Cold in 55 Degree Waters!

[JackD342]

But does he layer it? IE, BOTH?

OP said he was cold in 55°F water using the Fusion Thermal layer. I am kind of slender and tend to get cold fast, and I know I am toasty in 38°F water with just a wicking layer underneath the Fusion. In 55°F I would be using my MK2 underwear.
The hypothyroidism as a possible/likely explanation rings true to me.

 

[a878bob]

Artics and Santo bz400 together, truly the Michelin man, I'd have to give it up if I had to go to that Xtreme.

 

[davehicks]

I am kind of slender and tend to get cold fast, and I know I am toasty in 38°F water with just a wicking layer underneath the Fusion. .

If anyone is toasty in 38F water you may need a medical exam too! Tolerable maybe, but toasty? The coldest I've been in was maybe 42 and that was tough! However I did just do a whole week of diving at God’s Pocket in BC and was comfortable at 44F with my Thermolution and Waterproof D1 Hybrid suit. I think 6 fewer degrees would have been harsh.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Richard and I were wearing wool glove liners plus Fourth Element liners inside our dry gloves. I also had two pair of wool socks on and I was still cold. I ordered a 10mm hood for next time.

 

[Taath]

So... only arctics and your surprised you get cold?
And blaming hypothyroidism for it??
COME ON!
Get a proper undergarment to layer with the arctics.
The weazle is used by one of the finns doing the longest, deepest coldest cavedives... Should be good enough...
I use the kwark. I layer it with 1 or 2 layers of thin merino wool, and a heating vest and stay warm for 1,5-2hrs in 4c water.
My buddies layer the arctic with the Santi BZ 400. and 12+ (55) degrees is still quite some months untill we see...
At the moment, we have 7C and I dive.
Ursuit Soft Dura (About the same thing as your one), Kwark, heating vest (didn't turn on last dive) 1 layer of merino wool. Proper dry gloves with felted merino inner gloves and a 10mm Waterproof Hood.

Get a proper hood, merino wicking undergarment, a proper undergarment on the top and some really nice wool gloves.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess it wasn't clear in my original post where I indicated I was using a "Smartwool" merino wool layer as my based under the arctics.

As I had mentioned in previous posts, I am using a well fitted 7mm hood. My head is comfortable throughout the dive, never feels cold. I also have a dryglove system with fourth element under gloves. My hands are also comfortable.

I'm trying to avoid the additional cost of a heating vest/system if there are options for the waters I dive which by comparison to most are not that cold.

 

[Taath]

Artics and Santo bz400 together, truly the Michelin man, I'd have to give it up if I had to go to that Xtreme.

Amen!

 

[BFRedrocks]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess it wasn't clear in my original post where I indicated I was using a "Smartwool" merino wool layer as my based under the arctics.

As I had mentioned in previous posts, I am using a well fitted 7mm hood. My head is comfortable throughout the dive, never feels cold. I also have a dryglove system with fourth element under gloves. My hands are also comfortable.

I'm trying to avoid the additional cost of a heating vest/system if there are options for the waters I dive which by comparison to most are not that cold.

Looks like we dive the same local lake in AZ. I didn't read all the responses, so forgive me if this has been suggested already, but the key (in my opinion and that of many Icelandic drysuit divers) is to add a warm mid-layer to your setup. Something like the smartwool base, a 200 gram-400 gram wool shirt or jacket, and then your DUI or other heavier thinsulate undersuit on top of the mid layer. When "our" lake is <55 deg F, I wear a 200 gram Woolpower merino base, 400 gram Woolpower merino mid-layer, and then usually my DUI XM250 (or less) as the top and am perfectly warm throughout the dive. YMMV.