DUI TLS350 Question

[UWSojourner]

In separate thread I asked about drysuits and more than a few of you had great things to say about the TLS350.

I went and saw the TLS350 and CF200 today and tried on the CF200. Question: How durable/strong is the TLS350? The material seemed very light which I liked if its going to be durable. Impressions?

By the way, the CF200 felt GREAT. I am sooooooo ready to get out of the 7mm wetsuit gig. But, if the TLS350 is strong enough, that suit seems so sweet because its so light! Help again.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Well, the CF-200 is crushed neoprene, and it is very durable, and very resistant to puncture. It is a favored suit for NE wreck divers.

The TLS-350 is a nylon trilam, and it is used by alot of cave divers, and technical divers. Its not nearly as durable or puncture resistant as the CF-200. However, unless you pierce yourself on some piece of wreck, or tear it on a piece of the wreck, you wont have a major issue. Are you going to be doing wreck penetrations???
That being said, I do know quite a few divers who use the TLS-350 for all their diving, including wreck diving. You just have to be a little more careful with that suit than the CF-200. And, you might think about kevlar knee pads as well.

The other issue is the CF-200 does have a little more natural buoyancy than the TLS, because it is made out of neoprene (crushed doesnt take all the buoyancy out). However, its not like a standard foam neoprene drysuit. Some people like the CF-200 because they find it is a little warmer than the TLS.

So, in the end, this is a decision that you have to make based on what type of diving you are doing, and what you like best about each suit...

Have you thought about the CLX_450??? This suit is a cordura Trilam, which is a little more durable than the TLS. That is what I decided to get.

GOod luck...

 

[Mo2vation]

I went and saw the TLS350 and CF200 today and tried on the CF200. Question: How durable/strong is the TLS350? The material seemed very light which I liked if its going to be durable. Impressions?

I own a 50/50 - sort of a CF200 on the bottom, and a heavier weight 350 on top.

If I had it to do again, I'd get the 350. Wifie has the 350. Lighter, dries quicker and is easier to don and doff. I don't do any diving that has me getting thrown around in the surf, bouncing off rocks & sand.

I don't do any penetration or anything where it might get torn. So for me, I just need it to keep me dry - and the 350 will do that.

Assess your type of diving (today and 5 years from now) and make your choice. FWIW, UP has a CF200 that sits on the shelf in favor of his TriLam. Do a search on CF200 and you'll find lots of good info.

Welcome to the board.

K

 

[UWSojourner]

Thanks. I wasn't worried about wreck penetration. Heck, the material seemed so light I'm worried about snagging it on a metal seat in a dive boat just sitting down!

But, the light weight and easy drying were reasons I went to look into the suit. The light feel of the material just caught me off guard.

Diving: Mostly OR, WA, British Columbia. Almost certainly not wreck penetration. Actually glad to hear cave divers are using it. They have to be making contact with the spaces they crawl through, so that says something.