So I went and checked some out yesterday at an LDS.
The fit: the size M (I’m 5’8”, 70kg, 32” waist) fitted me the best (L way too large, S uncomfortably snug). The waist opening is actually quite smart: the inside of the front and back panels have a lot of grippy rubber sewn in, and the velcro panels and tabs are large. Makes it very easy to don/doff but also stay put when worn. The front waist panel is weirdly floofy though: they seem to have built in expansion space for a very large gut, and it looks like youre wearing aunties bloomers. At least they’re slightly cinched at the leg openings, and the crotch / arse is relatively snug so they fit well except for the gut expansion.
The materials: the bilam / cordura / nylon seems quite robust, although it’s a coarse weave and immediately shows dust / dirt / fluff in the material surface - which to my eye makes it look instantly old / cheap. They’re not too warm (unlike the 2/3mm neoprene in the Apeks / 4E / etc). The kevlar section on the arse looks a bit weird tbh: it’s a light grey with a very slight green tint. Along with the coarse-weave nylon, the floofy bloomers waist, the huge amount of obnoxious branding (waist front & back, pockets both sides), the whole package looks a bit dorky and try-hard. “Im a techie diver bro”.
The features: the pockets are usefully huge. Each side has a main pocket with an interior section for wetnotes, 2x 4mm bungee loops, a zippered pocket (also with 2x 2mm bungee loops) inside the flap (which is secured by loads of velcro), and another unusual secret pocket formed by not stitching the top flap across the leg (only at the top corners). This is like a small bucket between the sewn-on pocket and your leg, closed over by a very small 2 inch patch of velcro on the inside and could possibly be useful for storing non-critical stuff temporarily, like a removed glove, or a found object etc. These bucket pockets are actually what put me off the purchase: the top is very open (except for that 2 inch interior velcro patch) and they’re definitely going to fill up with water; the drainage point is a punched hole (non-reinforced) on the back side of the stitched on pocket, and out a stitched hole (non-reinforced) at the bottom of the stiched on pocket stitching. It’s hard to describe, but looked to me like water would exit very slowly, and only after running around inside the bilam, depositing everything the sea has to offer. I don’t want water parachutes in fast moving currents, nor ocean water gunge inside where it’s hard to clean.
Probably useful for calm fresh water diving, not for my current usage. Sadly they were the best I tried vs Apeks, 4E, Halcyon, and Scubapro. I almost bought the 4E but 1) that price is absurd, 2) the extra neoprene is too warm, and 3) they were an absolute pig to don/doff: massive waist section of rubberized neoprene, I just dont have the patience. Think I’m just going to glue on a pocket and be done!
