Need feedback on Whites drysuits

[ddub23]

I apologize for yet another thread asking about a drysuit manufacturer. Since drysuits cost a ton, I figure doing a bit of research, asking questions and test diving the suits is the way to go before dropping a ton of cash (I need two...)

I recently got a chance to see and hear about Whites drysuits. I was impressed. They had nice features, streamlined profile and an attractive price. Diving with the suit (the Catalyst) would be my next step. So far, I have done 4 dives with the Mobby's Armorshell, 4 dives with the DUI CLS 350 (?) so I have a good idea of the pros and cons of each. Both Mobby's and DUI are comparably priced.

Does anyone own or have gone diving with a White's drysuit that could give me some feedback (pros and cons)? There are a lot of recommendations on the board people seem to be quite particular. What's you favorite? Thanks

 

[Tavi]

ddub23 once bubbled...
......... people seem to be quite particular. What's you favorite? Thanks

I'm very particular about my gear!!

I don't know about White's

Last year I bought my wife a DUI CLx 450. I bought a Bare D-7 Supra drysuit off e-bay to hold me over 'til I could afford another.
I just orderd a CLx 50-50 signature series. It's the CLx Cordura top half, and the Cf 200 bottom half. Got pockets, and kneepads (tho I don't plan on using them ) and all the undies, rock boots and stuff to go with it. Now I'm just countin' the days!!!!!!

I too do a LOT of research before buying,
enjoy your search and good luck!!

 

[Garfish]

I just got my white's polarflex 11 late last year and had several chances this year to dive with it. It really is the most warmest drysuit that i have experienced.

My advice would be to go with a custom, for the extra money it would be very well worth it, especially if your one for serious diving.
For myself i'm hard to fit and my local dive shop helped me with the measurement to be sent to white's and they did a damn good job of tailoring the suit. I say they were right on the money.

I also like the extra features that this company has included in the price . If you have their catalog, you know what i mean.

So far my drysuit is dry and the quality is great. The only downfall that i have with the polarflex being half 4 mill compressed neo and top half bilam is that for a guy that ways 198 lbs, i half to wear about 30 lbs of weight. I'm use to it thou....

May i say that one other thing that i have experienced from white's is that they are sometimes pretty slow with making up a custom for me. I placed the order mid july and received it in mid
oct.

For the price of the drysuit i didn't mind the wait.
Get the latex seals. Their great and they don't leak.
To sum it up in the nutshell i love mine and well worth the money.
Hope this helps.
Check out my profile for polarflex 11 if you like to see what one looks like.

safe diving...sam

 

[ckharlan66]

a Catalyst. It is a well made suit but I did have the inflator valve leak 2 weeks ago where the glue around it had started to come loose. I was on a trip and had to have it to dive so I fixed it with the help of a LDS instead of sending it back. I don't know what caused the leak but I only had about 30 dives on it.

That is the only issue I have had with it. Other than that I love the suit and I am willing to bet that the leak was a fluke and they would have fixed it if I was willing to send it back.

The only thing I would suggest is if you want a P-valve don't get the one Whites has. It is made like a dump valve and in my opinion is too big setting on your thigh.

Good luck in your shopping.

Chad

 

[jonnythan]

Two of my buddies have Whites shell suits. They're happy with them and I see no reason for them not to be. The suits seem tough enough, fit them, have nice boots, and are dry.

They have those ugly White's rubber kneepads on them though..

 

[TwoBitTxn]

I bought a Whites Catalyst from my instructor. He and I are about the same size.

I like it. I have very little to compare it to though. He liked his DUI better, thats why he sold me the Whites.

He just put his second new zipper in his DUI to give you an idea of how old it is.

TwoBit

 

[ddub23]

Thanks for the input.

Garfish: Your right about the extra features. The White's seem to be a little more streamlined than other drysuits which would suggest better fit. HOw do you like the Whites Suspension system (knees, waist, armpits) This seems to take up the "external" slack. DUI folds the extra material and uses an elastic crotch strap. Bottom line: Is it comfortable?

ckharlan66: How is the Catalyst? That is the one i've been looking at. It has all the features I want with the nice price. I also really liked the boot system. Are they comfortable?

Unfortunately for me there is no LDS that carries Whites. Both have told me that the reason is that Whites was really slow with custom suits, and warranty/repair so they would not carry them anymore. They seem to be great value and well made. Any experiences with slow service?

Yeah, I'll have to go with the all black knee pads if I decide to go Whites Thanks.

 

[ckharlan66]

It took me about a month after I ordered it to recieve my custom suit.

It is comfortable and I like the suit. I have lost 60 lbs since I got it and it is way too big now so I am shopping again. I will probably get the DUI TLS 350 this time because I like the fit of them better. Now that I have used it for awhile I have removed the elastic straps around the legs and got real gaitors. The elastic didn't do much but it really wasn't an issue as I can dive it just as well without the straps or the gaitors....they just make it a little easier to trim out. Also, I will point out again that I don't like the P-valve they have and I would recommend not using theirs....it is just too big and bulky on your thigh. If you want a P-valve get one somewhere else and add it later.

Chad

 

[tstiemerling]

Here are my impressions from diving my new Whites Denstek 45th Anniversary self-entry suit in Tobermory over the long weekend:

Overall I am happy with the suit, except that the arms were made too long, and thus I had a small leak. I have sent the suit back to have this fixed (it was a custom suit). Delivery of the suit did take a while (2 months), with some phone calls back and forth.

The suit is pretty indestructable, because of the compressed neoprene, but it is also quite bulky and heavy out of the water. I was warm in the suit, with fleece undies, even in 40-50 water. The self-entry suit is also easy to get on and off (and allows you to vent excess fluids easily!).

There are a couple of features I could do without:

1. for some reason the seals attach to an intermediate portion of tri-lam, rather than the neoprene directly

2. there is something called the "captive suspension system" which is a bunch of loose trilam at the top of the back, which doesnt seem to do much and gives you a hunchback appearance (hey I want to look good in my suit too!).

3. I am undecided about the pocket matrix system rather than having pockets directly glued to the suit, seems more of a gimmick to me, rather than being really useful (how often are you going to change pocket types?).

I also found the suit a little hard to vent when ascending, although this could have something to do with my inexperience in drysuit diving. The suit has standard SI-tech valves, so I assume they perform the same as all other suits.

Another little quibble is that the suspenders are simply glued to the inside of the suit, and in the hot weather almost completely came off. They should be stitched on.

All in all, I would say the suit is good for Northern diving, will probably last a long time, and will keep you warm. Will report back in a couple of years to let you know how its holding up!

Tom

 

[Garfish]

Hi Dub 23:

Since my last reply to your post i have gotten a few more dives with my Whites polarflex 11.

Yes, it is very comfortable with the captive suspension system ,especially around the arm pits. It's easier to put the top on over your head with the thick undergarments since you have the extra stretch.
As for the fit around the wasit, as mine being a custom, it fits more or less like a wetsuit. Easy to bend over ect. Also like the white knee pads.

One draw back with white's is that they are a little slow, but the price and quality of the suit, it was worth it. No trouble with mine.

Hope this helps..
Good luck.