Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
You don't wash thinsulate suits unless you wanna kill them. I'm pretty sure you've already asked this before in another thread and I told you why.
Why would I want the santi crap if there is better and cheaper stuff available? They are great at marketing their drysuits... that's about it.
Many thanks Grant! A lot to think about there - some great information! I'm chatting to Hauberk right now on Messenger about making a lighterweight version of their 400g/m2 heated undersuit. They also have heated socks which is awesome for me!I think purchasing a heated BZ400 is a silly idea. Worthless after a couple washes and wildly expensive given other options on the market.
See pdf here, admittedly I haven’t updated it in two years and my opinions of Santi quality have fallen off a cliff.
Post 3 in thread 'Bottoms of feet cold (drysuit, 39F / 3.9C water)'
Bottoms of feet cold (drysuit, 39F / 3.9C water)
I'm trying to dial in my exposure protection for winter Lake Tahoe diving. It gets down to (and is currently) 39F, pretty much from the surface on down. I've taken a number of steps to boost my thermal protection and have successfully done 90 minute dives at this temp without getting too chilly...scubaboard.com
In terms of heated socks and gloves, running wires through the undergarments is a little obnoxious when gearing up, but Gerbing (as above), and SmartTex (out of Poland, run by a guy named Jerzy) offer options. Another one that’s recently popped up on my radar is this: Redundant electrically heated 400g/m² undergarment which offers either single or redundant heat (requires two E/O into your suit) for HALF the cost of the Santi. Still thinsulate, but can buy almost two made to measure vs one Santi (using €, even sillier in $). 400€ vs 750€ ish.
With the diversity in your diving climates, I’d stick with layerable separates, a la:
Capilene Air baselayer
FE Xerotherm
FE Halo AR or Weezle Extreme or Rofos 400
Lola or Gerbing or LM etc heated vest
NEO 8mm hood, NEO 10mm hood
Would leave you “exposed” to intermediate length dives in the 22C range in which an FE Arctic or similar would probably add value.
The heated gloves and socks take the edge off, but I don’t decide to put them on for dives less than 120min in water below 8°C and I view it as a symptom of a cold core.
A last option would be a constant output heat battery like an UWLD or (courtesy of a friend) having a 4-cell pack made such that as the battery draws down, you can move the heat from 40% to higher and maintain constant heat output using a Pitkin controller.
GL
You should asked them why they don't make thin heated suits.
You don't wash undersuits unnecessarily. A piss-soaked or flooded with seawater undersuit should be washed gently. The garments are designed for that.
In your ever so humble opinion. Other people have other equally valid opinions.
amazing pdf in thereI think purchasing a heated BZ400 is a silly idea. Worthless after a couple washes and wildly expensive given other options on the market.
See pdf here, admittedly I haven’t updated it in two years and my opinions of Santi quality have fallen off a cliff.
Post 3 in thread 'Bottoms of feet cold (drysuit, 39F / 3.9C water)'
Bottoms of feet cold (drysuit, 39F / 3.9C water)
I'm trying to dial in my exposure protection for winter Lake Tahoe diving. It gets down to (and is currently) 39F, pretty much from the surface on down. I've taken a number of steps to boost my thermal protection and have successfully done 90 minute dives at this temp without getting too chilly...
In terms of heated socks and gloves, running wires through the undergarments is a little obnoxious when gearing up, but Gerbing (as above), and SmartTex (out of Poland, run by a guy named Jerzy) offer options. Another one that’s recently popped up on my radar is this: Redundant electrically heated 400g/m² undergarment which offers either single or redundant heat (requires two E/O into your suit) for HALF the cost of the Santi. Still thinsulate, but can buy almost two made to measure vs one Santi (using €, even sillier in $). 400€ vs 750€ ish.
With the diversity in your diving climates, I’d stick with layerable separates, a la:
Capilene Air baselayer
FE Xerotherm
FE Halo AR or Weezle Extreme or Rofos 400
Lola or Gerbing or LM etc heated vest
NEO 8mm hood, NEO 10mm hood
Would leave you “exposed” to intermediate length dives in the 22C range in which an FE Arctic or similar would probably add value.
The heated gloves and socks take the edge off, but I don’t decide to put them on for dives less than 120min in water below 8°C and I view it as a symptom of a cold core.
A last option would be a constant output heat battery like an UWLD or (courtesy of a friend) having a 4-cell pack made such that as the battery draws down, you can move the heat from 40% to higher and maintain constant heat output using a Pitkin controller.
GL
sure.Sure, if people think waiting for 3 month to get a suit fixed under warranty is great service, they can have that opinion. If you wanna pay double or more for a santi bz400 vs a rofos bz400 or something else 400 because it's santi, even though it's the exact same thinsulate filling, go right ahead.
I really don't want to argue this point.
How long have you had that under suit? Not long, right?
Sure, if people think waiting for 3 month to get a suit fixed under warranty is great service, they can have that opinion. If you wanna pay double or more for a santi bz400 vs a rofos bz400 or something else 400 because it's santi, even though it's the exact same thinsulate filling, go right ahead.
I’m afraid I don’t know. I’m kind of in @berndo ’s boat and don’t see value in a heated lightweight suit. I do suffer from Reynaud’s, so I understand your plight (or at least I think I do? It is ever hard to compare across individuals)
