Can a high quality drysuit be had for close to $1K?

[ScubaDoo83]

There is enough information on the internet about drysuits to make your head spin. I'd like to purchase my first drysuit this year but I am having a hell of a time determining what my budget should be. I was first recommended the Bare Nex Gen and I like the $1,000 price tag but now that model is on clearance and I have read some negative things regarding the longevity of Bare products. Do I really have to spend upwards of $4K for a reliable drysuit? I'm interested in the community's opinion on this, thanks.

 

[lexvil]

Seaskin, you can add a lot of extras to get it up to $1,000.

 

[tbone1004]

what type of suit do you want? The USIA suits are not much more than a grand and are very high quality, just have to get one that fits you.... There are also a bunch of neoprene suits that are in that price range, they just don't travel all that well due to weight and time it takes to dry

 

[ScubaDoo83]

Travel is important, I'd like to do ice with it eventually but I would probably use this suit with all of my diving (except for exceptionally warm locales). My current mil wetsuit takes up lots of space when travelling. Outside of that I am not sure what kinds of things I should be looking for other than high reviews.

Thanks lexvil, haven't checked out Seaskin before. A build your own approach seems interesting.

 

[tbone1004]

USIA builds all of their suits to order as well and are made here. Call Dive Right in Scuba, they are probably their largest dealer.

 

[ScubaDoo83]

Hmm, that may save me from trying to convert quid to dollars

 

[undrwater]

Whites Fusion One.

 

[Diver Dan 28]

I was in the same boat recently. I choose the Hollis Biodry. I love it. Good thing about Bare is their warranty. From what I've been told they dont care who owns it or for how long they will fix it. My dive buddy has a bare and is happy with it. I was eyeballing the USIA but then the Hollis went on sale, and I couldn't pass it up. Just because things go on clearance dosn't necessarily mean their bad.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Lots of great suits on the market, and you have a good spend!

A couple quick questions:

Where are you diving? - Location, Temps
What kind of diving? - Commercial, Tech, Rec, Rec with a transition to Tec, Wreck, Cave, etc
What suits have you tried if any?

There are a ton of great suits on the market, and it can be hard to navigate to find the one best for you. If you want, give me or Chris a call here at the shop and we can help pick the suit that will be best for your diving needs. We know a thing or 2 about drysuits

 

[decompression]

There are lots of great drysuits out there so the chance of being disappointed with one is slim. As an instructor im pretty hard on suits so paying $2000 every few years doesn't make sense if a $1000 suit does the same job. My diving varies a lot now with ocean, glacier lakes and tropical diving. I find my whites fusion is one of the most flexible suits out there. The stretchyness lets me wear a wide variety of undergarments to suit the temps I dive in. I can also switch skins from super light sport skin to super tough bullet skin. The only drawback is it still feels a bit weird compared to my trilam suits when squeezing through tight Restrictions. Not serious just feels different.

Anyways, they are under $1000, DRIS has them for $750 so you could get another skin with it for $1000.