DrySuit Question

[craborn]

I am looking into buying a drysuit. The company told me to buy the undergarment to wear while I am getting measured. My question??

Do you wear a store bought undergarments or just warmups? Please give me any advice you have?

When I get measured should I add a little in the chest and legs to have room to move? I want it to be comfortable.

THanks for the information......... Clay

 

[Rick Inman]

What brand of DS are you buying? What water temps will you be diving in? Who is measuring you?

 

[SwimJim]

If your going neoprene the under garment situation isn't too critical. I could dive 35 degree water in my Unisuit wearing a jogging suit underneath. If it's a trilaminate the undergarment is critical. I have a DC Z-flex which I've froze my posterior off in a few times before I dialed in the undergarments. I wound up going to dry gloves and the whole nine yards. Even with the heavier undergarments the trilam is easier to don and doff and has better range of motion above and under the water.

Jim

 

[spectrum]

A matched set is the ultimate.

As said, in a neoprene suit which offers considerable insullation the undergarments are less critical, especially if you will be diving in milder water. A good thinsualte garment will offer more protection in the event of a suit flood.

If it's a shell suit or crushed neoprene suit then the garments are essentialy all of your thermal protection and you should have either a true undergarment or items that will at least wick moisture away from your body. Even in cold water the condensed perspitration in my suit can be surprising but with the right suff my "near body layers" are warm and dry.

You want sleeves that are cut and have a material such that they will not clig to and obstruct your dump valve, that can be very dangerous. My T-100 has grommets placed in the arm to pass air directly to the valve.

The items should be cut to allow for movement based on your measurements. You should not need to fudge the numbers. Again My T-100 has stretch panels in the lower back, armpits and behind the knees that allow free movement with a reasonably close fit. The ouside layer of a good garment will be a slick material that can glide against the inside of the suit to aleviate binding between the layers.

Be sure to understand what you are being sold.

Pete

 

[rhephburn3900]

I wore a sweat shirt and jeans when I was fitted for my dry suit , a Bare cd-4
crushed neoprene suit, I can fit my underwear in there with no problem .
I have heard that a tri-lam suit requires extra under wear for warmth because a
neoprene suit does have insulating factors, were a nylon or trilam has very little warmth ability.This will be my first season diving dry so I am new to this suit, and
I probably don,t know too much, other than if I was going to spend a lot of hard earned cash, I had better research the subject to get what I will be comfortable in. All the club members, instructors, and dive shop owners were a great help , but talk to the people who own the type of suit you are thinking about buying and pick their brains! They can always give you a honest opinion. Just my two cents worth!
R.H.

 

[Dan Gibson]

It depends on the manufacturer of the suit.

Examples: DC you measure with the undergarments. DUI measures without the undergarments and you specify on the form the thickest undergarments you intend to use.

I am looking into buying a drysuit. The company told me to buy the undergarment to wear while I am getting measured. My question??

Do you wear a store bought undergarments or just warmups? Please give me any advice you have?

When I get measured should I add a little in the chest and legs to have room to move? I want it to be comfortable.

THanks for the information......... Clay

 

[Warren_L]

If you're getting a neoprene suit, as said, the undergarment probably needs not to be as insulating, but either way, I feel that the undergarment is more critical than the actual drysuit itself. I would get measured wearing the underwear you are going to use and when you try the drysuit on, do so in the same underwear.

 

[craborn]

Thanks for all of the advice. I should have specified more. I think I am going to get a trilaminate diving concepts drysuit. I am looking at the Z-flex. Sounds like I want to get their undergarment. In January, we dive in 39-44 degree water, after that the lakes warm up to 60-75. AFter that the water warms up but when I do advance classes and deep dives I want to be warm. I hate putting my 7/7 wetsuit on in August to go deep. Please keep the advice coming. THanks,,, Clay

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

If it's a shell suit or crushed neoprene suit then the garments are essentialy all of your thermal protection

That's not exactly true, a crushed neoprene suit gives the same thermal properties throughout the dive. An uncrushed neoprene suit will compress at depth and expose you to cooler temps.

If you're looking at tri-lam anyway make sure and get a layered approach going. (200-300# UG, polypropolene longjohns or fleece long underwear. I just dove 36 degree water with all three in my 2.5 crushed neoprene suit and stayed comfortable, of course we aborted before the 10 min mark...but I've done hour long dives in 68-72 degree springs with nothing but shorts and a t-shirt under the neoprene suit.

 

[craborn]

Cool, thanks CD ..... I am trying to learn all I can before deciding what it best for me.