robbcayman:
I dive 5-6 times a year primarily in Cozumel. I am needing a comfortable suit. Right now the Akona 3mm suit is $79.95 vs Henderson 3mm for $149.95 is the Henderson really that much better? I don't know much about Akona either.
I've got a Henderson and a couple other brand suits.
The Henderson fits me better than the other suits do, but it does cost more.
For my "shortie" though, fit isn't as important to me. So I don't have a $200
henderson shortie but an 'el-cheap-o' $50 one. It works great for when I
need a shortie for warm water.
I've also got a 5mm Body Glove. It doesn't fit anywhere near as well as
the Henderson does, but it was much cheaper.
My advice is that if you can get one of the other suits to fit you better, then
get the cheaper suit. If you need the "fit" of a Henderson, then you might
have to spend more money for it. However, many other brands are offering
"stretch" suits now like Henderson.
Check out Tilos or Akona. They've got cheaper suits also.
BTW. You stated above about getting a Henderson for $149 for a 3mm.
I've never seen a Henderson 3mm that cheap, (unless it's a shortie maybe
and I've only seen them as cheap as about $170). I paid somewhere
around $225 for my Henderson 3mm (full), but I think that Henderson also
mandates dealers "minimum nationally advertised price", which right now
is $265 or so. But you can get them cheaper at certain shops.