What may a rifle athlete wear?

• One set: "Only one (1) shooting jacket and only one (1) pair of shooting trousers may be used by each athlete in all Rifle events in any ISSF Championship."
• Seals: jackets, trousers and shoes must carry a seal with a serial number registered to the athlete.
• Thickness: jacket and trousers 2.5 mm in a single layer, reinforcement patches 10 mm, the upper of a shoe 4 mm and gloves 16 mm for front and back together. Nothing above these figures may be approved.
• Stiffness: a measuring cylinder pressed on the material must sink at least 3.0 mm. A smaller reading means the material is too stiff.
• The jacket: closed only by buttons or zips that cannot be adjusted. It must hang loosely. Straps, laces and seams that act as support are prohibited.
• The trousers: must be loose around the legs, with no pockets and nothing to tighten them. The top may sit no more than 50 mm above the hip bone.
• Shoes: special shooting shoes may be worn in 10 m and three positions events. The sole must bend in the front of the foot and the shoe may be no higher than two-thirds of its length.
• Walking: athletes "must always walk normally when on the Field of Play", heel to toe with the knees bending. The first offence brings a warning and later ones two points and possible disqualification.
• Gloves: may reach no more than 50 mm past the wrist and may not fasten at the wrist.
• Under the kit: underclothing is limited to 2.5 mm, and jeans or other ordinary trousers may not be worn under shooting trousers.
• Taping: any device, clothing or taping that immobilises or unduly reduces movement of the legs, body or arms is prohibited.
• No sticky surfaces: Velcro, sprays and sticky substances may not be put on the jacket, pads, shoes, floor or equipment. Roughening the jacket material is allowed.
• Cap: a cap or visor may reach no more than 80 mm forward of the forehead and may not be worn as a side blinder.

A thick, stiff suit works like a brace. The rule book says the limits exist so that jackets "do not provide excessive support", and accepts that athletes need some support "to reduce the risk of strain to the upper back and shoulders" when holding the rifle standing. That is why the upper part of the jacket is allowed to be stiffer than the rest. The walking rule is the simple test that the kit still bends.