Drysuit undergarment questions

[smrtblnddiver]

My hood was free too (or I guess the appropriate term is "included"). Good thing too, because it sucks (pooches on the sides). I quickly went back to my old hood.

What more could you ask for????????? Hmmmmm......I'll leave that one alone. LOL

 

[TDunbar]

BlueStarfish once bubbled...
those DC undies look awfully nice. They sure are expensive though.

Yep, I paid for the custom cut too. If only I weren't so skinny - relative to the dive population at large............

But you can dive in a wide variety of undergarments, each having it's own relative upside and down.......... I sure appreciate the thumb straps and stirrups for getting the underwear down where its supposed to go.

Todd

 

[BlueStarfish]

I got a pretty good price on the suit, a stock size without any extras, so no free hood for me . But I still saved on the price of the suit and hood combined, so I'm pretty happy.

I think I'll go ahead and order the softwear undergarment. It sounds like it'll be plenty warm for me.

Thanks to everyone for your input

Jane

 

[smrtblnddiver]

TDunbar once bubbled...


Yep, I paid for the custom cut too. If only I weren't so skinny - relative to the dive population at large............

Todd

I can say the same about being short. I will say measurements are one place where you can tell it's all written by a man. I was looking at the stock sizes and they were ridiculously disproportionate to a normal female body (i.e., anything even slighty curvy or athletic). But it had me laughing...........

 

[BlueStarfish]

smrtblnddiver once bubbled...


I can say the same about being short. I will say measurements are one place where you can tell it's all written by a man. I was looking at the stock sizes and they were ridiculously disproportionate to a normal female body (i.e., anything even slighty curvy or athletic). But it had me laughing...........

No kidding! According to size charts, I should fit into a size medium (at least according to my hip measurement). But at a DUI demo, I got to try on a couple suits, and the extra small was a perfect fit, except the arms and legs were much too short, and the small was a little baggy on me. That's one of reasons I've been considering the Softwear undies. I can get them custom fit .

 

[caveseeker7]

BlueStarfish once bubbled...
So please tell me...what undies do you use, and at what temps?

I use OS Systems underwear (fleece w/ a nylon shell) around this time of year. During summer/early autumm I use Zeagle's fleece underwear, and on really 'cold' winter days or when going deep both. I dive a Mobby's shell suit.

If you need custom sizing go with it, it'll be worth it in the long run. Doesn't make sense to pay for a custom drysuit and then wear undies that won't fit.
Even if you have to sit out a weekend or two.

Another company that makes warm underwear is Weezle in the UK. Don't know about custom sizes, though, and they aren't cheap either.

Smrtblnddiver once bubbled...

But it had me laughing...........

You do have a healthy sense of humor.

 

[flw]

caveseeker7 once bubbled...
[
Another company that makes warm underwear is Weezle in the UK. Don't know about custom sizes, though, and they aren't cheap either.


[/B]

I've got two weezle extremes, which are just the best, nice and cosy, when it gets really cold for long deco's i;ve got a weezle waist-coat which makes the difference in 4deg water. I've had a couple of complete floods - one in December in 7 deg water with 20 minutes of stops to do - I wasn't exactly warm by the time I'd finished, but I did manage to do all the stops and be just about warm enough - which says something.
They are less sensitive to washing than the dui undersuits, just chuck them on a wool wash and they come out fine - and comfortable underneath, slipperly enough so it's easy to reach manifolds etc - and they dry amazingly fast too, which is handy when on a liveaboard
One of mine is an original 1999 one, still OK for most things, just a bit tatty on the shell now.

Fi

 

[seakdivers]

I also have (had) the TLS350 - it's a great suit!! I can't imagine wearing it without any fleecy undergarments however. We purchased the DUI thick polarfleece when we bought our suits - I think it has "stretch" in the name - sorry I'm a little brain dead at the moment.... Anyhoo - those fleeces have worked wonderfully, but I must agree with everyone who recommended dry gloves - it was like night & day for me!

 

[divewench]

For those of you with custom fit DC dry suits, have you had a problem with getting your feet into the boots? The ankles are so snug on my suit (I guess to minimize the chance they will pop off my feet?) that I have to tug and pull and shove to get my feet into the boots. Sometimes I am so tired from the effort I have to just sit and rest afterwards. About 3 months ago I took it in and asked what could be done and they said nothing. I was concerned that all the force I was using to get into the shoes would damage the seems. And sure enough just a couple of dives ago I started noticing that both of my heels were wet. They are probably going to fix it under warrenty, but if I can't figure out a way to get my feet in w/o the fight I think it is just going to happen again (after the warrenty is expired). I've tried panyhose and small socks....they are trying to tell me I need to buy the $50 booties

 

[Cavenutz]

BlueStarfish, I would recommend two things? I dive in 50 deg water up to 5 hours per dive and this is what I recommend. Use the DUI 400 gram (400 gm/m2) Thinsulate under garment. This is good for 40s - 50o F temperature. Also I would invest in Argon Inflation to fill the suit instead of your back gas? Argon is the choice of gas to use for long, cold dives as it's thermo coefficient qualities makes it a perfect insulator. Use a Luxfer 14cuft AAL bottle and a Sherwood regulator. Turn the Intermediate pressure down a tad, this helps make it more reliable and better for buoyancy control. If you buy or use another brand of regulator make sure you have an over pressure valve installed on it just incase you loose a high pressure seal, this keeps you from over pressurizing the intermediate pressure and bursting the hose. Ok if your getting cold this could mean that your suit is to tight (to small for you) and not allowing you to inflate it enough to put some space (insulation) between you and the water. Or your not using enough gas to inflate the suit. By the way the reason I use Thinsulate is because if you flood the suit the Thinsulate will still give you insulation warmth. Also I wear thermal underwear made by "Hot Chili", they are for snow skiing but there really thin and do a great job for making the extra layer. Well that's my 2 cents, Hope it helps! Between the 400g suit and the Argon you should stay right toasty!

Cavenutz