pac cloth

[NWCWdiver]

Hello,

What is this material and what are the positives/negatives of this type of drysuit material?

thanks!

 

[Falco]

I've never heard of a pack cloth drysuit. Do you mean a trilaminate drysuit?

 

[123Scuba.com]

I think your talking about "bag" style suits vs. Neoprene/Crushed Neoprene or Vulcanized Rubber... There are also different types of "bag" style suits as Falco mentioned like Trilaminate which is actually 3 layers of materials or Cordura style suits which have waterproof backed materials.

The material a suit is made from greatly determines its price. As an example a poly backed Cordura suit made from 400 Denier is going to cost about half of what a vulcanized rubber ot trilam suit goes for.

All of that said, one reason why people like bag style suits is because they are lighter in overall weight. They are also non-insulating (unlike neoprene) so you can use them in warmer conditions while still benefiting from being dry.

I am a crushed neoprene fan myself (old habits die hard)...

 

[altitudemike]

I used to have the crushed neoprene myself then went to the "bag style". I will be going back to the crushed neoprene as soon as I wear this one out.

 

[123Scuba.com]

I used to have the crushed neoprene myself then went to the "bag style". I will be going back to the crushed neoprene as soon as I wear this one out.

Now that's a good reason to dive...

 

[NWCWdiver]

oh ok. The dive shop guy told me it was a "pac cloth" suit. I was a little confused but I guess it is the cordura style. Is tri-lam a better, more reliable way to go? I was looking at a USIA but maybe I should go tri-lam DUI.

 

[123Scuba.com]

oh ok. The dive shop guy told me it was a "pac cloth" suit. I was a little confused but I guess it is the cordura style. Is tri-lam a better, more reliable way to go? I was looking at a USIA but maybe I should go tri-lam DUI.

IMO - USIA makes one of the best value drysuits on the market. They have a great warranty and their suits are made in the USA. I have personally sold USIA suits to students of mine with no reservations whatsoever. I will add that a Drysuit is a considerable investment that you are going to have to live with (good or bad). It is not a decision to be made lightly. Also keep in mind that you get what you pay for, especially with a drysuit. Material, cut, construction, seals, zippers, boots, knee pads etc... all of these things contribute to the price (and the longevity) of a suit. Do your research and find the best overall combination for your needs and budget.

In direct answer to your question about going with Trilam: Not necessarily. I honestly don't know enough about you or how you dive to say one way or the other. What a suit is made out of is only part of the equation. Here is a real example: You will generally pay more for a self donning "front zip" style suit. This is a "must" feature for me. If I had to choose between a better material trilam suit but had to sacrifice fit and self donning to get it that is not the right value for me. You may be able to take advantage of features you would of had to sacrifice else where by going with Cordura over trilam. I hope this dosen't confuse you more...

 

[NWCWdiver]

I see what you are saying, I like the idea of "zip seals" from DUI but I like right down the road from the USIA company. What are the differences between cordura over the waterproof ruber versus tri-lam construction?

 

[123Scuba.com]

Again IMO - Unless you have a specific reason (like contaminated water, etc.) I don't recommend vulcanized rubber suits. The waterproofing is on the outside of the material so as the suit wears they begin to seep on the inside. As far as trilam material (Nylon / Butyl Rubber / Nylon) the waterproofing layer is sandwiched between 2 strong layers of nylon. Cordura suits have the waterproofing layer on the inside. Pros on trilam, very sturdy, material. Cons: If it gets a puncture it is more difficult to repair because of the nylon layers. I’ve done “field repairs” on Cordura suits with duct tape…