Sizing help for Vanson jackets

The first time you put on a Sportrider series Vanson jacket, you might think it fits funny. It may seem tight across the chest and short in the front. This is because these jackets are cut for riding. Bend your knees, lean forward, and extend your arms (or better yet, get on your bike) and the fit should improve. You'll notice that unlike that bomber jacket you wore when you got your first bike, the Vanson does not bunch up in front. Also, since the sleeves are attached at a forward angle, it won't feel like you are going to wreck the shoulder seams when you have your hands on the grips.

To find your jacket size, take a normal breath in and measure around the fullest part of your chest with your arms at your sides. For a good sporty fit, your chest measurement is your jacket size. If you have an odd number, round up. If you will be adding a full armor kit and a back protector and you think you'll be wearing bulky clothing most of the time, consider jumping up a size.

Do you need a jacket with the adjustable waistband? If you have average proportions and don't think you'll gain or lose much weight in the future, the cleaner lines of the fixed waist might suit you fine. But if you are one of the many who falls outside of this range, an adjustable waist can improve the fit.

Jackets with a fixed waistband have an eight inch difference between the jacket size and the ideal waist size. For example, a size 42 jacket with a will be a great fit for a guy who wears size 34 pants. An inch bigger or smaller is ok too.

In the middle position, the adjustable jackets fit the same as those with a fixed waistband, and there is about three inches of adjustability in each direction. So a size 42 jacket with this waistband can fit pants sizes from about 31 to about 37.

The jackets get a only little longer as the sizes get bigger. Sizes 38 - 46 will fit people between 5'8" and 6'0". Sizes 48 and above are good for guys between 5'10" and 6'2". Vanson makes tall sizes only by special order.

There is a more detailed size chart on Vanson's website.

If all this information has caused you to become completely confused, send me an e-mail with your height, weight, chest measurement and waist size. I've gotten pretty good at fitting people this way.

Sizing help for Vanson pants

Sportrider series (PTSR & PTSV)
On these pants, the stated size is the exact waistband measurement. If you measure yourself at navel level, you will know your Vanson size. If you get an number that is not your normal size, don't worry too much about that. Those size 34 Gap khakis you have may actually measure 35" or 36".

Most sizes have a 31" inseam length.

Traveler series (PTTS & PTTV)
This style has a waistband that allows you to adjust the fit. Most people will want to pick the size where their actual waist measurement falls in the middle of the range. Most of us fluctuate a little more than we'd like around the middle, and it's nice to be able to make little adjustments from time to time.

A few folks will want to go up or down a size. If you routinely buy pants that are too large because you have thighs over-developed by bicycle racing or some other sport, you can get a larger size and wear the pants on the smallest waist adjustment. If your gut area is a bit larger than it should be relative to the rest of you, you could be happy with a smaller pair worn with the waist adjusted all the way out.

medium adjusts between 31"-35" in the waist and the hip area fits like size 33-34

large adjusts between 34"-38" in the waist and the hip area fits like size 36

XL adjusts between 36"-40" in the waist and the hip area fits like size 38

XXL adjusts between 38"-44" in the waist and the hip area fits like size 41

XXL adjusts between 41"-47" in the waist and the hip area fits like size 44

There is a more detailed size chart on Vanson's website