Bare 7mm Arctic SGS fullsuit vs. non-SGS version

[strahorn]

I'm looking at getting a new 7mm wetsuit and Bare's fit me quite well but I can't decide whether the 7mm Arctic SGS fullsuit is worth the extra money compared to the non-SGS 7mm Arctic fullsuit?

Anybody have experience with both?

TIA,

Chris

 

[Furner]

I have the exact same question. Would a conditioner/water mixture be a better solution than shelling out the extra $$ for the SGS?

 

[teamheatwave]

I own a Bare 3/2 Full Velocity suit. I love it. I have been rough on it and it has held up very well. Although there are other manufacturers that make good suits as well, I am going to order another Bare suit in the next week. Mostly because I know first hand that it is very comfortbale and it held up. Plus, I have found Bare to have excellent customer service that took the time out to answer my questions. My question was do I need the 5/4 or the 7. And if the 7, I had the same question on the 7 vs sgs so I called Bare directly and asked them that only a couple days ago. The answer was that the sgs is easier to put on and take off and has more stretch panels to it. 7mm suits are of course a bit bulkier and more rstirctive than a 3 mm suit but the sgs I was told will feel more like my 3/2 than a non sgs 7 because of its hyperstretch characteristics. The sgs is about double the cost. But if you look at it from another standpoint. . . For arguments sake, lets say you have the suit only 5 years. And let's say the 7 non sgs is $150 and the sgs is $300. That $150 over a 5 year life is only $30 a year extra. I would gladly pay the extra $30 per year for the comfort. The less constricted I am, the more I will enjoy the dive and that's what its all about.

 

[jbichsel]

I have the 7mm non-SGS full suit and hooded vest. While it fits well, (best off the rack suit I've ever had) and keeps me warm in water down to the upper 40's, it can be a bit bulky. It's not as bad as some other non-stretchy suits I've worn, but I have used a Henderson Hyperstretch in 7mm and it wins.

If I had to do it over, I would probably spend the extra for the SGS.

 

[Furner]

Well there you have it, looks like SGS is worth it. Better keep on saving my pennies....

 

[hex92]

Bare is running a trade-in program through the end of July. $60 off on the SGS.

 

[Furner]

divetank.com has some GREAT prices on bare suits

 

[NaCL H2O Boy]

I've got the Bare 7mm arctic non-sgs, and in fact was just diving in it a few hours ago. We were hitting some water temps of low 60s/upper 50s, and I felt completely comfortable. It's excellent at keeping you warm. On the downside though, it is a b**** to put on. It's enough of a pain that I am going to get a Henderson hyperstretch, and waste less energy on getting suited up.

 

[RonDawg]

I just dove the non-SGS version during my AOW dives. For the deep dive portion I wore the 7mm jacket over the 7mm fullsuit as we were expecting temps in the high 40's (turned out to be a bit warmer, low 50's). I felt warm in the suit, only the uncovered portion of my face truly indicated just how cold it was. For the shallower dives I left the jacket on the boat and used a 3mm hood with the fullsuit.

While the Bare isn't the easiest-to-don wetsuit I've ever used, it's better than some other brands (O'Neill, BodyGlove) of the same thickness that I've tried.