Heated vests - Do they actually work ?

Please register or login

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

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

Was hoping for comments from actual users of these vests…but seem to be only getting alternative suggestions…
 
With little or no body fat,I am now considering buying a Venture vest for Cozumel diving. Would appreciate seeing more comments from wetsuit divers experiencing use in,“cooler” tropical waters.
You would be better off with a hooded vest.

I use a heated vest in 45-50f water all the time, but it is NOT a substitute for proper thermal protection. The heated suits just take the edge off and make things a bit more pleasant.
 
Was hoping for comments from actual users of these vests…but seem to be only getting alternative suggestions…
I have and use one, the alternatives are the answer, these cost to much and the reliability is uncertain at best.
 
You could always add some bioprene. 😁
“Please sacrifice physical and potentially mental health so that you can be slightly warmer on a recreational activity that most people will not do more than 50hr a year.”
 
I've got a Hauberk heated undersuit, I really like the build quality and the fit on the upper body is really good with great shoulder mobility. Its a little broad cut in the ankles, so not the best fit in the legs, but works really well. They're MTM in Ukraine for 400Euro, and mine as done super quick. I've been diving it a couple of season now and generally don't need to put the heating on unless its a cold hang, or our winter Scotland trip where its 5-6degC and we do an hour or so. I'd recommend a look at them as a sensible option to get into budget. It may also be worth a look at the dive gear selling pages on facebook, we seem to often get heating kit come up on the UK ones, and batteries. You can possibly get a MTM Hauberk, new valve and used battery for under 1000Euro, or some combination thereof.
I'm considering the heated gloves, not used them yet but the wife has the Santi ones and raves about them.

Electric heating

Rich
Rich - are you able to provide any information on how thick the material is on the Hauberk heated undersuit?
 
Rich - are you able to provide any information on how thick the material is on the Hauberk heated undersuit?
It's a 400g thinsulate with what feels like a nylon shell and thin fleece liner. It doesn't seem to be compressing like a Santi bz400, it feels like it's stayed thicker somehow. My friends with Santis note how it compresses after 10 dives or so, this did a bit but not a lot. Quantifiably, I'd say it's probably about 1-1.5cm thick. It is very, very warm though, even without heating turned on.
Hope that helps.
Rich
 
It's a 400g thinsulate with what feels like a nylon shell and thin fleece liner. It doesn't seem to be compressing like a Santi bz400, it feels like it's stayed thicker somehow. My friends with Santis note how it compresses after 10 dives or so, this did a bit but not a lot. Quantifiably, I'd say it's probably about 1-1.5cm thick. It is very, very warm though, even without heating turned on.
Hope that helps.
Rich
Cheers Rich. Kind of sounds like it might be a bit too warm for my needs - I might be better off with a Santi Flex 2.0
 
I've been using it in February in the Sound of Mull, water temp 4-6 deg for hour long dives with no problems. It's very warm.
Rich
 
As I don't know your dive profiles, I'll give you a general answer: Usually, you don't want to run heat all the way through the dive. When you begin a dive, you're on-gassing. Heat will help the process - exactly what you want to avoid. That's why I don't turn on the heat until the second part of the dive, when I am ready to start surfacing; unless I am really cold. Heat will then help with off-gassing, which will make deco more effective. That's for deco dives. Look up heat/decompression relationship for more detailed info.

For non-deco dives, I run heat at 20%. Sp
I am in Thailand right now. The water temperature is around 32°C. I guess I should not dive then !
I might understand you don't really want to start your dive with very warm temperature and finish with very cold one but staying warm all your dive, what's the problem ? That's what do hundred of thousend of divers in the tropic...
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

Back
Top Bottom