Recommend your drysuit

[SCMZ]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new drysuit, and I was curious what my fellow Northern California divers use and what you think the pros and cons of your suit are. I'm currently using a Mares Ice Fit 4 (which I mostly bought because it was cheap and had decent reviews) but I've found that it fits me too closely to layer enough undergarments under it to really keep me warm.

Thanks!

 

[Dsix36]

I am in South Florida rather than California, but here is my review anyway. I dive a Santi Enduro and am very impressed with it. It is very rugged and still remains flexible when diving it. I have abused the hell out it by crawling through wrecks and caves and it has held up extremely well. About the only negative thing I can say about it is that the grommets on the pockets will rust immediately (should have been brass or stainless). It is an expensive suit, but the quality has made me a believer. Would I buy another Santi if I were to do it all over again - Heck Yes!

 

[3D diver]

I just replaced my Viking Sport with a Viking Pro. Viking was the drysuit to have...in '89 when I got my first one. Tough, easy to patch, not prone to the delamination problems other shell style suits used to have (though my Sport did ultimately delaminate). I went with another Viking 'cause it was what I am used to.

The major con is that they're hard to find since they bowed out of the sport diver market.

 

[eelnoraa]

I have two drysuit at this point. Both DUI, CF200, and TLS350.

CF200 still a shell suit, but the shell material crushed neoprene. Advantage is very tough, bit stretchy, usually cut very form fitting, streamline, inherent insulation. Disadvantage is not very flexible, heavy, even more heavier wet, take time to dry. Not all "crushed" neoprenes are created the same. For example, I do think DUI's "crushed" neoprene is much better material than Bare's version of "compressed" neoprene in terms flexiblity/mobility.

TLS350 is a nylon-rubber-nylon shell suit. Advantage is very light weight, very comfortable, take almost no time to dry, diver's mobility is also very good. Disadvantage is it is not very tough. The cut needs to be a bit big to accomondate thick undergarment and diver's movement, so may not look as form fitting.

White gets a lot of popularity lately too. I haven't tried one, but I have heard both good and bad about it.

 

[RonFrank]

Bare Nexgen - Shell suit. Cheap and reliable. I have been diving one close to a decade. I can say very few negative things about this suit. A bit thin skinned for rocky entries.

Whites Fusion - My next suit. Feels more like diving a wetsuit. A weird suit involving a skin and a shell. The skin is made of lycra. Not sure what the shell is made of, something waterproof and fairly thin! They were expensive but I have been seeing them with less than a dozen dives used on ebay for $600-1000 so no longer a $2000+ option.

 

[GregSaiz]

I'm a fairly new to diving dry and went with a Whites Fusion and Fusion undergarment. I like the fit much better than the DUI or Pinnacle suits I demo'd. The Fusion feels very streamlined underwater. I can't swear it is a result of the suit, but I seem to require less weight with the Whiles than I did with DUI. I went with the ring system so seals can be replaced in the field. Dry gloves are also easy to slip on over the SiTec rings.

Cons: rinsing and drying the suit is a complete pain. The shoulder zipper makes a pee valve or relief zipper seem like a necessity.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I'm on Vancouver Island, so probably slightly colder than NorCal, but not that different.

I've owned a Bare Nex-Gen Pro - great quality shell suit for the price. Rear-entry zipper that's easy to care for and easy to zip. Sturdy bilaminate material with knee pads. Comfortable and flexible. With a decent undergarment, you'll feel warm in NorCal.

I have a DUI FLX 50/50 - a bit more expensive. It's a mix of a shell and crushed neoprene suit, with a trilaminate upper half and crushed neoprene legs. With the same undergarment as the Nex-Gen Pro, it's even warmer. Also, it's front-entry, which is why I decided to replace my Nex-Gen Pro. Very sturdy, reliable, comfortable, warm, and any positive statement you can say about a drysuit.

I've used the White's Fusion Bullet with the MK-2 Undergarment. Very warm and flexible. Unique and easy front-entry suit. One of the best suits I've tried, but I still like the DUI suit a bit better. With the skin layer (bullet, sport, tech) over the bilaminate layer, it's an extremely durable shell suit.

So the conclusion is - try them out. If you have the money, I'd go with DUI or White's. I'd recommend shell over neoprene, though in some cases, high quality neoprene (e.g., crushed neoprene) would be appropriate. Even if you don't and think you're going to upgrade some day, buy the upgrade now; it'll save you money in the long run.

 

[Jon Nellis]

I have a custom DUI CLX50/50 that I have not been easy on, but not abused. I've had to fix at least half a dozen leaks in the CF200 socks from the poorly formed seams and I replaced the elastic crotch strap with a soft nylon strap that then wore a hole in the CF200 crotch. I just had the zipper replaced at DUI and tried to get them to use a TiZip zipper, but they refused to install one for me. (should have sent it to DRIS)

My next drysuit will be a Santi, no doubt about it.

Cheers,
Jon

 

[sffrenchman]

I just got a Santi Elite and I am very happy with it so far. High quality construction and fit, awesome pockets, great boots, very rugged, and above all I am dry. The con is the price.

 

[ktkt]

Does Santi do local drysuit demo days, like Whites and DUI? I'd never heard of them before now. (Only half-seriously starting to think about drysuits.)