Can you recommend a 5mm suit?

[gNats]

Hi Ladies,

I am planning a dive trip to Bonaire in Janaury and thought a 5mm one piece would be perfect.

I already have a drysuit and a 2pc 7mm. My 7mm is a Henderson Hyperstretch, which I love for its comfort.

The 5mm I am looking to purchase should be:

1) Comfortable. Easy to put on with a silk skin underneath.

2) Racy, sexy, feminine. LOL. Okay, my 7mm is black and boring and I feel like a dirty Michelan man in it. I want something that looks good and is very female looking.

3) Affordable.

#3 is a big one. I will probably only wear the 5mm on warm water dive trips. For really hot temp local diving I have the 7mm and will most likely dive dry year round in Michigan. I don't want to spend a lot of money for something that only gets maybe one use a year.

I'm thinking of a budget < $225. I am 5'2" about 110 lbs. equally proportioned. I would love to buy the Henderson hyperstretch 5mm, but really don't want to spend that kind of money for the limited use.

So, the only brand I am familiar with is Henderson. What other manufacturers should I consider for fit, look, and cost?

 

[diverdiane]

I am not sure how cheap they are (got mine in trade) but I love the looks and feel of my waterproof 3 mil (also available in 5 mil). 3 mil has always been comfortable for me in Bonaire and Aruba.

 

[C2Diver]

gNATS: I really enjoy my 5-4-3 MARES Womans wesuit Deluxe it goes on easy and is flexible so you dont feel like a board in the water. I use it in Aruba waters and find it adequite for the temps. (ohh and it's 3 toned; so a lil more like a woman) Enjoy Bonaire!

 

[dumpsterDiver]

go to leisure pro .com and look at their 5 mm Cressi-sub jumpsuit with plus liner. my buddy just got one and it looks very very nice for $125. I have had cressi sub suits before and they are well made. THis is a clearance price

 

[weaserm99]

Henderson Thermoprene, not as stretchy as the hyperstretch but should be in your price range. Plus they come with yellow, pink and i believe purple accents, only reason i know all this is cause i work for a shop that sells henderson.

 

[cavew0man]

I am not sure how cheap they are (got mine in trade) but I love the looks and feel of my waterproof 3 mil (also available in 5 mil). 3 mil has always been comfortable for me in Bonaire and Aruba.

I second that - I have the Waterproof 5 mil, and I'm about 5'2" as well. It fits better than most others I've had. If I remember correctly, though, they may be a bit spendy.

 

[spectrum]

The Bare Velocity series includes a 5-4 full suit and I'm fond of mine. The yellow looks kind of nice.

Pete

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Henderson Thermoprene, not as stretchy as the hyperstretch but should be in your price range. Plus they come with yellow, pink and i believe purple accents, only reason i know all this is cause i work for a shop that sells henderson.

I recently bought a henderson thermoprene 5 mm from Scuba Toys. Total waste of money! I dove it for 4 days and it was falling appart. Stiching was coming out in multiple places and worst of all, the suit was totally crushed and compressed and wrinkled from a few rec. depth dives.

Worst suit I have ever owned. I refused a replacement and got a refund minus the shipping, which did not make me happy. I've been diving for 35 years,, worthless material. but it was super soft, light and comfortable!

 

[Illumita]

I am 5'2" about 110 lbs. equally proportioned. I would love to buy the Henderson hyperstretch 5mm, but really don't want to spend that kind of money for the limited use.

I am the exact same stats as you and have been looking for a good 5mm for at least a year so I would be extremely happy if you find one that fits!

I've tried on SO many, including the Pinnacle Escape, Camaro Stingray, Aqualung Aquaflex, Cressi-Sub Comfort and most recently, the Mares 5-4-3. While I found most of them to be too tight or stiff and cutting off circulation in size 4 but too large in size 6, the Mares 6 (which is the smallest) is perfect but just too big around the middle.

I currently dive with a Henderson Neoprene 3mm and add a 3mm shorty when I am cold. I would also advise against the Hendersons as they tend to pill up and stretch out in a short time.

Good luck and please PM me if you come across a sleek, sexy, and affordable 5mm!

 

[diver 85]

To the OP, what I would do(& I'm not of the female gender) for affordability is order a 3mm full suit(Evo for example--see link) coupled with a 2 mm chicken vest(Evo also-see link #2)--you have a lot of flexibility there ie can wear one or both together...I'm thinking you're not going to need a full 5 mm there......Just my $.02 worth....btw, I have the 3 mm men's & love the heck out of it---lifetime warranty & for under a hundred bucks you get them both..And for the 'Racy, sexy, feminine' part of you're post, if 'you've got it', shackcloth and ashes will look great--lol.......good luck.....

EVO 3mm Women's Full Scuba Wetsuit

EVO EVO Unisex 2mm Hooded Dive Vest

EDIT: the 2 mm chicken vest is SO flexible also---wear it most of the time over my skins & under my 2mm shorty & am good to go down to ~ 72 degrees---perfect for Gulf/Carribean summer diving when that tongue of cool water comes thru & need a little more than just a shorty...........