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+1. I took a tank one day to a pool and measured how much lead it took to be neutral with the drysuit in the various undergarments when in horizontal trim just at the point the valve exhausts. I can easily mix & match my gear because I keep a list of the component buoyancies (backplate, doubles HW, sidemount rig, CCR rig, various types of cylinder(s), etc.) Whatever I'm taking, it needs to add to zero.
I think it's pretty nice to use only these 2 layers down to 9-10C. But just to be sure , you are using them only with xerotherm as base layer ? I mean , no J2 underneath? As best world would be to have those 3 layers but kinda expensive or at least not to start with all of them, so if i have to choose only 2 , i'm trying go figure out which one
I'm planning to do pool training when i'll have the suit to have the perfect amount when i'll be with the drysuit and a 15L or with 2x12L and same with/without 1 deco tank. For now with 5 or 7mm wet suit and with alu backplate i need 0kg. With the drysuit i'll take back the stainless one
Ok noted thanks. What did you use underneath Arctics? I've read yesterday that for some people Arctic wouldn't be hot enough. It will be a trilamine suit
Yes that is correct, every diver does have a certain tolerance to cold. I know some that won't dive it the temp is below 75 and I've also seen where someone has thumbed a dive after 10 min. And then there's the other end of the spectrum as in the case of those who explore deep wrecks and have to go thru an extensive deco.
I have a cheap wicking layer from Amazon that I use regardless. It takes the brunt of the body odor, and I don't need to wash the fancy fabrics during a trip. Wicking+Xero, wicking+Arctic, or wicking+Xero+Arctic. One trip with just the wicking layer in 27°C water was just fine.
WIcking base layer, thin mid layer and Arctics on top. I could've gotten away with it on short dives but for long/deep dives with deco they just weren't warm enough. Adding mid layers didn't work as Arctics don't really have a lot of stretch and they are fairly close fitting. It just ended up bulky and uncomfortable. I much prefer a traditional thinsulate type suit. I use an Otter 200g and then vary the base layers with the seasons.
Ok for which temperatures please? As for you, J2+Xerotherm+Arctic could not be enough and bulky :/
Most of my diving is 10-15degC. A 30min dive with just Arctics and I'd feel cold enough that I didn't want to do any longer. I tried a Xerotherm top underneath the Arctic and to be honest it didn't do much that I could feel. I'm not a huge fan of Xerotherm. I don't think the cost is justified compared to what you get with regular fleece layers you can get somewhere like Decathlon or an outdoors shop. To be warm enough on a deco dive I really needed extra fleece layers and I ended up feeling like a balloon. I found the Arctics top to be cut very narrow and there's no stretch in it. Piling layers on underneath felt really uncomfortable. Putting the layers over the top seemed pointless. I would've had to buy extra tops that were so oversized I couldn't use them for anything else. I really wanted to like them but they just did not work for me. I also wasn't impressed by the quality either, they didn't seem very well made. I've never used the J2 but for that kind of money I wouldn't buy from 4th Element. I'd go with Patagonia's capilene base layers. Best I've owned and used them for years for winter mountaineering down to -35.
A critical distinction is my wicking layer was about $15 USD. But hey, if you want the J2, go for it. I don't doubt it will be warmer if you need thatOk so you still always have that base layer in each case
