Cheap Wetsuit Seam rubs skin too much

[osujamesc]

I have one of those $30 shorties that I bought when I was first learning to dive. It still does it's job of keeping me warm. While living in San Diego, I couldn't wear it because it was far too cold. I bought a O'Neill 7000x 7mm full and loved the seams on it. Now that I'm wearing my shorty again here on Maui, I am missing the 7000x's smooth seams. The cheap seams on my shorty rubs my neck raw during a long dive. I come out looking like I got sunburned while 30 ft underwater. Other than the crappy seams, it is a decent wetsuit and hard to beat for $30. Is there any product that I can apply to the seams to make them more like the smooth 7000x that I miss so much? Am I better off just buying a new quality shorty or thin full?

By the way, if you are going to be diving cold water, take a look at the 7000x, it is the comfy-est suit I've ever worn. It is often overlooked because O'Neill wetsuits are rarely reviewed by the big dive magazines.

Thanks,
James

 

[AustinPDDiver]

I have one of those $30 shorties that I bought when I was first learning to dive. It still does it's job of keeping me warm. While living in San Diego, I couldn't wear it because it was far too cold. I bought a O'Neill 7000x 7mm full and loved the seams on it. Now that I'm wearing my shorty again here on Maui, I am missing the 7000x's smooth seams. The cheap seams on my shorty rubs my neck raw during a long dive. I come out looking like I got sunburned while 30 ft underwater. Other than the crappy seams, it is a decent wetsuit and hard to beat for $30. Is there any product that I can apply to the seams to make them more like the smooth 7000x that I miss so much? Am I better off just buying a new quality shorty or thin full?

By the way, if you are going to be diving cold water, take a look at the 7000x, it is the comfy-est suit I've ever worn. It is often overlooked because O'Neill wetsuits are rarely reviewed by the big dive magazines.

Thanks,
James

James, I wear an under armor style shirt as a rash guard whenever I dive, and have had no problems with it, and it drys super quick during a surface interval...

Ryan

 

[miketsp]

You could probably glue a thin rubber strip over the seams using neoprene adhesive which is super flexible. Or just wear a lycra skin on your upper body. They come in all shapes & sizes, long arms, short arms etc. I've seen some with a polo neck.

 

[Damselfish]

I'd get a lycra skin or thin fullsuit to wear underneath (or even alone) - having full coverage has many advantages over a shorty.