BARE SB Mid Layer and Temperatures

[suricatasuricata]

Hello all,
I have a BARE SB Mid Layer that came along with my BARE Trilam suit. I have never used it and I am trying to understand the temperature ranges that this'd be appropriate for (with a suitable base layer). Specifically, I am planning to use this locally in Monterey, where the suggested undergarments are something like Thinsulate 400 g/m^2 with a vest/base layer depending on diver's condition.

Unfortunately/Annoyingly enough, I haven't found reviews online or any information on BARE's site on how the SB Mid layer compares. It is entirely possible that I have missed something, but I was hoping to get some thoughts from anyone who has used it.

Thanks!

 

[Jcp2]

Judging by the pictures it looks like a medium weight fleece, which for me would be something I would be comfortable in upper 50 degrees water provided I was wearing a thicker base layer like under armor cold gear. If I was wearing a thinner wicking only base layer with a mid weight fleece, I would want to be in low 60 and up. For high 40-low 50, I have thicker base layer and medium weight thinsulate jumpsuit. Any lower than that I’m just reading about diving.

 

[suricatasuricata]

Thanks for responding. My understanding is that the minimum water temperatures in Monterey are 51F and average is around ~55 F. Currently, what I was thinking of for a base layer is what I use for Snowboarding, i.e. Hot Chillys midweight layer. I am guessing that should be comparable to your Under Armor, but it seems harder to compare without quantitative metrics (or I am missing which ones to compare hah).

 

[Jcp2]

The only way to find out is to dive what you have. It won’t be terribly cold, maybe a bit uncomfortable after twenty minutes.

 

[Asheron]

I have used it as well as a few people I know and it is borderline for Monterey. If you are a warmer person you might get cool at about an hour. I ended up being very cold around an hour.

I ended moving to something warmer, but I am always cold.

 

[suricatasuricata]

I ended moving to something warmer, but I am always cold.

Curious what you ended up using?

 

[Asheron]

Curious what you ended up using?

I ended up in a 4th element arctic expedition with a dui vest. I'm good for about 2 hour dives.

My budy moved to the BARE high loft extreme and he says he is really comfortable now.

Edit: Darn you autocorrect!!!

 

[mr_v]

Never had an issue with Bare mid-weight layer in Monterey.

 

[Jatinder]

I dove with it in 42F (5.5C) water for a ~45 min dive, and it was comfortable. Did not need anything beside it. But as everyone here says, cold tolerance is personal.

 

[suricatasuricata]

Yep, makes sense. A few dives in Monterey in, I feel like it is fine at 55 F for ~45 min or so, but I don't feel comfortably warm. I may get Santi 400g thinsulate like everyone else here.