The fit of a custom race suit is only as good as the measurements behind it. The good news is that measuring yourself accurately isn't difficult if you follow a few rules and take your time. This step-by-step guide covers the measurements we use for the Racevoro Apex custom leather racing suit, plus quick notes for gloves and boots.
You complete the full measurement form after you order. Use this guide to practise or to check your numbers. Our complete Size & Measurement Guide is always the reference.
Before you start
- Use a soft tailor's tape in centimetres. If yours only shows inches, multiply by 2.54 (for example 40 in = 101.6 cm).
- Ask someone to help. Measurements taken by a helper are usually more accurate, especially across the back and through the torso.
- Wear thin, close-fitting clothing or a base layer.
- Stand straight and relaxed, feet slightly apart, breathing normally.
- Keep the tape flat and level. It should touch your body all the way round without pressing in.
- Measure your body, not your gear. Don't add extra room, and don't measure a suit you already own. Our pattern master adds what the suit needs.
Step 1: Height and weight
- Height: without shoes, standing against a wall, from the floor to the top of your head.
- Body weight: in kilograms.
Step 2: Neck, shoulders and chest
- Neck: around the base of the neck.
- Shoulder width: across the back, from one shoulder point (the outer edge of the shoulder bone) to the other.
- Chest: around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, arms relaxed.
- Under-bust (optional): only if you want a bust-shaped fit. Measure around the ribcage directly under the bust, keeping the tape level.
Step 3: Waist and hips
- Waist: around your natural waist, the narrowest part, usually just above the belly button.
- Hip / seat: around the fullest part of the seat.
Tip: tie a piece of string around your natural waist now. You'll use it as a reference for the torso measurements below.
Step 4: Arms
- Sleeve length: hold your upper arm slightly forward and bend your elbow to about 90°. Measure from the shoulder point, over the outside of the bent elbow, down to the wrist bone. Measuring with a bent arm reflects your riding position, so the sleeves don't ride up when you reach for the bars.
- Bicep: around the fullest part of the upper arm, relaxed.
- Forearm: around the fullest part of the forearm.
- Wrist: around the wrist.
Step 5: Torso lengths
These are the measurements riders most often skip with off-the-rack suits, and they make a big difference to how a one-piece suit feels in a tuck.
- Back length: from the nape of the neck (the bone at the base of the neck) down the spine to your natural waist.
- Front torso length: from the base of the neck at the centre front, straight down to the string marking your natural waist.
- Torso / trunk length: from the top of one shoulder, down the front, through the crotch and up the back to the same shoulder point. Your helper is essential here. Keep the tape snug but not tight.
Step 6: Legs
- Outside leg: from the waist down the outside of the leg to the ankle.
- Inside leg (inseam): from the crotch down the inside of the leg to the ankle.
- Thigh: around the fullest part of the thigh.
- Knee: stand holding a support such as a wall or chair back, and bend the knee to about 30°. Measure around the centre of the kneecap without tightening the tape.
- Calf: around the fullest part of the calf.
- Ankle: around the narrowest part, just above the ankle bone.
Step 7: Tell us how you ride
Numbers aren't everything. On the form we also ask about:
- Your riding position and fit preference (closer race fit or a little more room).
- Whether you want a bust-shaped fit.
- What you wear under the suit. If you plan to wear a vest or other equipment underneath, tell us its brand, exact model and size as printed on its label, and whether it's worn inside or outside the suit. We use this only to fit the pattern. It isn't a statement about how the suit works with that equipment.
Optional: photos of yourself from the front, side and back in fitted clothing. We may ask for these later.
Measuring for gloves
If you're ordering Apex custom leather gloves, measure both hands and label each measurement L or R. Most riders' hands differ slightly, so each glove is made to its own hand.
- Knuckle circumference: hand flat, around the knuckles (the widest part of the palm), not including the thumb.
- Hand length: from the crease of the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.
- Wrist circumference: around the wrist.
- Forearm at cuff end: only for the gauntlet (long cuff) option, around the forearm where the cuff will end.
Tell us your dominant hand and whether you want a short cuff or a gauntlet.
Measuring for boots
For Apex custom leather boots, measure both feet and legs, standing with your weight on the foot being measured:
- Foot length: back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe.
- Foot width: across the widest part of the ball of the foot.
- Ball girth and instep girth: around the widest part of the ball, and around the highest point of the instep.
- Ankle: just above the ankle bone.
- Calf at the boot top and boot-top height: around the calf where you want the boot to end, and that height from the floor.
Your usual shoe size is useful as a reference, but your measurements take priority.
Common measuring mistakes
- Pulling the tape tight. It should rest on the body, not compress it.
- Measuring over bulky clothing. Thin layers only.
- Adding "room" yourself. Give us body measurements. Ease is added in the pattern.
- Straight-arm sleeve measurements. Bend the elbow to about 90°.
- Mixing units. Everything in centimetres.
- Measuring alone. Back, shoulder and trunk measurements really need a helper.
What happens after you submit
We check every measurement form before production. If anything is missing or unclear, we send you our questions in one message. You then approve your design and measurements in writing before your suit is made. Production takes about 10 to 15 working days for suits (about 7 for gloves and boots), then about 5 to 7 days courier transit by DHL, UPS or FedEx (estimates). See How Custom Orders Work for every step.
Accurate measurements matter for the fit policy too. If a finished piece doesn't match your approved measurements or design, we correct or remake it at no cost to you, and we pay the shipping both ways. If the measurements supplied were incorrect, we assess the piece and quote a correction or remake before any work starts. Details are in our Returns & Remakes policy.
Not sure about a measurement?
Don't guess. Write a note on your form or contact our support team before you submit, and we'll help you get it right. Then, when you're ready, start your Racevoro Apex suit.
Note: product images on our site are design renders, not photos of finished gear.