Seaskin Ultra drysuit review

[Bald Wookie]

I have already patched one small hole in the neoprene neck seal on my Ultra and need to patch another. Not sure how I keep getting them, either.

Meanwhile, my Nova, which is older, is still on its original (replaceable) silicone neck seal.

Rings on a trilam are not just to have replaceable seals. They also allow dry gloves - which are HUGELY nicer than wet gloves, in cold water.

Where are you getting the holes in the neck seal?

 

[stuartv]

Where are you getting the holes in the neck seal?

Both are down near where the seal is glued to the seat. On the front right. They are both near each other and very similar in size and shape.

The holes look like what I would get if the inflator nipple on the suit got pressed end-on really hard into the neoprene. A small, round hole like a very tiny cookie cutter was pressed into it. But, I don't think that is it. Especially since I've been extra aware of that possibility since I saw the first hole. Very weird.

 

[Bald Wookie]

Both are down near where the seal is glued to the seat. On the front right. They are both near each other and very similar in size and shape.

The holes look like what I would get if the inflator nipple on the suit got pressed end-on really hard into the neoprene. A small, round hole like a very tiny cookie cutter was pressed into it. But, I don't think that is it. Especially since I've been extra aware of that possibility since I saw the first hole. Very weird.

Huh, weird. A weird location in general.
I was kinda wondering if it was where the neoprene was joined onto the suit, like it had come apart.
I'm guessing its not where your grab your suit to tug it over your head? I've swapped a few neck seals for simply the repeated donning and doffing, and the user just grabs it in the same place time after time.

 

[lexvil]

Huh, weird. A weird location in general.
I was kinda wondering if it was where the neoprene was joined onto the suit, like it had come apart.
I'm guessing its not where your grab your suit to tug it over your head? I've swapped a few neck seals for simply the repeated donning and doffing, and the user just grabs it in the same place time after time.

I’m thinking its his diamond stud nose ring.

 

[stuartv]

Huh, weird. A weird location in general.
I was kinda wondering if it was where the neoprene was joined onto the suit, like it had come apart.
I'm guessing its not where your grab your suit to tug it over your head? I've swapped a few neck seals for simply the repeated donning and doffing, and the user just grabs it in the same place time after time.

No, I don't grab it there. At least, I don't think I do. I generally try to put my fingers into the head opening and pull it down from the top, rather than from the bottom.

 

[Bald Wookie]

No, I don't grab it there. At least, I don't think I do. I generally try to put my fingers into the head opening and pull it down from the top, rather than from the bottom.

And nothing from your BC or Regs sit there I would guess.

Hmmm, very strange.

 

[stuartv]

And nothing from your BC or Regs sit there I would guess.

Hmmm, very strange.

I don't think so. I need to patch the latest hole and just pay a little more attention. And hope it doesn't happen again...

 

[Addison Snyder]

I wanted to avoid dry rings from the start but everyone kept recommending them to me despite my declining. "Oh I'm able to swap a silicone seal out so easily when I tear it" Yea, you wouldnt have torn it if it wasnt silicone lol. Based on my research I suspect alot of people have only ever worn one type and then recommend that type to others then they get that type and it creates a perpetual cycle. In this case it's trilam w/ rings everywhere.

Gonna have to disagree with you. I've briefly owned neoprene seals, as well as latex and silicone. Latex and neoprene fail slowly but noticeably. Latex stretches over time and has chemical interactions. My silicone has absolutely no sign of use over a year, and I imagine that it will fail catastrophically one day, but not any time soon. Plus the seal is superior in my experience. I've also replaced non-silicone drysuit seals, it ain't fun. I never want to go back to owning a non-silicone seal.

 

[stuartv]

I wanted to avoid dry rings from the start but everyone kept recommending them to me despite my declining. "Oh I'm able to swap a silicone seal out so easily when I tear it" Yea, you wouldnt have torn it if it wasnt silicone lol. Based on my research I suspect alot of people have only ever worn one type and then recommend that type to others then they get that type and it creates a perpetual cycle. In this case it's trilam w/ rings everywhere.

In case it wasn't clear, I have had latex wrist and neck seals, silicone wrist and neck seals, and neoprene wrist and neck seals.

To ME, latex is the least comfortable, in all cases.

Neoprene are the most comfortable. But, neoprene wrist seals are not compatible with dry glove rings (as far as I know).

So, for really cold water, my preference and recommendation is rings with silicone seals at the wrists and a replaceable neoprene neck seal.

For water that is cold-ish, but warm enough to choose wet gloves, I prefer neoprene wrist and neck seals.

For water that is not cold and a drysuit is chosen for redundant buoyancy, I prefer neoprene wrist and silicone neck.

Most people with drysuits only have 1 suit. Or 1 primary with a backup. If I were going to just have one drysuit for all occasions, it would have wrist rings, to support using dry gloves in really cold water, and a Quick Neck to support quick neck seal changes in the event of a tear. Silicone seals for the wrists and a neoprene and a silicone seal for the neck (since you need to have a seal and a backup/replacement seal anyway).

 

[jiggly]

Gonna have to disagree with you. I've briefly owned neoprene seals, as well as latex and silicone. Latex and neoprene fail slowly but noticeably. Latex stretches over time and has chemical interactions. My silicone has absolutely no sign of use over a year, and I imagine that it will fail catastrophically one day, but not any time soon. Plus the seal is superior in my experience. I've also replaced non-silicone drysuit seals, it ain't fun. I never want to go back to owning a non-silicone seal.

In case it wasn't clear, I have had latex wrist and neck seals, silicone wrist and neck seals, and neoprene wrist and neck seals.

To ME, latex is the least comfortable, in all cases.

Neoprene are the most comfortable. But, neoprene wrist seals are not compatible with dry glove rings (as far as I know).

So, for really cold water, my preference and recommendation is rings with silicone seals at the wrists and a replaceable neoprene neck seal.

For water that is cold-ish, but warm enough to choose wet gloves, I prefer neoprene wrist and neck seals.

For water that is not cold and a drysuit is chosen for redundant buoyancy, I prefer neoprene wrist and silicone neck.

Most people with drysuits only have 1 suit. Or 1 primary with a backup. If I were going to just have one drysuit for all occasions, it would have wrist rings, to support using dry gloves in really cold water, and a Quick Neck to support quick neck seal changes in the event of a tear. Silicone seals for the wrists and a neoprene and a silicone seal for the neck (since you need to have a seal and a backup/replacement seal anyway).

You two are clearly exceptions to the type of person I was laying out in my post . I was just annoyed everyone was trying to push me towards the same style suit when it was clearly not what I wanted. Currently have no need for dry gloves and didnt want the bulk of rings. I understand everyone everyone has their preferences and every option is viable, just going all out from the getgo without doing some research seems risky.