Drysuit Opinions - DUI TLS350 vs. Diving Concepts UltraFlex Pro

[Hepcat62]

All,

I've decided to take the plunge into dry diving so that I can extend my season into the winter more comfortably. I'm doing pretty much all of my diving in Monterey Bay, CA, so water temperatures are between 48-52 depending on location, weather, and depth.

I'm currently leaning towards the DUI TLS350 based on some conversations I've had with various people, but as my favorite dive shop is not a DUI dealer, I'd be "travelling" to get one. My usual LDS does carry Diving Concepts though, which I've also heard good things about.

I've searched the boards, but I haven't been able to find quite what I'm looking for in the way of feedback on these suits. As somebody who's just about to start their drysuit training, I could use some additional feedback.

Do you have any opinions on these two suits? Have you used both? Does your friend own one of them and hate it?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

 

[JeffG]

I own both and like both.

I did custom fit for each and the DC suit IMO fits tall thin people better.

The 350 is lighter, but the Ultraflex Pro is tougher.

 

[Rick Inman]

My backup is an UltraFlex Pro. It is tough. It's almost as heavy as a crushed neoprene suit.

I don't have any direct experience with DUI repair service, but in the last year I have heard sever people complain loudly about poor, slow and expensive service from them. The one time I had to send my DC suit in, the work was done well, quickly and at a reasonable price.

 

[b1gcountry]

From conversations I've had with others, I've heard the opposite as far as service. I guess it all depends on the situation.

 

[StreetDoctor]

subscribed! I'm considering both suits as well. My instructor (not shop affiliated) recommends the DC so I think I'm leaning that way.

 

[JeffG]

If you are only buying one suit, I might consider the 450 instead of the 350. Just for the toughness factor. Especially if you are doing a lot of shore dives.

Now, if you were doing a lot of flying to do diving, the 350 is perfect. Combo that with Weezle undies, you have a nice light/warm drysuit setup.

 

[Hepcat62]

If you are only buying one suit, I might consider the 450 instead of the 350. Just for the toughness factor. Especially if you are doing a lot of shore dives.

I definitely do lots of shore diving, so sure - let's throw the CLX450 into the mix. I know several people with that suit who like it a lot.

Side question - how much bigger are the DUI RockBoots when compared to typical cold-water wetsuit booties? Am I going to need to buy new fins?

 

[JeffG]

I definitely do lots of shore diving, so sure - let's throw the CLX450 into the mix. I know several people with that suit who like it a lot.

I don't own that one, but many of my buddies do. Its a nice suit. About as heavy/tough as the Ultraflex pro.

Am I going to need to buy new fins?

Using rock boots...probably.

I have turbo soles on both my Drysuits and they fit the same fins that I use for my warm water diving (using 7 mm boots). So Rock boots would force a new size fin.

 

[PriusDrIVER]

I have the Diving Concepts suit with rings and the ring gloves (and spare latex wrist seals). I love the suit, though I don't have any other dry suit to compare. Its easy to put it on and remove it by myself...I like that I can be self sufficient (don't take this as not diving with buddies).

I've only had one problem, and that was with the original black/cloth covered DC ring based dry gloves. They developed a leak with ~35 dives on them, I had to pay to get them replaced to fix it. The new smurf gloves seem better. I find it ridiculous that the suit was barely a year old and the gloves developed a leak due to an obvious mfg defect. The leak developed on a fold/crease in the glove from the mfg/packaging process.

I know only 1 other person that had the same gloves, they also developed a leak but within the first 10 dives. Perhaps they could have been fixed for "free" if the LDS handled it differently, I'm not sure...but it still bothers me that I had to *buy* the fix for the leak.

Other than the glove issue, I love the suit. I do like the rings and being able to easily replace my own wrist seal or swap between dry/wet gloves.

 

[JeffG]

I've only had one problem, and that was with the original black/cloth covered DC ring based dry gloves.

Those are the compressed neoprene gloves...aren't they? I never heard anything good about them.

The new smurf gloves seem better.

They are great and easy to repair. Just buy some PVC cement from your local hardware store.

I have the DC gloves on my two suits.