Saber Forum

I started working on a Grey Jedi costume about a year ago and ma looking to give it a bit of an update for a con I'll be attending in December.  I've looked at the various links in the costume guide and while all are very nice none of them are really speaking to me.  The look I'm shooting for is something akin of Caedeus and Quinlan Vos.  Not too formal but more than the black pants and shirt that Luke was sporting in RotJ.

Here is the current progress I'm the one in the middle with the brown messenger bag.  My apologizes for not being able to get a solo shot.  I'll work on getting that up in a bit
(http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad184/wolfmetal45/Facebook/ACEN%202013/962169_645692992124255_1949429210_o.jpg) (http://s934.photobucket.com/user/wolfmetal45/media/Facebook/ACEN%202013/962169_645692992124255_1949429210_o.jpg.html)

The big things I'm looking to add are Boots, a good Belt, gloves,possibly a tabard, and maybe armor (though that final one is anything but a priority).

For boots I'm looking for something laceless but that doesn't have a rubber look to it.  My roommate last year pointed me inthe direction of Engineer's Boots but I want to hear a few different opinions first.  Does anyone have some boots along the lines

For a belt I'm actually curious about utility/ tactical belts.  The leather ones just aren't catching my attention with what I'm envisioning and a Tactical Belt seems like it could fit the Star Wars look and not break the budget.  Does anyone have experience using these for costumes and if so what are your opinions?

Gloves I'm torn between fingerless and fully covered.  I wouldn't want something big and bulky like Vader's.  Just something that would help me keep a grip on my saber.

This will be updated sporadically as I acquire or make new parts of the costume.  Hopefully some better quality pictures come so you guys can see what I currently have to work with.

I wear a tactical pistol leg-wrap which I use to secure one of my sabers to.  The leg-wrap, as expected, wraps around the leg and can hook onto the belt on your hip for added weight distribution and style.
The leg-wrap comes with many different set-ups to secure stuff to as there's a lot of durable velcro involved so you can slip your covertec clip right in there without the fear of it coming loose.

It's actually quite nice and much more convenient to holding a saber hilt as it's right at hand-length and it hangs away from your body but out of the way from your hip.  It also makes you look very unique.  I've received many comments from people who had "never thought of that before".

I suppose the one problem with it is that given the belt I have is a black leather Jedi belt, and while the leg-wrap is black as well, it does stand out a bit as it is not leather but rather tough fibers secured to the belt with a thick velcro strap.

As for the boots.  I wear black loafers I purchased from Payless Shoes.  I then had 2 gaiters custom made for about $60.00 total at some weapons/armor/leather shop in a mall which I use as "boot covers" which ultimately gives the resemblance of boots.  They're quite nice.  A bit more tedious and time consuming to put on, but they help accentuate the boots by giving layers and they are adjustable.

I personally don't wear gloves with my costume.  Instead I wear simple leather bracers around my wrists and forearm and over my tunic.
However, I have found a really cheap pair of work gloves at Home Depot that sold for about $10.00.  What's nice is that the gloves breath really well, they're perfect for saber dueling, they're all black with some areas where the material appears to be like leather allowing you to grip objects well, and they look almost tactical looking.
Other than the logo, which can be easily colored over or removed, it's a really cheap and yet impressive find.
What's funny is that the finger-cut version actually costs more than the full version.

I got some great leather accessories at various Renaissance Fairs. I got some great Musketeer type boots and long gloves and awesome bracers with metal plates, and a nice long belt. I paid around $250 for every thing over the course of a year or so going to many different fairs. I think every piece with the right cloak and tunic (you can find those too at the Ren fairs) would be a great dark Jedi look as every thing I have is black. You can find other colors too at the fairs, I just prefer black.  I'm also thinking of working my chain mail shirt into the mix.

The advantage of getting them at the fairs vs online is you can see and try before you buy.   

If you want tac gear try a army surplus store or a uniform shop, be aware the uniform shops are $$$. I dropped $400+ on my LE Academy uniform.

Here are two places I have bought boots from. Boot barn sells name brands at a discounted price. Sportsman's Guide sells their own brand called Guide Gear which are decent boots for the price (good for costuming),

Engineer boots make great Jedi boots. Very Star Wars like and utility looking. The Harley style biker boots (harness boots) look good too, I am just not a fan of the boxy toe look, personally. There is a picture in one of those Star Wars Visual Guide books wear you can clearly see a padawan wearing biker boots.

http://www.bootbarn.com/Motorcycle-Boots/Mens_MotorcycleBoots,default,sc.html (http://www.bootbarn.com/Motorcycle-Boots/Mens_MotorcycleBoots,default,sc.html)
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/mens-boots-shoes-motorcycle-biker-boots.aspx?c=11&s=367&kec=2 (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/mens-boots-shoes-motorcycle-biker-boots.aspx?c=11&s=367&kec=2)

Happy shopping.

Thanks for the links chicago.jedi those are exactly what I'm looking for.  And it looks like I those are actually in my budget which is a nice boon.

Srams, I'm gonna have to check out the army surplus store after work next weekend.  I never thought about poking aroundi n there but it certainly sounds like it is worth investigating.

Also waxman any chance you could take a picture of the pistol leg wrap?  I'm kinda liking how that sounds but I'm just curious what it looks like.

I'm finishing my reading assignments for my English classes tomorrow and then I'll get those pictures up here.

Sorry about the double post.  Tried finding an 'edit' button so I could just add em to the last post but to no avail.

Anyhow here's what I am currently working with.

Front View Robe, Pants, and 'armor'
This is currently the basis of the entire costume.  The robe was commissioned by someone I met online, the 'armor' a rave vest I found on sale at ACEN, and the pants are simply black Gi pants.  Looking at this I think I might wanna look into replacing the pants.  Right now it all kinda blends into a black 'blob' but maybe I'm just being my own worst critic.  Do you guys think full length cargo pants (a tan or dark brown) could go with this costume or do you think that wouldn't look too Star Warsish?
(http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad184/wolfmetal45/GEDC0346_zpse493f3b8.jpg) (http://s934.photobucket.com/user/wolfmetal45/media/GEDC0346_zpse493f3b8.jpg.html)

Side View
(http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad184/wolfmetal45/GEDC0347_zps68cd8041.jpg) (http://s934.photobucket.com/user/wolfmetal45/media/GEDC0347_zps68cd8041.jpg.html)

Front View, Alt top
Picked this up early on when I was working on the costume.  While I like the robe I'm sure there will be times when I jus want to ditch it.  What do you guys think of it?
(http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad184/wolfmetal45/GEDC0348_zpsa9515c38.jpg) (http://s934.photobucket.com/user/wolfmetal45/media/GEDC0348_zpsa9515c38.jpg.html)

I would go with gray or maybe medium blue pants. I don't think brown would be the best choice.  The army stores used to sell BDUs of all colors but I am not sure if that is as easy to find anymore. But places that sell work cloths usually have plain pants in a variety of colors.

The costume looks good so far. I like the tactical angle, it is a little different.