Each garment has the actual garment dimensions listed out in the size selection boxes along with a diagram showing how these dimensions are measured (when ordering is closed, these boxes may not show). These dimensions are the actual dimensions for each size of the garment, not body dimensions. Due to variable factors in the build process, these numbers can vary slightly.
These may vary slightly between products, but here are the dimensions of the standard sizes for upper body garments:
XS dimensions (inches) : Shoulders – 44, Torso – 22, Back – 26, Chest – 42, Midsection – 40, Hips – 38, Arm – 25, Arm hole – 22, Bicep – 15, Neck – 25 (pullover) / 19 (full zip)
S dimensions (inches) : Shoulders – 47, Torso – 24, Back – 28, Chest – 46, Midsection – 44, Hips – 42, Arm – 27, Arm hole – 23, Bicep – 15.5, Neck – 25 (pullover) / 20 (full zip)
M dimensions (inches) : Shoulders – 52, Torso – 26, Back – 29, Chest – 50, Midsection – 48, Hips – 46, Arm – 29, Arm hole – 25, Bicep – 16.5, Neck – 25 (pullover) / 21 (full zip)
L dimensions (inches) : Shoulders – 56, Torso – 28, Back – 32, Chest – 53, Midsection – 52, Hips – 50, Arm – 31, Arm hole – 26, Bicep – 17, Neck – 25 (pullover) / 21 (full zip)
XL dimensions (inches) : Shoulders – 58, Torso – 30, Back – 34, Chest – 57, Midsection – 55, Hips – 54, Arm – 33, Arm hole – 28, Bicep – 19, Neck – 25 (pullover) / 22 (full zip)
These may vary slightly between products, but here are the dimensions of the standard sizes for lower body garments:
S Dimensions (inches) : Waist – 38, Hips – 46, Thigh – 22, Cuff – 16 or 20, Inseam – 30
M Dimensions (inches) : Waist – 42, Hips – 49, Thigh – 23, Cuff – 16 or 20, Inseam – 31
L Dimensions (inches) : Waist – 45, Hips – 51, Thigh – 25, Cuff – 16 or 20, Inseam – 32
Sizing Different Types of Garments
Down garments will require room for the loft that they have. They should be sized large enough to make space for the loft and to never place any tension on the shell through movement. If there is not enough room in the overall sizing, the chambers will be limited in how much they can puff out. If tension is placed on the shells, that loft is even further flattened. This loft is what creates the insulating air pockets that keep you warm. The more compressed this loft is, the less insulation you’ll have. Additionally, down garments will have some length take-up from chamber expansion. The loft pushes the shells apart, which takes up some of the length, perpendicular to the chamber lines. However, this is something that we try to accommodate for in the build process. We’ll typically add a certain amount to all the lengths depending on how much loft that item has and the consumer, generally, does not need to build this into their sizing. They just need to accommodate space for loft in the overall sizing. Puffy garments should never be snug and fitted. There should be enough room in the fit for the shells to remain loose and the down to stay fully lofted. If unsure, it typically makes the most sense to err on the side of larger for down garments.
Shell garments don’t have any loft, but we generally recommend sizing them similar to a puffy garment. The reason for this is that these shells typically don’t have any stretch in the fabrics so you don’t want to end up with tight spots. Also, these shells are generally used for layering over top of other garments that might take up some space. If you are planning to use a shell layer over one of the down sweater, we still usually recommend using about the same sizing dimensions. Reason being, you will be building room for loft into the down garment, which means the shell garment, sized similarly, should also have enough room. You could add a little more room, but then you run the risk of having a shell that is very baggy when layering over less bulky garments. By sizing the down and shell garments the same, the goal is to end up with a shell that can be used over a low-loft active garment without too much room and over a high-loft down garment at camp without too much compression.
Alpha Direct garments also do not have much loft, but additionally, this fabric has some stretch. Due to these reasons, the sizing a you’ll choose between a down garment and an Alpha garment can be dramatically different. The amount of room added to each dimension for a stretchy layer like Alpha Direct might be only a couple inches or less. For an SUL 1.5 with big loft, you might be adding a full 10″ to all the circumference body measurements and 5 – 8″ or more to all the lengths. You do want to allow for some room in an Alpha garment though. Yes, Alpha has stretch, but it is mechanical stretch that isn’t always reliable in all directions or from roll to roll. Also, like most insulating garments, it will be warmest if the structure is not pulled so tight that it opens up the “weave”. The standard sizes for Alpha Direct garments will tend to run larger than what most are used to.
DCF garments will do best with at least as much room added as a down garment. DCF is a very unique fabric. It has absolutely no stretch so you do not want to end up with it tight in any area. Also, there is potential for it to actually shrink a bit. See the page about it in “technology”. To add to the reasons for over-sizing DCF, the consequences for doing so are much lower. The way that the fabric wrinkles up means that it doesn’t really get loose and floppy. Even if it is over-sized by quite a bit, the wrinkly texture will tend to cause it to have structure and sit closer to the body.
Sizing Process, Dimension Descriptions and Recommendations for Room
Please note that the standard sizes are rather arbitrary. There is no actual standard and small, medium, large will vary quite a bit from genre to genre, brand to brand. Those shopping here, with access to custom sizing, should set standard sizing aside to start with, and follow this procedure.
The process of getting the correct size for your body, the fit you want, and the layers you wish to accommodate starts with taking your body measurements. These measurements are shown in the diagram and explained out here. They are very easy to take in about 5 minutes for one person. The next step is to read through this page to establish how much room you need to add over your body dimensions to get the right fit for that garment. These should be close to your ideal garment dimensions. The last step is to take those numbers and see if there is a standard size that matches these exactly or close enough. If so, great! If not, you’ll want to take advantage of the custom sizing box. Here you can write in amendments to stock sizes or write in a completely custom set of dimensions.
Since each product is built by hand, made-to-order, we typically cannot take size based returns. Due to this, we make every effort to explain, in detail, every dimension and also offer full customization. Please measure yourself, measure other garments, and make appropriate estimations. If you have any questions on selecting a size, please email and I will do my best to help you figure it out. Post sale tailoring and modification is available at an hourly labor rate. Keep in mind it’s usually easier to remove length and girth than to add it.
Shoulders – This is the circumference around both shoulders at arm pit height or the widest point. Down and synthetic insulated garments with loft and garments built out of fabrics without stretch generally need at least 5″ of extra room here over the wearer’s body dimensions. Garments built from stretchy fabrics can be sized closer to body dimensions.
Torso – This is simply the length of the front from the collar down to the bottom hem. Keep in mind that, while we try to accommodate for it in patterning, down items will often take up some length with loft.
Back – This is simply the length of the back from the collar down to the bottom hem. Keep in mind that, while we try to accommodate for it in patterning, down items will often take up some length with loft.
Chest – This is the circumference around the chest at arm pit height or the widest point. Down and synthetic insulated garments with loft and garments built out of fabrics without stretch generally need 5 to 10″ of extra room here over the wearer’s body dimensions. Garments built from stretchy fabrics also need some room but it can be closer to body dimensions.
Midsection – This is the circumference around the body halfway between the chest and the hips (bottom hem). Down and synthetic insulated garments with loft and garments built out of fabrics without stretch generally need 5 to 10″ of extra room here over the wearer’s body dimensions. Garments built from stretchy fabrics also need some room but it can be closer to body dimensions. If it is a pullover, then this has to be large enough to pull it on over the shoulders. 5″ less than your actual shoulder circumference is usually the minimum you can get away with and still be able to pull over.
Hips – This is the circumference around the bottom of the garment where it sits on the wearer’s hips. Note that a garment typically sits down on the hips, not the waist and the appropriate measurement is around the widest part of the hips. Down and synthetic insulated garments with loft and garments built out of fabrics without stretch generally need 5 to 10″ of extra room here over the wearer’s body dimensions. If it is a pullover, then the bottom has to be large enough to pull it on over the shoulders. 5″ less than your actual shoulder circumference is usually the minimum you can get away with and still be able to pull over.
Arm – This is the length from the AC joint, or the outside of the shoulder down to the end of the sleeve. Make it as long as needed for your use. Keep in mind that, while we try to accommodate for it in patterning, down items will often take up some length with loft.
Arm Hole – This is the circumference around the attachment point of the sleeve, which is from the AC joint, down under the arm pit, and up the backside to the AC joint. Most people can ignore this dimension. We rarely ever use it and it’s just there to account for folks with very large shoulders.
Bicep – This is the circumference around the sleeve midway between the elbow and the connection to the body. Down and synthetic insulated garments with loft and garments built out of fabrics without stretch generally need at least 4″ of extra room here over the wearer’s body dimensions. Garments built from stretchy fabrics also need some room but it can be closer to body dimensions.
Neck – This is the circumference around the connection point of the collar or hood. Garments with closure mechanisms like full zippers and partial zippers are typically sized smaller than the head circumference. Garments that have no closure mechanism around the neck must be sized large enough for the head to pass through. The pullover sizes typically use a standard 25″ opening.