Recommendation for a "warmest" 7 mm wetsuit?

[certified in 1976]

Please let's not have the usual gang of "get a drysuit" responses because I already have one, as well as a semi-dry, 5mm and 3mm. I generally don't like diving dry except when either the water is really cold |(sub 50 F) or when the air temperature is cold. Those are my only two criteria for ever diving dry. Been diving for forty years.

I have a wonderful old Henderson 7mm that is getting old in the tooth so its time to replace. I've been out of the market for a long time so rather than do all the research I thought I'd ask for opinions as to what 7 mm wetsuits are regarded as the "warmest" nowadays. Your input is appreciated.

 

[IMCMOLE]

You really can't go wrong with Henderson, and they just came out with a new Thermoprene Pro version with more stretch. Great warranty too.

Men's 7mm SCUBA Wetsuits

For a little more warmth (due to semi-dry) the O'Neill Sector is pretty sweet. It has fleece inside, plus taped seams outside: 7mm Men's O'Neill SECTOR SCUBA Wetsuit

 

[certified in 1976]

Glad to hear henderson is still highly regarded. Mine has lasted about fifteen years. Time to replace it. I'll definitely have a look. Thanks for your response.

 

[scubadada]

You really can't go wrong with Henderson, and they just came out with a new Thermoprene Pro version with more stretch. Great warranty too.

Men's 7mm SCUBA Wetsuits

For a little more warmth (due to semi-dry) the O'Neill Sector is pretty sweet. It has fleece inside, plus taped seams outside: 7mm Men's O'Neill SECTOR SCUBA Wetsuit

I have the Thermoprene Pro, great fit, very warm, reasonable cost. I doubt it is the "warmest"

 

[Marie13]

Bare. Reactive is the men’s version of the Evoke I have.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I second the Bare Reactive. They have Glideskin double seals at the wrists and ankles and come in 16 different sizes.
7MM Reactive Men's Celliant Wetsuit | BARE Sports

 

[outofofficebrb]

I think a 7mm semi-dry here might still be your best bet for warmth. I only have experience with the Aqua Lung SolAfx which is a great one but there is something of interest I have heard about and have not had personal experience with that you may want to look at.

Probe Wetsuits has a line of super quick-dry wetsuits and they make a 7mm fleecy semi-dry. Check out the video and the reviews of it drying quickly. It's great for surface intervals and repeated dives in cold water where the inside of your suit will dry quickly and will help maintain as much of your core temperature as possible when you take it off and put it back on. No cold, wet wetsuit! Additionally, the thickness and semi-dry part of it with the fleece should also help for in-water.

I don't know if they have any distributors in the US but this is something I would be interested in for my next wetsuit. I hear their customer service is amazing and their shipping rates are very reasonable, along with easy exchanges.

Probe Wetsuits Australia : Surfing Wetsuits : Diving Wetsuits : Mens & Womens Wetsuits

 

[RyanT]

I don't have a lot of experience with different 7 mil wetsuits for comparison. I do dive a Hollis Neotek 7 mil semidry and it seems to be a good suit. I'm comfortable in it down to 60 degrees and can tolerate 55 for relatively short dives. A number of years ago I dove a 5 mil two piece farmer john style (so 10 mil on my core) suit in 65 degree water for up to 75 minutes. I was pretty chilly at the end of those dives. I would rank my neotek as pretty similar to that old two piece suit. For what it's worth I probably have average to slightly below average cold tolerance.

 

[tkaelin]

It really is the one that fits the best. I bought a Henderson 5m about 4 years ago. I spent a lot of time trying on suits in the LDS. There were some on the top of the list going in that I wanted but once I started the process of trying them on they went off the list bc they just fit poorly for one reason or the other. The Henderson fit like a glove. If going for warmth, when I used to dive all day in a mine, I used a 1/4 inch that was two piece; farmer john and step in jacket. Great warmth. Can't remember the make but still have it somewhere. Some how it shrunk over the years. The mine diving was back in the 80s. Good luck.

 

[tridacna]

I have a Henderson Aqualock 7mm and use it at Dutch Springs in 50F water. No issues.

And I’m an old fogey like you! Also certified in 1976.