4 way seams, longitudinal seams and neoprene

[HarryWhisman]

Since ordering my new Bare XCD2 Tech I have discovered the 5thD-X website (http://www.5thd-x.com/index2.html) and the criteria listed there for a good dry suit. Among the long list there:

"There should be no longitudinal seams in areas the require great flexibility such as under the arms and in the crotch area"

"A crotch area that is designed to allow a diver to spread his legs for frog kicks. Avoid four way seams"

"Neoprene suits (buoyancy changing) should not be considered for diving at any level simply due to its bulkiness, variable buoyancy and thermal protection characteristics"


Really!!

Well this suit has a 4 way seam in the crotch, longitudinal seams under the arm and it's a 2 mil crushed neoprene so I guess some divers of note would look elsewhere.

Can anybody tell me which suits don't have the seams in those areas and of course whether or not the neoprene being crushed makes a difference-DIR wise.

 

[MonkSeal]

Can anybody tell me which suits don't have the seams in those areas and of course whether or not the neoprene being crushed makes a difference-DIR wise.

I believe DUI suits don't have described seams in those areas. There's difference between crushed and compressed neopren. Crushed neopren (e.g. DUI CF) are considered shell suits (the same as trilaminate suits) because they don't compress at depth i.e. they don't change bouyancy. Compressed neopren suits change bouyancy with depth.

 

[cmalinowski]

Since ordering my new Bare XCD2 Tech I have discovered the 5thD-X website (http://www.5thd-x.com/index2.html) and the criteria listed there for a good dry suit. Among the long list there:

"There should be no longitudinal seams in areas the require great flexibility such as under the arms and in the crotch area"

"A crotch area that is designed to allow a diver to spread his legs for frog kicks. Avoid four way seams"

"Neoprene suits (buoyancy changing) should not be considered for diving at any level simply due to its bulkiness, variable buoyancy and thermal protection characteristics"


Really!!

Well this suit has a 4 way seam in the crotch, longitudinal seams under the arm and it's a 2 mil crushed neoprene so I guess some divers of note would look elsewhere.

Can anybody tell me which suits don't have the seams in those areas and of course whether or not the neoprene being crushed makes a difference-DIR wise.

What MonkSeal said about the crushed neo is important to note. The hypercrushed neo on the bare xcd2 tech should be fine.

As for the seals, I can't really comment. I have the xcd2 tech and am happy with it. I can't see those seals getting put to task and torn open any time soon.

Chris

 

[MonkSeal]

As for the seals, I can't really comment.

The question was about seams not about seals. How much are seams restrictive regarding kicks and arms (valve manipulation)?

 

[TSandM]

I can testify to one potential problem with four-way seams at the crotch . . . LEAKS. Or, at least, that's where my trilam suit has leaked off and on since I bought it, despite two trips back to the shop to get it fixed.

The issue with longitudinal seams is mobility. If you have enough fabric to allow you to reach your valves (and any other equipment you need to reach) then the longitudinal seam is less of an issue. In our class, several people had really marginal or inadequate mobility of the arms because of the cut of their dry suits.

 

[cmalinowski]

The question was about seams not about seals. How much are seams restrictive regarding kicks and arms (valve manipulation)?

Whoops, I meant seems... or seams... but not seals... no offense

 

[cmalinowski]

I can testify to one potential problem with four-way seams at the crotch . . . LEAKS. Or, at least, that's where my trilam suit has leaked off and on since I bought it, despite two trips back to the shop to get it fixed.

The issue with longitudinal seams is mobility. If you have enough fabric to allow you to reach your valves (and any other equipment you need to reach) then the longitudinal seam is less of an issue. In our class, several people had really marginal or inadequate mobility of the arms because of the cut of their dry suits.

Ah, I got it now. I haven't had a problem with the seams. Maybe it's the no-stictch-technology used on the bare suits, but they seem to be put together pretty darned well from what I can tell... but now I'll pay attention.

I can currently reach my valves without the suit being a problem... it's my non-limber self that has the problem at times, but I'm working on that.

Chris

 

[Dan Gibson]

TSandM,

Many times it's not the longitudinal seam itself but the circumference of the shoulder opening that limits mobility. In the following link you can see an alteration to a DUI 350 TLS done by Mark at Superior to increase this dimension which resulted in an increase in mobility. It is very important that this dimension not be too small or one will likely have issues reaching their valves.

http://www.allenhost.com/gallery/album377/aaa

The issue with longitudinal seams is mobility. If you have enough fabric to allow you to reach your valves (and any other equipment you need to reach) then the longitudinal seam is less of an issue. In our class, several people had really marginal or inadequate mobility of the arms because of the cut of their dry suits.