Lavacore vs pinnacle vest

[hellhole]

LavaCore is by Oceanic. Pinnacle uses Merino wool. Pinnacle now has 2 types of vests. One is 5mm neoprene lined with Merino wool. The other is V-skin which has no neoprene, just a tri-laminate (whatever that is) and Merino wool.

I found this thread because I am trying to find out if anybody has tried the V-skin. I am thinking about getting it to go with a 5mm for the Galapagos. I normally dive 7mm in California and would like less mm for this trip.

ah! my mistake!

but i did get lavacore to replace my old scubapro hoodie... much better...

 

[sethw]

LavaCore is by Oceanic. Pinnacle uses Merino wool. Pinnacle now has 2 types of vests. One is 5mm neoprene lined with Merino wool. The other is V-skin which has no neoprene, just a tri-laminate (whatever that is) and Merino wool.

I found this thread because I am trying to find out if anybody has tried the V-skin. I am thinking about getting it to go with a 5mm for the Galapagos. I normally dive 7mm in California and would like less mm for this trip.

I recently purchased a Pinnacle V-skin full suit, but have used it so far only as a drysuit undergarment. It's not trilaminate like a dry suit, the material is very similar to Fourth Element's thermocline material, like a thin dense technical fleece with smooth exterior. I love it as an undergarment, it's comfortable and very warm for its thickness, I hardly feel it's on. I think it would work under a 5mm suit but the one I have doesn't really fit under my 5mm, which fits me perfectly - just a bit too much volume underneath. It would be a perfect solution if one had a suit that was a little too large, I can't imagine buying a new suit to fit over it.

I am about to try the Fourth element thermocline vest under the 5mm to add a bit of core warmth for warm water cave diving, I can let you know how that works. They make a variety of pieces for different layering options.