dan813
Registered
I am currently looking to buy a good COLD water suit. I have not decided against a dry suit, but I dont want to break the bank either. Any suggestions?
Cold Water Suit
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Waterborne
Contributor
Can you give us some more info on the types of diving you are doing now and the types of diving you would like to do in the next few years?
I started off using wetsuits for all of my diving. I didn't have the budget for a drysuit. I barely had the budget for most of my first set of gear but that's another story.
So yeah, I did everything wet and in the Great Lakes it can get kind of cold. I got a sweet deal on a DUI TLS350 and I barely ever use my cold water wetsuit anymore. I didn't mind spending the money on a good drysuit now because my diving warrants it. My future plans for diving basically requires it.
I started off using wetsuits for all of my diving. I didn't have the budget for a drysuit. I barely had the budget for most of my first set of gear but that's another story.
So yeah, I did everything wet and in the Great Lakes it can get kind of cold. I got a sweet deal on a DUI TLS350 and I barely ever use my cold water wetsuit anymore. I didn't mind spending the money on a good drysuit now because my diving warrants it. My future plans for diving basically requires it.
Boogie711
Guest
I live and dive in Ontario Canada. My checkout dives were 36 degrees at the surface, and we dove wet.
I thought I would get a really good quality wetsuit that keeps me warm, so I spent some serious coin on a Mares Isotherm. And you know, it works - it's a good warm wetsuit.
But that wetsuit cost me around $500 - a new Bare NexGen entry level drysuit would have cost me around $700.
If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have. I would have bought a cheap, used 7mm from the LDS's rental stock and would have saved my money and bought a drysuit, and a 3mm wetsuit. If it's too cold for a 3mm, just go dry.
I thought I would get a really good quality wetsuit that keeps me warm, so I spent some serious coin on a Mares Isotherm. And you know, it works - it's a good warm wetsuit.
But that wetsuit cost me around $500 - a new Bare NexGen entry level drysuit would have cost me around $700.
If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have. I would have bought a cheap, used 7mm from the LDS's rental stock and would have saved my money and bought a drysuit, and a 3mm wetsuit. If it's too cold for a 3mm, just go dry.
diverlady
Contributor
If you're looking at doing diving in a variety of temps you could go with a 1 piece jumpsuit and sleeveless hooded shorty. If the temps are quite chilly, wear both but if it warms up a bit, you can just use the jumpsuit part.
Diverlady
Diverlady
Score,
Over the next few years, I plan to dive year round anywhere I can find water, although most of my dives will be spent off the coast of NJ doing wrecks. I also am starting a DM class in a few weeks, so I will be spending some time in the suit. I was thinking about the ISOTHERM, but I think I want to try an ice dive, I guess I could rent a dry suit for that trip.
Over the next few years, I plan to dive year round anywhere I can find water, although most of my dives will be spent off the coast of NJ doing wrecks. I also am starting a DM class in a few weeks, so I will be spending some time in the suit. I was thinking about the ISOTHERM, but I think I want to try an ice dive, I guess I could rent a dry suit for that trip.
diverlady
Contributor
In that case, perhaps a trilam drysuit would be better. It's not thermal like a neoprene drysuit so you wouldn't get too hot in warmer temps but you can add thermal undies for your ice diving.
Diverlady
Diverlady
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