Best Drysuit for the money, PLEASE HELP!!!

[lowviz]

But what would you recommend for drysuit fins? or just any decent fins? like i said, i was looking at possibly getting some SP jet fins for drysuit diving

Don't go into it with a bias. See if you can try several different ones and buy what works for you. The Hollis-F1's are nice fins, I most often dive jets and slipstreams, similar fins that differ in weight. Lots to pick from, I can't just say this or that is best for everyone.

 

[flyboy107@gmail.com]

Ive never dove with them, but i might give em i try, ive heard good things from the F1's, but also a lot of good on the jets, and my LDS sells scubapro, just not hollis, so i usually go with what i can get from them

 

[flyboy107@gmail.com]

i still kinda hope my seawing novas will fit even though they wont, cause i absolutely LOVE them

 

[lowviz]

i still kinda hope my seawing novas will fit even though they wont, cause i absolutely LOVE them

Excellent. This is how a diver picks fins. Try a larger size Nova with a drysuit, compare it to a standard paddle-fin.

Just keep in mind that you are going to be an otter in a wetsuit and a tugboat in a drysuit.

 

[flyboy107@gmail.com]

yea, thats why i was thinking jets, because they are 1 not a $200 fin, 2 i hear there great for drysuits, i still am going to try on my novas with the rock boots when i get a drysuit, maybe ill get lucky, because i bought them a little big

 

[TSandM]

If you get TurboSoles on your suit, you may not have any problem at all getting into your fins. They fit like wetsuit booties.

If you are at all a DIY type, I'd recommend getting a used suit that needs seals. Seals, particularly wrist seals, are not that hard to replace, but the need for them makes a suit worth very little on the open market. I have seen (and have sold!) dry suits for under $500; even if you have to pay a shop to put the seals in, it's a bargain.

What you DON'T want is to buy a suit with a bum zipper. Zippers cost $300 to $500 or more to replace. (Although, good enough deal on the suit, even THAT might be reasonable.)

The Novas are good fins for swimming fast in a straight line -- I don't think there is anything around that can beat them for that. (Having chased students doing their nav swims, I know from which I speak!) Jets are better fins for slow force, and for precise maneuvering. They will feel VERY different from the Novas, and they are somewhat negative, which the Novas are not -- and negative fins are often a good thing for dry suit divers.

 

[Peter_C]

If you are handy zippers are $120.

 

[flyboy107@gmail.com]

whats the difference between rock boots and turbo soles? all the guys in the dive club i belong to use rock boots so i dont know

 

[flyboy107@gmail.com]

so i guess my other question for everyone is, what do you recommend for hoods and gloves? and what type of underwear do you use for what type of dive, i will mostly be doing ice diving and michigan diving, so what type of underwear would you recommend for those diving types?

 

[Peter_C]

Otter Bay hood hands down!

Dry gloves, so I have Viking rings, and my gal uses SI Tech since she has quick change wrist seals. The gloves can come from places like Seattle Marine, or GOTO Marine. They are around $16 with removable liners. Good idea to have backups. I use the blue smurf gloves. My gal uses the orange gloves.

Undies I would recommend a 400g out of thinsulate. I use DUI's version.