how should a dry suit fit?

[diverrick]

I recently found a DS that almost fits me.. after a long search.
I know I'll be needing to make a few adjustments, as I am not the svelt, tall Male that off the rack suit were made for. I find that the suit is about two to three inches too long in the torso area, and about two inches too long in the legs. I know that I can have the legs adjusted, but what about the waist.. I see a seam that runs all the way around at the nipple line, so that looks like a good spot to take it up at. I am afraid of pushing off the legs when it inflates. How much "loosness" should a dry suit have? I have seen some that have a built in fold so you can bend over in them.
The other problem I might have, is that the latex neck seal is pretty tight. I felt uncomfortable after wearing it for about 5 mins. Wife said I was red in the face, so I think that could be a problem. Can I cut back on that neck seal to make it bigger? I noticed rings on the inside for sealing. If I cut that portion out, will that effect the sealing ability?

 

[scubasean]

I recently found a DS that almost fits me.. after a long search.
I know I'll be needing to make a few adjustments, as I am not the svelt, tall Male that off the rack suit were made for. I find that the suit is about two to three inches too long in the torso area, and about two inches too long in the legs. I know that I can have the legs adjusted, but what about the waist.. I see a seam that runs all the way around at the nipple line, so that looks like a good spot to take it up at. I am afraid of pushing off the legs when it inflates. How much "loosness" should a dry suit have? I have seen some that have a built in fold so you can bend over in them.
The other problem I might have, is that the latex neck seal is pretty tight. I felt uncomfortable after wearing it for about 5 mins. Wife said I was red in the face, so I think that could be a problem. Can I cut back on that neck seal to make it bigger? I noticed rings on the inside for sealing. If I cut that portion out, will that effect the sealing ability?

My DUI suit has an extra inch or two at my waist (vertically...) to add height when doffing and dinning the suit. It facilitates me being able to be a slight contorsionist when pulling the suit onto my right arm (which is put into the suit after my left, but before my head). But that extra material is taken up when I strap in, and isn't used to facilitate being able to bend over. I can bend over even without that extra bit.

Also, be careful about the seals at the wrist and neck. Neither should be so tight as to restrict blood flow, but they must also be snug enough to stop water from entering. If your face was red, the neck seal should be looked at.
If the DS is at the mfg, or is at an LDS, let them trim the seals.

I'm only into using my TLS350 for a few months, and thus am far from being an expert.

 

[Bob3]

It sounds like your suit fits OK with the exception of the neck seal needing to be trimmed in a big way.
Neck seals (and wrist seals) are supposed to be comfy enough to wear for 10 - 12 hours straight.
Those little rings you see aren't for sealing, they're there to assist in cutting a straight line.
Your suspenders will take up the little extra room in the torso & a couple inches extra in the legs is just about right for assuring the proper range of motion.
Put on a couple sweatshirts & some sweat pants to simulate the extra bulk of undies, put the suit back on & zip the thing closed. Bend over & touch your toes w/o bending the knees. (make sure your wife is there in case you pass out, it's a serious safety hazard wearing an untrimmed neck seal).

That's how you check to see if the suit fits, you need to have a FULL range of motion.
If you got the suit from a shop run back over & have them help trim the seals.
Otherwise have someone that has trimmed the things before give a hand.
Do you have a drysuit manual?

 

[diverrick]

Hi Again
Thanks all for the advise. Less cutting is good! I attempted to e-mail you bob but this new SB does not allow me to open the e-mail part of the screen. Or I have yet to figure it out. Would you contact me @ Rdozier1@aol.com please, I have a question for you.
Thanks I can't wait to go out and use the suit!

 

[Genesis]

Yep.

Be aware that a shell suit has to fit somewhat "loose" to give you full range of motion. If it binds up, its BAD.

The arms, NOT INCLUDING THE SEALS, should come to your wristbones. If they are too short the suit WILL leak or "hike up" your arms when you move underwater. At best that will make you REAL cold

The crotch should come to your crotch, and with it there, the legs should be the proper length OR an inch or so long. You DO NOT want the crotch too short, nor do you want it long enough that there is too much bagginess in the legs.

Circumference is where many people get it wrong. If you're ALWAYS going to dive the suit with the same undies then you can size it a bit "close" (particularly if you're diving with LIGHT undies) but most of us want to be able to adjust the warmth with different underwear. This means you MUST size the suit for the MAXIMUM bulk undies that you will ever want to use with it, and live with it being a bit "baggy" when you use lighter underwear. There is a very significant change from light to heavy underwear!

Find someone to help you with the seal sizing. Its not difficult, but if you screw it up you'll have to replace the seals. Don't freak if you do - its not terribly expensive to buy new ones and you CAN install them yourself.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Go easy on the seal trimming ... latex stretches as you use it. So if you overdo the trim it may be comfortable for a few dives, then loosen to the point where it leaks. If you're going to trim, don't trim more than one ring at a time, then try on the suit and see how it feels. It should be tight, but not so tight that it causes discomfort (or a red face). I recommend stretching it over a scuba cylinder overnight before testing to see how much trimming you need ... that will stretch the seal out a bit, and often that's enough without the need to trim.

How the suit should fit depends on the type of suit you're purchasing. The arms and legs should allow a full range of motion without either restricting your motion or leaving any folds in the suit when your limbs are fully bent.

Try these tests while wearing the suit with the undergarment you'll be diving it in ...

- Reach one arm at a time behind your head and touch the spot on your spine between your shoulder blades. Or, if you have the option, put your rig on and touch your tank valve. If the suit restricts your ability to do this the arms are too short or the cut around the shoulders is not adequate to allow proper, comfortable use while diving.

- Put on your fins, using a standard "figure 4" technique. The knees and crotch should be comfortable without any bagging or folds in the lower part of the suit. Any excess material in the leg when in the "figure 4" position will most likely result in air traveling to your lower legs when you don't want it to.

- Do a deep knee bend, as you would when "burping" the suit. The crotch should be snug ... it should neither pull so tight as to be uncomfortable nor should there be any additional room in the crotch are when you are fully bent. If there is, then the torso isn't cut properly for your body.

Another thing to look for is how the upper thighs fit. They should be reasonably snug without excessive fabric giving you that "Canadian Mountie" look.

Keep in mind that any excess fabric anywhere on the suit will create air spaces that can give you buoyancy issues. A bag suit will necessarily require a small amount of looseness to allow for a full range of motion (since the suit doesn't have any stretch to it), and a neoprene suit will not. The trick is in having just enough excess fabric to move properly without any more than you need.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)