather/indoor gigs.....but if you're outside during the winter, you may have to succumb to some heavier, more cumbersome gear. But things should be fine if you have fitted your vest properly and your clothing doesn't interfere.

 

Safe flying....

 

Chris

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I'm of the same philosophy as William.....I can't wear anything like jeans or cargo shorts....because of my physique, the hip pads on my vests dig into whatever is there and cause a lot of discomfort.....nothing but gym/workout type gear for me on my regular warm weather/indoor gigs.....but if you're outside during the winter, you may have to succumb to some heavier, more cumbersome gear. But things should be fine if you have fitted your vest properly and your clothing doesn't interfere.

 

Safe flying....

 

Chris

 

You might want to try North Face cargo shorts (the zip off ones) they're about as heavy as gym shorts, but with pockets like cargo shorts.

 

for example.

 

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gea...tible-pant.html

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I wear spandex, cowboy boots, and a headband. I think it's important to look like a rockstar while operating. When I'm not wearing spandex I'm boned -- I have no ass so whatever shorts I wear end up around my knees by take 3 (maybe sooner depending on the extras).

 

I recently worked with Alec here in NY and he was impressed with my rockstar wardrobe. Next time he stops by I'll don my cowboy hat with snakeskin band -- unfortunately, in addition to being out of focus the spandex and boots cannot be seen in the attached picture:

 

post-98-1220290588_thumb.jpg

 

rb

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I wear spandex, cowboy boots, and a headband. I think it's important to look like a rockstar while operating. When I'm not wearing spandex I'm boned -- I have no ass so whatever shorts I wear end up around my knees by take 3 (maybe sooner depending on the extras).

 

I recently worked with Alec here in NY and he was impressed with my rockstar wardrobe. Next time he stops by I'll don my cowboy hat with snakeskin band -- unfortunately, in addition to being out of focus the spandex and boots cannot be seen in the attached picture:

 

post-98-1220290588_thumb.jpg

 

rb

 

Any guy in spandex and drinking a Boddington.... well at least your drinking Boddington's

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