Brrr...need a new undergarment!

[skatermegs]

Hey ladies-
So after a freezing cold dive at Sunnyside today (5 ft vis, 41 degree water) I realized just how desperetly I need a new undergarment. I've been getting colder and colder lately, and am switching to dry gloves. Currently I dive an Apollo drysuit with a REI mountaineering baselayer and a Helly Hansen baselayer. They worked great when I started (I was too warm), but I move a lot less now so unless I am swimming hard or practically dancing underwater I am freezing now. My suit is a tad bit snug, so nothing super puffy will work. I have no idea where to even start looking!
So, what do you recommend?
Megan

 

[tkdgodess]

can you fit another layer of micropolar fleece? (the non-fluffy kind). I wear two long sleeve mountaineering mid-weight base layers and a micropolar fleece sweater that is a men's so the sleeves and body fit longer (covers my bum in my fleece lined running tights) I wear a neoprene drysuit. FWIW I wore a weezle extreme under a fusion on satuday, and bare nextgen on sunday and I was colder than my neoprene. 46F was the lowest temp.

 

[TSandM]

You might try the 4th Element Arctic. It's like a thick sweatshirt, so it's not too bulky. It's what my husband dives. I don't know where in Western Washington you are, but Northwest Sports Divers in Mill Creek carries it.

 

[ColinB]

A nice low bulk option as a first layer are Carol Davis' jumpsuits. They're quite warm for their thickness, and nice and stretchy, so they aren't restrictive.
Thermal Underwear: Long Thermal Underwear from Carol Davis Sportswear
Of course, they're nowhere near enough alone for temps this time of year, but I think they're worth looking at. You can read several reviews if you do a search here. While you're at it, search for Ron's Ebay undergarments. I've also seen several positive reviews here for them as a great option for the price, although I haven't tried them.
Stay warm!
-c

 

[tbone1004]

REI's heavyweight polartec is another option. It's what DUI's polartec undergarment is for a tenth of the price. You can stack that on top of one of your current baselayers and it may work before you go and drop $300+ on new undies

 

[knowone]

Look up WICKING and get kid sized stuff from Walmart for underneath.

 

[Bogie]

The SANTI BZ400 rated 44 degrees and below. It is well made and has great reviews.

 

[josh_thdc]

My wife wears Underarmour Base 3.0 thermals (top and bottom), along with a fleece vest and tank top on top, and a pair of thick leggings on the bottom. And thick wool socks. We have dove clear lake at about 38 degrees and only had cold fingers at the end of a 45 min dive.

 

[tstormdiver]

I tend to wear some Under Armor thick, cold weather gear thermal underwear under my undergarments. It does very well, wicking the sweat away & is a tad warmer than with out. I also wear Pinnacle's Merano Evolution undergarment (650 gm) However, it is no low bulk,... but it is warm, for sure. I do know a few divers that also dive with canister battery heated vests & seem to like them.

 

[skatermegs]

Thanks guys! I will definitely check out the under armor-I had thought of them but wasn't sure if it would be quite warm enough. Most of my diving is done in the Tacoma area, but since I am in Olympia we dive Hood Canal a good deal, and it gets pretty cold. I'm *hoping* that 41 degrees was a fluke, and that will generally be the coldest I will dive around here, but I want to be warm to at least that cold! I did also start looking at 4th Element-it looks more like what I have been using (I like the two piece style). What does anyone think of Whites? I need to lose a little bit of my own padding to get that to fit well, but I like how it looks and my lds carries it, which really helps!
Megan