For Drysuits - Is there something bad about normal thermal u-wear?

[dlwalke]

I'm just wondering if there is some reason why I should dole out $200+ on some Bare or DUI etc drysuit underwear rather than wearing some top and bottom set that I use for winter camping and so on.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts

 

[lamont]

Thinsulate is warmer for a given thickness which translates into more warmth per pound of lead on your belt. It also behaves better in terms of both warmth and buoyancy on a suit flood.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I got some of these for Christmas.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=157503

Haven't dove them yet. I don't think there is a problem with the UW for camping etc...

 

[terrasmak]

Just make sure they are not Cotton for starters.

 

[chrisp]

Bass Pro Shops sells Polypropelene underwear sets. I just got some but haven't tried them out yet. At $25 top and $25 bottoms they are much cheaper than the suits the drysuit manufacturers sell. FWIW, I am diving 65-75 degree waters, so my demands on undergarments are minimal.

 

[ianr33]

I use a motley collection of fleece beneath my drysuit. The coldest water I dive is around 55. If I were diving really cold water then I would probably buy the professional underwear. If you are warm enough with what you have use that.

 

[SwimJim]

Bass Pro Shops sells Polypropelene underwear sets. I just got some but haven't tried them out yet. At $25 top and $25 bottoms they are much cheaper than the suits the drysuit manufacturers sell. FWIW, I am diving 65-75 degree waters, so my demands on undergarments are minimal.

It's very important to have polypropelene as your first layer as it is a wicking agent. Otherwise you will freeze. As mentioned above Basspro shops would be a place to look. In general camping supply houses will have them at a reasonable cost. I was refered to a place called Sherpa's here in Wisconsin and was able to get a real nice set cheap. They were factory 2nds which bothers me not. From there, add a fleece or go technical. If you dive neoprene, you won't need to much. In my old Poseidon Unisuit I wore a jogging suit in 35 degree water and was fine. In my Dive Concepts Zflex I wear the poly and a survival undergarment followed by a lycra body suit that makes getting in and out a breeze. I have had that in 32 degree water and been just fine. Good luck.

Jim

 

[spectrum]

Keeping your diving in perspective can save you a lot of money. As mentioned a lot of the high end stuff is geared towards the coldest waters.

For underwear any high perpformance underwear/wicking layer should serve you well. It does not need to be dedicated scuba merchandise.

The actual garments are a bit more optmized with low friction outer layers, thinsulate and venting grommets. I know some divers using hiking/camping/skiing items that do just fine.

Pete

 

[Eileentk]

There is an advantage to the one-piece undergarments in that they don't bunch up or gap under my shell suit. Other than that, I haven't found much difference in the undergarments that I use for skiing and the ones that are sold for dry suits.

 

[crpntr133]

I tried regular long johns and man did I pay on the lead. I forget what I had on but it was way too much. I spent $$ on a cheap set of microfleece and have no problems. The high $$ undies do have advantages but maybe not that much.

Like mentioned before, stay away from the cotton.