Any owners of new Waterproof W5 tropical 3.5mm suit (bonus if women's model)?

[TabeaK]

Can any owners of Waterproofs 3.5mm W5 redesigned wetsuit chime in about the durability of the suit? The few online reviews I have found are less than favorable - especially about seam quality. W5 - Waterproof Diving

I LOVED my W3 Waterproof wetsuit, but it has reached the end of its life and I am pretty peeved I cannot find it anymore due to the redesign a couple years ago.

Waterproof W3 3mm Back-Zip Fullsuit | Dive Right In Scuba - Plainfield, IL

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www.diverightinscuba.com

I definitely got my money's worth out of the W3 (~300 dives), but with the W5 being fairly expensive and a new design I want to make sure I spend wisely...

 

[Searcaigh]

I have been using a 3.5mm W5 over a couple of seasons, locally I generally use a 5mm W7 until water temps hit around 27C, so it's not used too much apart from diving in Indonesia.

I'm a big fan of the W7 design with the two built in pockets that are more streamlined compared to the velcro'd baggy pocket on the W5. I wish WaterProof had implemented the W7 pocket design on the 3.5mm.

Apart from that it's fine.

 

[TabeaK]

Thank you! I have the prior model 5mm w4 waterproof that is still going strong and love that one too.

 

[Ccurnick]

I have the w5 3.5mm, and I have had seam issues twice. Once in the ankle cuffs (glued seam came apart), second time a few random seams threads came out but the seams themselves stayed together. Both times it was replaced without question by waterproof. So I basically have just got a free new wetsuit every year .

 

[Searcaigh]

Once in the ankle cuffs (glued seam came apart), second time a few random seams threads came out but the seams themselves stayed together. Both times it was replaced without question by waterproof.

I spoke with a guy called Henrik from WaterProof when he visited the region recently and he told me that there were some issues with a few of the W7 7mm suits having loose threads too and they were replacing them.

The cause was some new company that was responsible for the stitching..

 

[TabeaK]

I have the w5 3.5mm, and I have had seam issues twice. Once in the ankle cuffs (glued seam came apart), second time a few random seams threads came out but the seams themselves stayed together. Both times it was replaced without question by waterproof. So I basically have just got a free new wetsuit every year .

Hmm...not liking to hear that, even if Waterproof did the right thing! After how many dives did you notice issues & does it seem to you this is a general design defect?

 

[Ccurnick]

Hmm...not liking to hear that, even if Waterproof did the right thing! After how many dives did you notice issues & does it seem to you this is a general design defect?

Both of them after about 30 dives

 

[TabeaK]

Both of them after about 30 dives

Thanks!

I got the suite in my size and tried it on yesterday. Have to say I am disappointed. It feel much flimsier than the old model. And the seams already look low quality and it is brand new!!!

Given that it is a premium price product, it is going back. Shame. Seems like Waterproof missed the ball with this one.

Will be looking at a Bare or Scubapro instead.