Drysuit Advice

[JRRKAR]

I just picked up my OS suit similar to what you are looking at. Mine is fOS ProQD, front entry, with drygloves. My wife and I did a NewYears dive here in central PA. We did two - 40 min dives in 41 degree water. We wore both undergarment layers. We got a litle chilled at the end of the second dive. But these dives would not of been possible, in comfort without the drysuits. My LDS deals mainly with OS so that is why we wnt with OS. You will find that each LDs deals with different reps and each has there own advantages/disadvantages. I know a lot of people with the Os suits and I don't know of any complaints. Good luck with you selection. PM me if you have any more questions about the OS suits.

Jeff

 

[matt_unique]

.....
As for neoprene vs trilam - there are advantages and disadvantages to both. If I were you, I would do more research (there are a few threads on ScubaBoard covering this) before blindly going with what the LDS salesperson is trying to sell you on.

As for the rings... I like the glove ring system. One thing I would change (too bad I didn't know better when I ordered the suit), is to have the rings installed while leaving the inner wrist seals intact. DC installed the rings directly to the sleeves. In the event of a glove failure/tear, there is nothing to keep the suit from flooding. Brrrrrr!!!! If you opt for the dry gloves from DC, don't go with their neoprene ones - they are notorious for failures. Go with the blue PVC smurf gloves instead.

QUOTE]

Many threads on SB about the advantages to each type of suit.

I just had the DC neoprene gloves installed on my O'Neill neoprene suit. I'll comment later as to how long they have lasted. You can opt for a seal insert which would prevent suit flooding if your gloves failed. Howver, if you do so you must use a tube of some kind to allow air flow from suit to gloves. So even with this inner seal some water will enter your suit until you remove this tube. I opted not to have to deal with this and got the regular (open) wrist system. If I get a hole my suit will flood (as is the case everywhere else on the suit). Though I have the flood risk I don't have to worry about equalization in the hands via a tube, etc.

I have about 175 dives on my current O'Neill 7.5mm neoprene suit. I just had the zipper replaced but I plan to be more careful about waxing. We'll see how long it lasts.

--Matt

 

[stoiclown]

I would do more research (there are a few threads on ScubaBoard covering this) before blindly going with what the LDS salesperson is trying to sell you on.--Matt

I joined this board so that I can get input from people other than my LDS. I already looked up a little info on this site, before I asked my question. So far I have asked 2 questions on this board, & have been told that I am blindly following LDS etc. So if you can please keep your input confined to the question asked thanks.

I'm looking at these 2 suits because they are in my price range, & are supported by the dive shops in my community. While a DUI is an option to get one & have it maintained requires an 1- 1/2 drive on my part each way, so that makes it not an option for me.

So if I can get anymore input on the suits, attached gloves, & attached hood that would be great.

 

[stoiclown]

Have you tried anything on yet? I am about your size, although 15# heavier (but hoping to lose most of that difference)

I've tried on the OS, & a DUI they just seam really bulky @ the waist. I would like it to fit reasonably good. Right now I can get a custom made OS w/ front entry, pee zipper, side pocket, & 2 diffrent layers of thinsulate undergarments. for around 2300.00 out the door.

I haven't tried the O'niell yet but here is the site if you want to look at it. www.oneill.com

 

[Ann Marie]

I just got the O'Neill 7mm for women. I haven't had a chance to take it out and try it yet. I am going to be taking a drysuit class before I get it wet. So far I have been pleasantly surprised. Again, I don't know how it will go once I get it in the water but here is what I have found so far:

-I think it fits me well. I have heard people complain about their neck seals. I don't like things around my neck and tend to dive without a hood when possible. The O'Neill suit fits me perfect around the neck. It doesn't give me that choking sensation at all.
-I really like the boots. I have friends that have the DUI's rockboots and in comparing O'Neills to DUI's, I like the O'Neills better. Instead of lacing up they have two nice large velcro straps.
-One thing I wish was different is the zipper. I wish it was infront. I never dive solo so I can ask a buddy to zip me up, but it would be nicer to zip myself up.

I bought the O'Neill because I got a much better price than what I was looking for in DUI. I wish that I could tell you what I thought of the drysuit in the water, but that won't happen for a couple of weeks!

Cheers!

 

[IceDiverInCA]

I just got the O'Neill 7mm for women. I haven't had a chance to take it out and try it yet. I am going to be taking a drysuit class before I get it wet. So far I have been pleasantly surprised. Again, I don't know how it will go once I get it in the water but here is what I have found so far:

-I think it fits me well. I have heard people complain about their neck seals. I don't like things around my neck and tend to dive without a hood when possible. The O'Neill suit fits me perfect around the neck. It doesn't give me that choking sensation at all.
-I really like the boots. I have friends that have the DUI's rockboots and in comparing O'Neills to DUI's, I like the O'Neills better. Instead of lacing up they have two nice large velcro straps.
-One thing I wish was different is the zipper. I wish it was infront. I never dive solo so I can ask a buddy to zip me up, but it would be nicer to zip myself up.

I bought the O'Neill because I got a much better price than what I was looking for in DUI. I wish that I could tell you what I thought of the drysuit in the water, but that won't happen for a couple of weeks!

Cheers!

I'm very curious to hear how buoyant a 7mm drysuit is.

 

[matt_unique]

I joined this board so that I can get input from people other than my LDS. I already looked up a little info on this site, before I asked my question. So far I have asked 2 questions on this board, & have been told that I am blindly following LDS etc. So if you can please keep your input confined to the question asked thanks.

I'm looking at these 2 suits because they are in my price range, & are supported by the dive shops in my community. While a DUI is an option to get one & have it maintained requires an 1- 1/2 drive on my part each way, so that makes it not an option for me.

So if I can get anymore input on the suits, attached gloves, & attached hood that would be great.

You replied based on the following quote:

>>Originally Posted by matt_unique
I would do more research (there are a few threads on ScubaBoard covering this) before blindly going with what the LDS salesperson is trying to sell you on.--Matt<<

That is not my text - you grabbed someone else's text and pasted it as mine.

 

[stoiclown]

You replied based on the following quote:

>>Originally Posted by matt_unique
I would do more research (there are a few threads on ScubaBoard covering this) before blindly going with what the LDS salesperson is trying to sell you on.--Matt<<

That is not my text - you grabbed someone else's text and pasted it as mine.

Sorry I pulled that comment off your post, my comments weren't directed toward a specific person.