Cheap and acceptable 3mm, 4mm, or 5/4 wetsuits?

[Mambo Dave]

I'm considering buying a wetsuit (vs. renting them) for south Florida winter use. A LDS employee (or owner?) stated that while they were selling 3mm wetsuits at the moment, many locals have been moving over to 5/4mm wetsuits for winter use. My thinking is that if I'm going to buy a wetsuit for warmth, I might as well get a full 3mm, or go with a 4/3 or 5/4. I'll buy a 1mm or .5mm in the spring or summer.

I already have an Akona 3mm shortie. It fits a bit tight in the arms, so I am abandoning hope of layering it over something.

Staying warm is just fine with me (5/4mm) - however, I'm just getting into the sport and spent my wad on a high quality regulator, wing and backplate, as well as the needed essentials (and that list keeps growing, LOL). I just can not afford a Gold-lined Henderson wetsuit. Perhaps next year, or the year after, I'll go for the better wetsuits, but at the moment I'm looking for at online deals for wetsuits.

Sidenote: I was just going to rough it and try to swim the currently 70 to 73 degree waters with the shortie, a nice Deep See hood (6.5mm cranium area with 3mm face seal and bib), 3mm booties and some gloves, but divers I trust suggested a full suit at all times to protect against stings and similar saline nasties. Thus I am in the market for a wetsuit.

I'm finding 3mm suits for $69 to $99 (some even at semi-LDS's - 2 hours drive away), plus 4/3's for a little more, and now I'm looking for recommendations of these sale, or 'off' brands, in as far as quality. It's gonna be one of them, but which one?

I checked the "Hot Deals" section of SB, but didn't find many of the deals I was finding online - plus I need your recommendations. Divetank's 5/4 suit is a consideration.

Thanks!

 

[spectrum]

I have a Bare 5/4 Velocity and it's a nice suit. Thats probably the Divetank suit you mention. It has a nice neck seal, skin flapped rear zipper and internal gaskets mid calf and fore-arm. I'd buy it again in a hearbeat.

Fit is everything, repeat 3 times.

Pete

 

[Charlie99]

As Spectrum says, fit is everything. Luckily, SE Florida has some pretty competitive stores where you can try them on. http://www.diversdirect.com/group/1pc Jumpsuits_ID106

I've been very happy with a $100 3/2 O'Neil fullsuit bought at Diver's Direct / World Watersports.

They also have a Evo 5/4/3 suit for $130.

 

[Puffer Fish]

Wet suit purchase is more about sizing than anything else. I'm a near perfect fit for a Akona (their new one, not the older stuff), but does not work for my wife well. My wife is a Bare fan. Stretch panels and water seals are really nice, but having a good fitting suit means more. Neither of us fit the low end Henderson stuff, but I have a friend that they fit well.

If it fits, the 7mil akona is a real deal right now (I know, you were looking for a lighter suit).

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

ScubaL (triple-l) www.scubal.com has cheap wetsuits, but in my opinion you get what you pay for. The zippers are cheap and prone to break, and I don't think the neoprene is of very high quality.

I'd invest in something at least as good as the Bare. When I was just getting started, I went with a cheap wetsuit and spent my money on all the other gear. It's my opinion now that a wetsuit/exposure protection is probably the single most important piece of gear in terms of enjoying diving (at least in our 50 degree water). Being cold sucks.

Oh, and I would definitely get a 5mm full suit. You already have a 3mm shorty. A full 3mm would really be pretty redundant. The extra length on sleeves won't do too much to help keep you warmer. A thicker layer on your core will do the most.

Cheers!

 

[StSomewhere]

I find I get cold by the second dive wearing a 3/2mm suit (even with a hood) in the winter in FLL, esp. drift dives where you aren't working much if at all. I like the Bare Velocity 7/6mm so much for freshwater dives I'm going to get the same suit in 5/4mm for the winter months in South Fla.

 

[diveborg]

I have a Bare 5/4 Velocity and it's a nice suit. Thats probably the Divetank suit you mention. It has a nice neck seal, skin flapped rear zipper and internal gaskets mid calf and fore-arm. I'd buy it again in a hearbeat.

Fit is everything, repeat 3 times.

Pete

I have the same suit and also really like it. I got mine from scubatoys.com Instead of ordering online, give them a call and you can get a 10% discount if you say you are a scuba board member. I payed around $175 for my suit. They also come a huge range of sizes, so getting a good fit will be easier.

Last year in Cozumel, I was cold in a 3 mm full even with a hood at the end of most dives. This year, I was totally comfortable on every dive without a hood, even at the end of the second dive of the day.

 

[Bob3]

I like using a 1-piece 3mm with hooded vest (2 or 3 mm) underneath, that will cover a pretty wide range of water temps found in FL.

 

[Mambo Dave]

Awesome. Thanks guys! WIth the info given here, and from a LDS where I rented a 3mm suit, I felt more comfortable getting something thicker. I just ran down to Divers Direct and looked at what they had (since I had to drive a friend to the airport anyway). I ended up purchasing the Evo 5/4/3 suit, and I think I'm gonna like it. It comes with a lifetime warranty (so if the YKK zipper fails, which it probably won't, I'm good to go), some sort of knee protection, and I got to flirt with Jane.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

World Watersports is always a good deal! I always stop in when I'm in Fla

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