Contemplating Dry Suit, Seal Question.

[arew+4]

Are the neck seals on all dry suits pretty much the same? If I try brand X and the neck seal is a deal breaker, am I doomed to dive wet for all eternity. If it doesn't bother me, will any dry suit neck seal feel pretty much the same?

TIA,
Andy

 

[runsongas]

outside of the three types (latex/silicone/neoprene) they pretty much are the same. but check the sizing too as neck seals are supposed to be cut to size for latex and stretched or tightened for neoprene

 

[rx7diver]

Are the neck seals on all dry suits pretty much the same? If I try brand X and the neck seal is a deal breaker, am I doomed to dive wet for all eternity. If it doesn't bother me, will any dry suit neck seal feel pretty much the same?

TIA,
Andy

I chose to have my first (and only) drysuit (DUI CF200SP) made with a neoprene fold-under neck seal--which provides a bit more warmth (double layer of neoprene) for diving in very cold, Great Lakes, deep diving.

A neoprene neck seal is less comfortable (perhaps) than a silicone neck seal, but it is less likely to tear or rip--something to consider when deco diving deep shipwrecks in very cold water.

Neoprene compresses with depth (reducing its insulation), so double neoprene layers (provided by the fold-under design) helps with this.

Also, the fold-under design should reduce the risk of leaking: More seal area remains in contact with the neck, and the fold-under design provides more "strech", paradoxically, because even though neoprene itself is less stretchy than silicone, the fold-under design acts like a bellows or corrugation.

The above is what I was told when I was doing my research for my very first (and only) drysuit purchase.

Good luck with your choice. I hope this helps.

rx7diver

 

[TooCold]

As @runsongas says, the type of seal makes a difference, not the make/brand. More important I think, the fit is critical: too loose will leak, too tight is dangerous. I'd suggest that if you can you rent before you buy - that is, don't just try on in the shop but dive different types if you can to get a real sense of what you prefer.

 

[undrwater]

Are the neck seals on all dry suits pretty much the same? If I try brand X and the neck seal is a deal breaker, am I doomed to dive wet for all eternity. If it doesn't bother me, will any dry suit neck seal feel pretty much the same?

TIA,
Andy

Do you have any specific concerns? Easier to advise if we can narrow it down.

 

[arew+4]

Do you have any specific concerns? Easier to advise if we can narrow it down.

Mostly just concerned that I might find it super irritating. I want to find a LDS that will let me take a dip in a pool and see if I can tolerate it. Dont know if one type of seal would be less constrictive/restrictive than others.

 

[Marie13]

I find silicone very comfortable. I don’t like stuff around my neck much.

 

[runsongas]

silicone is touted as the most comfortable, but it doesn't come in large or XL sizing if you have a larger neck like latex or neoprene do. i find the XL latex seal from DGX to be more comfortable than the sitech standard silicone once trimmed down.

 

[lexvil]

In order of comfort, 1. Neoprene, 2. Silicone, 3. Latex. In order of toughness 1. Latex, 2 neoprene, 3. Silicone

with neoprene or latex you can choose them and glue to the suit, with silicone a ring system is what you need and once you have the ring system you can try each type and switch whenever you like, also you can carry spares.

 

[broncobowsher]

Seals are NOT one and done. For many if not most people trimming the seals is needed to get a good fit. Usually not done on rental suits, shops prefer too tight and not leaking instead of cut to fit someone and leaking on the next person. I want to say I saw a shop once that sold seals for the rental suits. Cut the seals to fit and keep them. Install when you rent. Nice part on the shop is they sell a lot more seals and don't have to deal with seals on the rentals. Only works on rentals with replacable seals.