New Dry Suit...

[doctormike]

Hi, everyone...! Just got back from the Dutch Springs DUI demo days, and I can't wait to get my suit...! Got certified in a CF200 last year, but I don't think that I want the weight and the slow drying. I'm trying to choose between the CLX450 and the TLS350. Any thoughts? Is the 450 heavy or is it pretty close in weight to the 350? Is the 350 too fragile? I'm planning on some Jersey shore wreck dives, but my main interest is photography and I don't plan on doing much in the way of penetration. Last dive there was on the Stolt Dagali (never doing THAT again in a wet suit... brrrr..!).

I think that I'm going to get the zip seals, but pass on the dry gloves (I like to have the abilty to have my hands free without doffing the suit). Liked the polartec powerstretch, but it's pretty expensive compared to the actionware. The actionware seemed OK and was much cheaper...

I know that there have been similar threads to this one in the past, but hey, we all love talking about this stuff, right?

Thanks for your help, everyone..!

 

[large_diver]

Hi Mike,

I just went through the same decision this spring and decided upon the 350. I weighed the durability of the 450 vs. the lighter-weight/faster-drying/better mobility 350 and the 350 won. The mobility was the biggest thing for me. The mobility of the 450 wasn't bad....it's just that the 350 was better. My diving is mainly recreational (definitely no penetration), some external wreck diving -- the 350 seemed like a good choice for these requirements (with the XL kevlar knee pads).

You'll have to take my advice with a grain of salt however......haven't received my suit yet (Signature Series -- arrives at the LDS on Monday).

Good luck.

-Chris

 

[doctormike]

Hey, Chris... thanks very much! I'm leaning that way too... I really like to travel light, and dive equipment in general is so heavy (plus my camera, case, strobes, etc...) that the 350 seems to be a good choice... I guess that the worst case scenario is bad (suit failure at depth) but not catastrophic as long as I don't have an obligatory deco stop and stay clear of Antartic waters...!

Hi Mike,

I just went through the same decision this spring and decided upon the 350. I weighed the durability of the 450 vs. the lighter-weight/faster-drying/better mobility 350 and the 350 won.

 

[paulwlee]

I got a TLS350 last year and love it. I was considering getting the CLX450, but once I tried both on, there was no question that I liked the TLS much much better. The CLX450 was just too stiff.

The TLS dries in a matter of minutes. I just turn it inside out for a few minutes to let the condensation dry and then turn it right side out again.
Two things I wish I had done differently: get velcro bellows pockets for my right pocket instead of the neoprene pocket, and kevlar kneepads instead of the CF200 kneepad. Then I probably could just put away the drysuit once I get back home after the 1.5 hour drive from the divesite. (I usually rinse it in fresh water right after the dive.) Right now, the kneepad and pocket take a few hours to dry.

 

[Mo2vation]

Hi, everyone...! Just got back from the Dutch Springs DUI demo days, and I can't wait to get my suit...! Got certified in a CF200 last year, but I don't think that I want the weight and the slow drying. I'm trying to choose between the CLX450 and the TLS350. Any thoughts? Is the 450 heavy or is it pretty close in weight to the 350? Is the 350 too fragile? I'm planning on some Jersey shore wreck dives, but my main interest is photography and I don't plan on doing much in the way of penetration. Last dive there was on the Stolt Dagali (never doing THAT again in a wet suit... brrrr..!).

I think that I'm going to get the zip seals, but pass on the dry gloves (I like to have the abilty to have my hands free without doffing the suit). Liked the polartec powerstretch, but it's pretty expensive compared to the actionware. The actionware seemed OK and was much cheaper...

I know that there have been similar threads to this one in the past, but hey, we all love talking about this stuff, right?

Thanks for your help, everyone..!

Got the 50/50. I like the stretch in the legs. But there is a weight when wet issue, and its bulky, and takes awhile to dry, yatta yatta yatta... The CF200 is a brick.

I don't need all of the abrasion resistance of the CF200 and the 450... I'm a guppy diver. I flop off a boat, dive for a bit, come up, hang out, and do it again. No cave, no deep wreck penetration, no long deco, no man eating barnicles.

I got wifie a 350. I'm totally jealous. Light, fast, lacks small, etc.

I got the CF200 knee pads on my 50/50. I also got the neoprene zip pockets, as all I carry around is a spare mask, shears, diver alert in left, and wetnotes in right. If you carry a lot more, maybe the Big velcro is the way to go. Those saddle bags are kinda big for me - I dive in the kelp.

After ripping a neck seal on day 1.5 of a 3 day trip last summer, I sent it in and got the zip seals put on. No worries, no leaks, great peace of mind.

You'll love it. No wack colors... keep it looking good.

K

PS: people ditz the DUI hood. I love mine. Fits, vents, tucks... keeps me warm.

 

[doctormike]

Got the 50/50. I like the stretch in the legs. But there is a weight when wet issue, and its bulky, and takes awhile to dry, yatta yatta yatta... The CF200 is a brick.

Yeah... pretty much everyone who has the 350 likes it... I really do like the idea of it packing so small and light... Just spent a while talking with one of the people at the LDS, though, and she strongly recommended the 450 over the 350... her bias is towards Jersey wreck diving, but she really was of the opinion that the 350 was fragile, and that the 450 wasn't too stiff (I didn't think that it was too stiff at the demo days). I guess there aren't many 350's up here...