Drysuit for DIR?

[Schwim]

Hi guys, what drysuit are most of the GUE-trained DIR people using?

Mine will be put to use mostly in the Great Lakes for wrecks and cold quarries. Also what undies? This will be my first suit with plans for future tech and cave training. I like to buy right--buy once, and am willing to invest the $.

Leaning toward the DUI TLS 350 Sig with velcro bellows on both thighs, P-valve, hood, etc. What about the CLX 450 or a Diving Concepts Ultra Pro Flex? I'm worried that the 450 will be restrictively stiff.

What about the Rockboots, are you DIR guys using these with Jets/Turtles?

Please answer any one of these questions, any input would be greatly apprreciated.

Schwim

 

[dbulmer]

Schwim - I'm not DIR but from posts I have seen I think DIR instructors like trainees to talk to them first so that you know from the horses mouth so to speak.

Have you considered contacting your prospective instructor and asking him/her?

 

[jonnythan]

Take a DIRF class, you learn all about exposure protection.

Alternatively, ask the instructor you plan to take DIRF from. I have a Bare ATR HD that doesn't fit me well, and my next suit will most likely be the Ultraflex from Diving Concepts. That and the TLS seem to be the popular choices.. be sure you get it custom cut from someone who knows what they're doing, and spend good money on Thinsulate undies.

I wear Rock Boots with my Bare, but you will find lots of variation. I use size 8 Rock Boots with XL Jets.

 

[Soggy]

The TLS350 with turbo soles is probably most common, but beware...they rip wicked easily. Personally, I would never spend money on a suit like that when diving anywhere near a wreck or anything sharp. I have a Bare ATR-HD that fits fairly well and have no problems with it, except the vulcanized boots are enormous and a bit of a pain. I'm having them lopped off sometime and replaced with turbo soles.

 

[Aquawookie]

Hi guys, what drysuit are most of the GUE-trained DIR people using?

Mine will be put to use mostly in the Great Lakes for wrecks and cold quarries. Also what undies? This will be my first suit with plans for future tech and cave training. I like to buy right--buy once, and am willing to invest the $.

Leaning toward the DUI TLS 350 Sig with velcro bellows on both thighs, P-valve, hood, etc. What about the CLX 450 or a Diving Concepts Ultra Pro Flex? I'm worried that the 450 will be restrictively stiff.

What about the Rockboots, are you DIR guys using these with Jets/Turtles?

Please answer any one of these questions, any input would be greatly apprreciated.

Schwim

I'm not a DIR type but hope this helps.

I have a DUI 450 custom and love it. It wears very well and so far seems fairly puncture resistant. I don't find it at all restrictive and I'm in it for about 8+ hours a day on weekends in the summer.

If your not a good fit to the off the rack suit get it customised by a shop that sells LOTS of DUI suits. They will have the experience to take the correct mesurements and get it right the first time.

I would suggest the zipped bellows thigh pockets. I don't trust the velcro type to stay closed all the time. Just MHO.

I use the sox/rock boots and even with 2 layers of good hikeing sox on I still get foot squeeze. Next time I'm getting the hard boots.

DON'T skimp on the thermal underware. The better quality ones are worth the extra cash. Try for the mix and match systems in Thinsulate (tops and pants rather than long johns), they give you greater flexability (and its lots warmer in the bathroom too).

Get the new user replacable wrist seal/glove kit from the start. Trust me, its well worth it and costs less when bought with a new suit.

Hope this helps.

Paul.

 

[JeffG]

I would suggest the zipped bellows thigh pockets. I don't trust the velcro type to stay closed all the time. Just MHO.

Never get zippered pockets....The question is When (not if) will it fail. You don't just put stuff in your pockets...You bolt snap the stuff to a piece of bungie so you can't lose it by having it fall out...YMMV

 

[ERP]

As mentioned above talk to your instructor.

As for custom DUI suits DIR diver generally have the pockets in a different place than standard, I know divers who don't like the new zip and don't think much of the Zip seals. Having said that I also know DIR divers with both.

Talk to your instructor and make an informed decision.

 

[Soggy]

I would suggest the zipped bellows thigh pockets. I don't trust the velcro type to stay closed all the time. Just MHO.

Zippers are a pain in the butt to get in and out of and everything in your pockets should be clipped off, anyhow, so it's not a big deal if the thing opens up unexpectedly. Zippers also can fail making it impossible to get into your pocket when you might need it most...say you lose your mask for example, I don't want to be messing around struggling to open a zipper when I'm trying to get to my backup mask.

DON'T skimp on the thermal underware. The better quality ones are worth the extra cash. Try for the mix and match systems in Thinsulate (tops and pants rather than long johns), they give you greater flexability (and its lots warmer in the bathroom too).

A one-piece system is better in terms of keeping you warm, as a 2 piece can bunch up and leave areas of exposed skin.

Get the new user replacable wrist seal/glove kit from the start. Trust me, its well worth it and costs less when bought with a new suit.

I think the jury is still out on this one from a DIR perspective. The zip-seal provides an additional failure point and really doesn't serve much purpose since a wrist seal can be replaced in an hour or so. The zip-drygloves are worthless, IMO, since they provide an additional failure point and don't allow you to maintain an inner seal, thus making a dryglove failure a catestrophic event in very cold water.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I think the jury is still out on this one from a DIR perspective. The zip-seal provides an additional failure point and really doesn't serve much purpose since a wrist seal can be replaced in an hour or so. The zip-drygloves are worthless, IMO, since they provide an additional failure point and don't allow you to maintain an inner seal, thus making a dryglove failure a catestrophic event in very cold water.

Wondering if you're speaking from experience on this one ... and am curious because I have a DUI CLX450 with zip seals and zip gloves (hopefully) arriving within the next week or so.

I'm not suggesting that you're wrong ... once I have a chance to try the system for a few dives, I may find myself agreeing with you. Just curious on what you're basing your opinion.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[jonnythan]

Bob, a Zip Glove has the same problem as a snap-on dryglove with no seal underneath. Ripping a glove means a flooded arm and possibly a suit. Silly idea IMO.

The jury is still out on the reliability of the zip wrist seal. It's a potential failure point that is mostly unnecessary, but how likely that failure is is apparently yet to be seen. I haven't heard of any failing due to anything but user error.