mr_v
Contributor
Unless you're traveling and weight is a concern, I'd go with a crushed neoprene suit.
A suit should be close to the body without causing discomfort, i.e., you should never feel like there is a huge bubble of air floating around. Gas must disperse through the space between the suit and the undergarment equally. A good made-to-measure suit will give you that type of fit regardless of the material type. However, crushed neoprene will be warmer which means you may need fewer layers. Fewer layers translate into less displaced volume which means less added weight.
Note, *may* is the keyword in the statement above. YMMV.
If you're in cold water regularly, consider a heated undergarment instead of multiple layers. The same logic applies - fewer layers, less weight to add. In general, your undergarments play a huge role in heat management. Well-made, quality undergarments trap air which acts as an insulator. Cheap undergarments compress easily and lose insulation capabilities. Therefore, whatever you do, don't go cheap in this area.
Laminate suits shine when you travel often. They are lighter and they dry faster, so if your last dive is on Saturday morning, the suit will be dry by the time you pack it on Sunday morning and fly. Quality suits won't develop leaks and I see folks cave diving in trilam suits all the time.
A suit should be close to the body without causing discomfort, i.e., you should never feel like there is a huge bubble of air floating around. Gas must disperse through the space between the suit and the undergarment equally. A good made-to-measure suit will give you that type of fit regardless of the material type. However, crushed neoprene will be warmer which means you may need fewer layers. Fewer layers translate into less displaced volume which means less added weight.
Note, *may* is the keyword in the statement above. YMMV.
If you're in cold water regularly, consider a heated undergarment instead of multiple layers. The same logic applies - fewer layers, less weight to add. In general, your undergarments play a huge role in heat management. Well-made, quality undergarments trap air which acts as an insulator. Cheap undergarments compress easily and lose insulation capabilities. Therefore, whatever you do, don't go cheap in this area.
Laminate suits shine when you travel often. They are lighter and they dry faster, so if your last dive is on Saturday morning, the suit will be dry by the time you pack it on Sunday morning and fly. Quality suits won't develop leaks and I see folks cave diving in trilam suits all the time.
