Henderson Gold Core or Hyperstretch?

[shiri]

I can't decide which one of them to choose...
I really want it to be easy to wear and warm enough.(the 5mm)
I have the chance to buy the Gold Core in $100 less than the Hyperstretch, and I'm not sure if it easy enough to put on and maybe it's worth put some more money for it.
I can't try them on, because I'll buy it through the internet and someone will bring it to me. No other place here to try them on...

Thanks in advance

 

[rahuck]

I have the 5mm Hyperstretch -- I absolutely love it. It is the easiest donning (even wet) wetsuit that I have ever had.

I have not worn the Gold Core so I cannot compare thermal protection.

 

[hunter991]

I personally think you will like the Hyperstretch much better. If you want PM me, I may be able to narrow the price difference.

Brent

 

[cdreamer]

Hyperstretch is good for "hard to fit body types" and is a great suit for people that fit into that
category. The downside is that is compresses more at depth, therefore not as warm, and it also
snags easier. On the other hand, the Gold core is a much warmer suit and is a more durable
material. Putting it on is easy if you put the suit on dry on a dry body or wet on a wet body.
If not the suit will create a suction on the body making it hard to put on. You can eliminate
that problem with a skin if you like. I have the 7mm Gold Core and I love it. The material has
an anti-microbial agent in the material eliminating bacterial growth or odor. If you fit off the rack
sizes then go with the Gold Core. Size charts can be found at www.hendersonusa.com


Good Luck,
Terri

 

[Footslogger]

Just got the Hyperstretch for my wife. She has a shorter/wider build and the suit fit her like a glove. Plus ...I got a free Hyperstretch hood out of the deal, courtesy of Henderson !!

 

[stevephilanyc]

I have 3 different Hyperstretch suits. They are then easiest suits to don of any I've ever used.

Steve

 

[leabre]

I just tried a bunch of wetsuits for a recent purchase. I originally wanted the goldcore. Tried it on at scuba.com (near where I work) and, well, I couldn't get it on. I am usually sweaty when I put on any wetsuit and rarely have a chance to be dry-on-dry or wet-on-wet. When I finally did get it on another day when their air was working and I was dry... it seemed like an okay suit but having never dived with it, I don't know its characteristics at depth. I went with the hyperstretch. Took me all of 22 seconds to get the thing on and have used it on 5 dives since last week when I got it. It is by far the most comfortable suit I've ever had. I can even put it on under water, then my other gear (except tank) while holding breath then swim 150 feet in less than 2 minutes. Can't do that with any other wetsuit that I've used.

I just took it to 100' at catalina island (california) a few days ago and when the temperature dropped from 70 to 64 I could feel the cold outside the suit but it eventually warmed up and I wasn't so affected by the cold. My dive computer reads that my coldest in the wetsuit on another day was 62F and I didn't even notice it. I also don't dive with a hood usually.

Anyway, my last point is that it is just as easy to don if dry-on-wet, as well.

Edit: It also held up pretty well when surf entry/exiting over the rocks at Casino Point cataline island. But just beware of velcro. I've never had to peel so much velcro off anything in my life and it leaves artifacts of the event thereafter, though not particularily damaging to the suit.

Edit 2: Also, note, I like it cold. So while I may not have issues at 62*, I know my wife, in an 8mm neoprene, can't stand 68* water. YMMV.


Thanks

 

[johnny_bravo]

My 0.02 psi:

My favorite piece of neoprene is my Henderson Gold Core 5/3 hooded vest.

My least favorite piece of neoprene was a Henderson Hyperstretch hood.

The material in the gold core is fantastic and very warm...hyperstrech lost it's shape after a couple of dives and was way too loose.

Cheers.

-J.-