Vegan Shark
Contributor
I'm throwing in the towel. I thought I could advance into tech diving, and do long shallow dives on doubles in 55 degree water wet, but after 2 hours at 40 ft I raised the white flag.
When I saw other divers get out of the water, and quickly hop into their cars wearing their undergarments, while I was struggling to change out of a neoprene vice grip in the cold rain, I decided it's time to go dry.
The only question is: What makes one drysuit better than another?
Crushed neoprene, trilam, P-valves, changeable seals, dry gloves, dry hoods ... the list of options is baffling for a first timer! The price differences are especially confusing. What separates a $1000 entry drysuit, like the Scubapro, Pinnacle, or Whites, to a $3000 suit like Santi, Waterproof, or FE?
If the only purpose of a drysuit is to block out water, then so long as the seals are fitted properly a $3000 suit won't be warmer than a $1000 suit, right? Is the extra $ all about durability and design, or are you paying a brand name tax?
Right now I'm looking at Fourth Element's drysuit (rebranded Ursuit I believe), Waterproof's line, Hollis, and Santi. I really love how the Fourth Element looks, and am impressed by the quality of their other products, but the only place I could try one is 7 hours away. The other brands aren't too easy to try out, either; all the stores seem to just stock DUI.
When I saw other divers get out of the water, and quickly hop into their cars wearing their undergarments, while I was struggling to change out of a neoprene vice grip in the cold rain, I decided it's time to go dry.
The only question is: What makes one drysuit better than another?
Crushed neoprene, trilam, P-valves, changeable seals, dry gloves, dry hoods ... the list of options is baffling for a first timer! The price differences are especially confusing. What separates a $1000 entry drysuit, like the Scubapro, Pinnacle, or Whites, to a $3000 suit like Santi, Waterproof, or FE?
If the only purpose of a drysuit is to block out water, then so long as the seals are fitted properly a $3000 suit won't be warmer than a $1000 suit, right? Is the extra $ all about durability and design, or are you paying a brand name tax?
Right now I'm looking at Fourth Element's drysuit (rebranded Ursuit I believe), Waterproof's line, Hollis, and Santi. I really love how the Fourth Element looks, and am impressed by the quality of their other products, but the only place I could try one is 7 hours away. The other brands aren't too easy to try out, either; all the stores seem to just stock DUI.