Buoyancy of wetsuits (Bare Arctic 7mm)

[rollerboi]

Is there a chart around that shows the buoyancy properties of various wetsuits?

Barring that, does anyone here have experience with a Bare Arctic (Men's) 7mm wetsuit, size XLT? Can anyone tell me how buoyant it is?

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Rollerboi, it would be GREAT if the exposure suit companies listed buoyancy values for their various wetsuits / drysuits right in the size charts. Maybe some do, I have not seen it though.

This may not help you much, but a "rule of thumb" (subject to extreme variation ) is about 3lbs of buoyancy per 1mm thickness in an "average" men's full wetsuit. But is that for a size medium, large, or ??? When I've tested this rule of thumb with the 3mm and 5mm wetsuits we have, it is actually "in the ballpark".

Good luck.

 

[livewire]

Rule of thumb for 7mm neoprene is GENERALLY 10% of your body weight plus 4-5 lbs. You'll trim that down after you get more comfortable with your buoyancy.

As an example, I dive with a 6.5mm ScubaPro suit, and I currently wear a 3mm hood. Suit is a size M and I'm 5'9" weigh 162lbs, currently diving 14 lbs. With my 5mm hooded vest, I use 16lbs, started with 18lbs at first.

Hope this helps!

 

[freshwater]

rollerboi,
I dive with a bare 7mm xl plus gloves/boots, hood. I need 22 pounds just to sink.