Looking for input on thickness and style of wetsuit for a variety of conditions.

[Blue Sparkle]

Wayward,

Thanks for the input.

I'm planning to get a custom suit, as none of the "rack" suits fit me. I've even gone to the websites of the companies who have a wide range of sizes (women's, short, plus, plus short, etc.) and .... not even close.

But that's okay. I'm not going to buy a suit a week, so it's worth it for one that fits. But, I don't want to make a mistake in ordering that I could have avoided with a bit of input from you experienced folks.

I'm going to place my order this week.

I was probably too wordy above!

So....

1) Thickness of base coverall for "cold" person in summer tropical water?
2) What options to get in base coverall?

3) What style of additional garments to make the base coverall warmer for winter in the Keys for "cold" person?
(i.e. shortie, vest, vest with hood, separate hood, zippers, thickness...)

Thank you!

B.

 

[Wayward Son]

another SBer, Phil, has an LDS in Decatur, AL. Has also had sales on various suits.

Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com - Buy Scuba Diving Equipment & Snorkeling Equipment

Might want to get in touch & see what he has. Recently in the specials forum he said he had some Hyperstretch suits to clear out.

 

[Blue Sparkle]

By the way, Wayward, your wife looks pretty jazzed in that photo! Reminds me of how I felt after did my certifying dives.

B.

 

[Wayward Son]

some of this was hard for her. finishing was an accomplishment.

 

[Doc Harry]

Blue Sparkle,

Sounds like Mr. Cold doesn't get along with either you or me. From what you say, we both seem to have similar metabolism and cold tolerance. Here's what I use:

Below 75 degrees F - dry suit
75-85 degrees F - 5mm wet suit (one piece)
85-90 degrees F - 3mm (one piece)
90+ degrees F - 2mm shorty

Frankly I don't see the point of having a 7mm wetsuit unless you really can't afford a drysuit. Once you get to 7mm and thicker, your weight requirements get to be problematic and your buoyancy control in the shallows also becomes more difficult.

Pockets are nice to have on a wetsuit. But after having tried a whole bunch of pockets, I can tell you that the only ones that don't fall apart are made by Halcyon. Their pockets are pricey but worth it. Glue them on with Aquaseal. (PM me for instructions.) All of the pockets offered by the wetsuit manufacturers as an "option" are pretty lame.

 

[theundertow]

ok, harry's temps seem a little extreme, but i get colder than everyone else too. I'd really suggest getting a 3mm for the temps you want 75-85 for 2 reasons. because a 5mm in 80+ is overkill and a 3mm is far, far more comfortable than a 5mm. remember the thicker the suit, the more cumbersome and the more weight you need.

for the 3mm suit, get one of the very warm ones, that would mean either Pinnacle Merino (wool-lined) or Henderson Gold Core (smooth lining that dries super fast). Both are a about as warm as the next thickness up. I believe you can get either custom fitted, just look up a local dealer on the company's websites.

Then, get some accessories - primarily a hooded vest, 3mm, and i'd suggest a stretchy type for any hoods for comfort. you'd be amazed what a hood can do, you lose 80% of your body heat through your head. and combined with a vest it seriously minimizes water circulation through the suit, completely stopping the dreaded trickle down your neck & back.

then some gloves, i have these 1.5mm mares gloves that are warm enough and not too restrictive. get some neoprene shorts. get open heel fins with boots, its warmer, or neoprene socks for full foot fins. give yourself options and you'll easily be ok down to 75.

Here's my table like harry's:

below 65 - drysuit
65-75 - 5mm + hooded vest, gloves, boots, shorts (do get cold at 65)
75-80 - 3mm + hooded vest, gloves, boots etc. or 5mm alone w/ full foot fins
80+ - 3mm only, full foot fins

but it also depends on HOW your'e diving. if you plan to do lots of multiple dive days at 75 where the air is chilly topside, you might be happier getting a 5mm as well. then again, if you get a high quality 3mm like the ones i listed above, you should be fine. my table is based on a cheap 3mm that leaks horribly and a high quality 5mm(gold core).

Cheers,

Chris

 

[Wayward Son]

You can get Henderson suits custom fit, but not at all dealers. I think they have to be Gold dealers. It's on the Henderson web site.

 

[theundertow]

oh and one more point, i'd generally avoid the super stretchy suits. they're designed for comfort and to fit body shapes slightly different from the suit shape. the trade off is warmth and durability, on average, as the stretched out neoprene doesn't hold insulation as well. the one exception to this from what i've heard is the Pinnacle Merino which is a stretchy suit.

especially if you're getting a suit customized, stay away from the stretchy ones. this does not apply to the hooded vest though, i'd get that in stretchy cause comfort is more important in a hood, believe you me.

 

[Wayward Son]

Henderson USA - Size Chart

 

[scubafanatic]

......a full 5 mm or a 5 mm (torso)/4 mm arms-legs (Pinnacle)...along with a hood or beanie, at least thin gloves, full-height booties/dive socks is a decent overall compromise......I'm using those suits for warmer water tropical diving.......but use a full 7 mm (waterproof brand) for cooler waters. The thinnest suit I even own are 2-piece farmer john 3 mm suits, which I still own, but honestly, the lightest suit I've used for years is my one-piece Pinnacle 5/4 mm with beanie. One piece suits are more 'watertight'...also, remember, wetsuits compress greatly with depth so a 3 mm suit essentially becomes no more effective than a 'skin' @ 100'. Those super stretchy Hendersons aren't as great as they first appear......super stretchy means super weak neoprene, the neoprene gas-bubbles go flat fairly quickly, as neoprene wears out everytime you go to depth with it...and while all neoprene suffers from this, the super stretchy stuff wears out the fastest and loses it's insulating power the quickest.