Best bang for buck 3mm full suit

[Sddiver44]

I’m looking for a full 3mm suit for a trip to Bonair, I am kinda looking at a Cressi morea and the pinnacle venture. Are these suits just as good for a budget friendly suit, or is it really worth spending twice as much for some of the higher dollars on the market. Any other suit recommendations?

I won’t use this suit a lot, mostly for warm water trips maybe 1 trip a year.

 

[Marie13]

I’ve seen a lot of people use Akona, too.

 

[bassplayer]

I have a pinnacle cruiser 3mm that I bought on clearance from a LDS, and a really expensive henderson aqualock 3mm that i bought because it fits perfectly.
When it comes to 3mm wetsuits, i get cold in cheap or expensive ones at 82 degrees i'm adding a layer (e.g. lavacore) and below that, i'm going to 5mm. I do think the more expensive 5mms are warmer than the cheap ones, but for 3mm i feel like it's all the same more or less.
just my 2c.
but, fit is more important than quick dry linings and such, which are more just nice-to-have.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I had a Pinnacle 3 mil that fell apart after a few years. When it was time for a new 3 mil I went with a WetWear custom. It was not inexpensive but the neoprene used doesn't compress like that used in other suits. My 3mil is as a warm as some 5 mils that I've used and after 8 years, still looks much as it did new.
$600 for a 3 mil may seem crazy to some, but given how this has held up and the fact that I'll likely never need to buy another 3 mil, it's worth it.

 

[bassplayer]

the video showing compression in a chamber of various neoprene samples at the wetwear website was interesting.
what's the lowest temperature that you will dive a 3mm?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

the video showing compression in a chamber of various neoprene samples at the wetwear website was interesting.
what's the lowest temperature that you will dive a 3mm?

82-84. But I can do multiple dives over multiple days in it. That's the kicker. I took my 5 mil to Bonaire before I got the 3 mil. Anything under 74 or so I'm diving dry.
Many people don't understand that core temp loss is cumulative.
My GF took a drysuit to Turks and Caicos for a liveaboard. The first day a few people laughed. At the end of the week after 18-20 dives they were not laughing. They were shivering with teeth chattering.

 

[ibj40]

I was diving a BARE Velocity 3mm before I upgraded to a BARE Velocity 5mm.

3mm was fine, but due to a medical condition I needed the support of the thicker suit.

 

[BoltSnap]

the fact that I'll likely never need to buy another 3 mil

I hope that you get to live and dive for many decades to come and wearout countless suits

 

[broncobowsher]

Deep 6 had a 3mm full suit that I use. Pretty happy with it. Have not found anything better.
But I don't think they offer them anymore.

 

[mcohen1021]

I own a bare 3/3 with the zipper ankles. Great for scuba, not so good for waterskiing. But great overall suit.

In 72-80⁰ water i use my Henderson Thermoprene 5 mil. Really was perfect for the 27 dives i did on the Bahamas Aggressor in December