Bare 7mm Arctic Vest - anyone?

[spectrum]

Thanks Spec, that's an interesting tip! Will that stretching damage the neoprene? I guiess it's all a question of how much I inlfate...

I'll definetly check it out.

Cheers!

Yes, at a microscopic level stretching involves tearing more than elongation.

 

[mislav]

Seems we've discovered a common problem with Bare products - tight neck?

I had to stretch my vest as well, used a scuba tank to do it, though. Left it like that for a few hours during a surface interval and it was ok from then. No neoprene was harmed in the process. "Nutty professor" title comes from Pete's comment, of course.

 

[Surveyor]

I've got one that I wear with the 7mm suit in temps below 50 deg. Works great and the tight neck complaint is only noticed out of the water.

 

[Mike126]

I tried the 7mm vest/hood and it felt way to restricting. I ended up getting a hooded sleeveless vest that goes on first. Unfortunately, I have not been able to try the combination out in the water since the temps are high enough now not to need it. I will say that trying it on with the wetsuit was much easier than the 7mm vest/hood.

My Bare 7mm suit with a regular hood makes an incredible seal. I dove this weekend and my bathing suit was barely wet.

 

[spectrum]

Seems we've discovered a common problem with Bare products - tight neck?

I prefer to blame the 20 pounds I'd like to find a new home for.

 

[tank29]

I bought an XL Arctic earlier this year and it is a very nice compliment to the 7mm Arctic full, like others have mentioned. I am, however, going to trade it out for Bare's 7mm Velocity LT. I discovered (after I jumped in the water, of course) that the Arctic did have much stretch to it. So while it fit like a glove when I tried it on at home (I got it on the internet), when dove it and tried to swim horizontal, there wasn't any stretch in the groin as I looked "up" so to speak. :11: Because the hood would pull on the entire suit when I looked up. Never having a hood before, it never dawned on me to test the fit like that. It made for a rather uncomfortable dive. The Velocity has Bare's stretchy neoprene, so hopefully it will have more room. Otherwise it is a great addition; I'd highly recommend it.