So far, all of my braces are by Thurston and I think they are a good value, but Jovan brings up a good point for someone who is undecided about braces or finds Thurston to not meet their budget.
I don't have any box cloth braces and I suspect that they might be a tad warmer. Anyone care to comment?
I think there are many aspects of Thurstons that one can praise, both in terms of product as well as customer service, which all contribute to them representing higher value for money regardless of individual perspective on cost. Amongst those various aspects, one that makes a practical difference to me personally is the proportions. I have slightly slanted shoulders. Not terribly slanted, but slanted nonetheless. With other makers, such as Trafalgar, whose braces I have tried, slippage was always an issue. I have concluded, rather unscientifically, that the reason why slippage is not an issue with Thurstons is because their back piece is longer (and varies appropriately based on which size you require), giving the braces what I consider to be the correct proportions. Getting the proportions right, I would think, plays no small part in achieving a superior level of comfort. Of course, all this assumes that one has chosen the right size to begin with.
As Jovan correctly points out, one's budget is clearly a practical consideration when making a purchase decision. However, if one is trying to assess whether braces are appropriate for one's use, then I would submit that choosing the right makers is rather important.
As for the boxcloth being a tad warmer, I had the same concern initially because they certainly look warmer to one's eyes. However, I have not actually felt a noticeable difference between the boxcloth and barathea varieties. I wear both year round. But then again, summers here are not terribly hot or muggy.
ic12337:
