Purchasing first new wetsuit. Suggestions?

[DivingNewbie]

All, I am purchasing a new wetsuit the next couple of days before Xmas. Any recommendations in brands (not thickness, as I've already decided on a 7mm). Just wondering if there are any brands (O'Neill, Bare, Henderson, etc.) that are particularly better/worse than others. Thanks.

 

[DivingPrincessE]

I love my Henderson Thermoprene. It isn't as expensive as the hyperstretch and it's much easier to get in and out of than the typical neoprene wetsuit.

 

[formernuke]

Each brand is cut slightly different. I discovered this when I was looking for my 7 mm. I wound up with a pinnacle mainly because of the brands I tried on it fit the best. Also don't relay on the sizing charts those are estimates and will not necasserly be the best fit.

 

[JDMerk]

Ive dove with pinnacle wetsuits and boots, their neoprene doesnt seem to hold up as well as I think it should.

O'neill and Scubapro make good wetsuits though, I have been happy with them.

I also just bought a wetsuit in the Keys at a Divers Direct outlet for $36, bangin deal. Its and EVO...never really heard of them but have been told its their house brand dive gear...we will see how it holds up but its doing well with 7 dives on it so far.

 

[Underwater Ogre]

I have 3 Oneill suits...they fit my shape and hold up well.
U/O

 

[ShakaZulu]

Instead of me telling you what I think is the best, read this thread....

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/exposure-suits/181929-xcel-tri-density-winter-test.html

 

[Underwater Ogre]

If you are going all the way up to a 7mil why dont you just step into a drysuit?

 

[spoolin01]

I can't give you much comparative information but I put maybe 200 dives on a 7mm O'Neill 7000X over 3-4 years and it held together fabulously. I've dived a 7000X 7mm neoprene drysuit for a couple years now and from what I can tell it's also well put together. I replaced the wetsuit with the Xcel Quad 8/7/6/5 recently, and only have 15 or so Channel Island dives on it, but for the first time in those waters I was too warm on some dives. Going from a not-hooded to hooded suit made a big difference in warmth and flushing. For what it's worth, the Xcel suits (8/7/6/5 or 9/7/6) are very commonly seen here in NorCal. My casual observation is that the name suits are all put together very well. It would be interesting to hear how well insulating quality of various suits holds up. A lot of people like the hyperstretch suits, but I wonder how well those hold up to compression cycles.

 

[fnfalman]

All, I am purchasing a new wetsuit the next couple of days before Xmas. Any recommendations in brands (not thickness, as I've already decided on a 7mm). Just wondering if there are any brands (O'Neill, Bare, Henderson, etc.) that are particularly better/worse than others. Thanks.

I'd suggest go with the custom suit that is cut to your body's measurement. You will also have the opportunity to add various pockets, knife sheaths, zipper placements if those items are what you wish to have. I have found that pockets on exposure suits are a lot easier to get to and more streamlined than pockets on BC. JMJ out of Torrance, California is well respected for turning out great wetsuits. As is Horizon Wetsuit out of Fullerton, California.

If you are going all the way up to a 7mil why dont you just step into a drysuit?

An excellent wetsuit costs about $500, and I don't spend fifteen minutes trying to don it or doff it either. It keeps me warm thus far to 50-F.

 

[Miller64]

what/who is an excellent wetsuit for 500?