Very UNhappy with Lavacore

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200 dives mostly ocean.... doing dsd's in a pool once a week.... max 1 hour in the pool. Always rinsed.... 3 people have lavacore and 2 have a sharkskin and the sharkskin still looks great... I stopped using the lavacore after the picture was taking because the water got warmer here in cayman but I doubt ill use it again next winter.
 
yeah i cant modify it to show more of the profile....
 
to buy or not to buy and what size to buy? as a caribbean person ichill easy but didnt want wet suit. one person loves it another hates it and im still confused about the sizing-
is it running small or or big?
 
to buy or not to buy and what size to buy? as a caribbean person ichill easy but didnt want wet suit. one person loves it another hates it and im still confused about the sizing-
is it running small or or big?

I think their QC is pretty poor and sizing must be being checked by different species of aliens from different solar systems. Im usually a medium or small depending on the cut with lavacore the medium was huge, the small was more a medium and the XS was more like a small. I tried on two different XS and both were different sizes. Go figure. If I were to buy again Id buy a Sharkskin have since tried theirs on and the fit for me is much better. Good luck.
 
How weird....both my husband and I had to get one or two sizes LARGER than normal because of the way the arms are cut. Perhaps its because we're both former competitive swimmers and have broad shoulders that can be hard to fit, but we find the cut of LavaCore to be bizarre....like they measured a person who was holding their arms straight out to the sides of their body. Very strange...

We've both been very happy with them (love the extra warmth!!) and haven't had any quality problems, but we've also only put about 15 dives on them too.
 
The sizing is a bit strange, but similar to how my Pinnacle wet suits fit. I have the full length Lavacore. I've been happy so far, but have only used it for skin diving in the Sea of Cortez - 65F temps - I was chilly to say the least! Drying was no issue, just turned it inside out to expose the "fleece" side.

I won't get another chance to try it until September in Kauai when I am going to use it as a layer under my 3mm wetsuit.

DiveMaven, I assume from your comment about the extra warmth that you have used it as a base layer. Any comments as to the comfort it did allow - i.e. the extended temperature range?

Bill
 
Bill, I bought my Lavacore after my husband got his and said it made a huge difference.....and IMO it really does. We dive Maui a lot and for the past two years, in the winter and spring, I've needed to wear a 5mm merino lined full suit plus a 3mm vest, AND use a HotSnapz heat pack in order to comfortably do 3 dives in a day, and preferred to have the HotSnapz for the second tanks on 2-tank days. The water in December is 74-76 degrees and in early April is 72-74 degrees.....and yes, I tend to run cold.

This year in early April I wore my Lavacore long-sleeved shirt under my 5mm merino lined wetsuit, and although I will not say I was warm, I was also never cold!! A first for me. :). The water was 71-73 degrees according to my computer. I love my Lavacore.
 
The sizing is a bit strange, but similar to how my Pinnacle wet suits fit. I have the full length Lavacore. I've been happy so far, but have only used it for skin diving in the Sea of Cortez - 65F temps - I was chilly to say the least! Drying was no issue, just turned it inside out to expose the "fleece" side.

I won't get another chance to try it until September in Kauai when I am going to use it as a layer under my 3mm wetsuit.

DiveMaven, I assume from your comment about the extra warmth that you have used it as a base layer. Any comments as to the comfort it did allow - i.e. the extended temperature range?

Bill

Bill I have to ask, what temps are you preparing for in September in Kauai? We've been there in May and it was 76F. Am I off track expecting 80F on the Big Island when we visit in September? Or is that right and you just want to lay it under a 3mm in 80F?

Thanks :)
 
I'm expected high 70's. 3mm is not going to cut it for me for extended periods. I hate diving wet. Rather plan to be too warm than be too cold.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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