JDW-NC
Registered
After seeing several comments here from others, I tried ScubaL, seeing that you simply cannot find less expensive suits. I also took the attitude that if it didn't work out, it wasn't a significant investment, which in the end I'm glad I had that frame of mind. I spent $143 for a 5mm shorty and a 7mm fullsuit w/hood...well, you get what you pay for!
To begin with, you can only reach ScubaL via their website (or snail mail)...they don't post phone numbers for customer service. I ordered a full 7mm w/attached hood, and a 5mm shorty from them on a Thursday. They posted an order status on the following Mon that my order was "processing", my bank card posted payment on Monday as well. I could not get any sort of update until Wed, which said "processed", but didn't say if it had shipped, when it'd ship or anything. I tried contacting them through their live chat, which was down so I left a message...they never answered. I, through extensive searching through the internet, found a phone and fax number for them...left a voice message and sent them a fax. Finally, on Friday, they posted an update to my order saying it had shipped and gave me the UPS tracking number. No sooner had I retrieved this update, UPS delivered the package to me. I was a bit neverous right up until the package arrived, I guess just because ScubaL seems to want to limit the customer's ability to contact them, which to me is a bit scary when they have your credit card number!
So, ready to donn these inexpensive suits, I tried the XL 5mm shorty first...as I legged into the suit, it seemed to fit well in the legs/crotch, then I got my arms thru really tight short sleeves, then to find out the back zipper came with an 8" nylon strap to pull the zipper up with. This was way too short to flip it over your shoulder, or to utilize in any other contorted position to close the zipper, so I too it back off and attached an 18" nylon shoestring to the 8" strap, resuited and was able to then zip it up. The shorty fit well in the legs and torso, but the short sleeve arms were very constricting in the armpits and the shortsleeves, making it very uncomfortable. The neck has an adjustable velcro closure, but the neck shape was irregular and I never was able to adjust it to close around my neck, without making it too tight. My disappointment began to set in.
So, I try the 7mm fullsuit with hood, which I ordered one size larger (2XL, the largest standard size they offer) to allow for potential underlayers. The arms and legs are zippered, and it has a front zip all the way up to the bottom of the hood. With the zippers fully unzipped, I could hardly get my legs and arms through, and being a 2XL, the arms and legs were a little long for me. Problem was, the arms/legs were so tight, I couldn't even pull them up enough to adjust for the overlength, meaning I could not close the zippers to the ends. Plus, when I did close the zippers, it was really tight to the extent my hands went flush, and it was obvious blood was being cut off. The arms at the elbows were extremely tight as well. I proceeded to zip it up, and found the torso to be a bit baggy in the middle (big air pocket in the waist area, but it fit me well through the shoulders and hood (I wear an XL - 7-3/4" cap size). When it came to taking the suit back off, I had to get my daughter help pull the suit down past my shoulders, then peel it off. The arms were so tight, there was no way for me to get this suit off unassisted. It was obvious that was not getting anything under this suit other than a skin...which I really wanted to be able to donn a vest under it for colder waters...which would only be possible with a sleeveless vest. Bottm line, the suit was too tightand long in the arms and legs, there was no question that I was returning it.
BTW, I'm in reasonably good shape, 6"1", 215-220lbs, and usually fit well in XL sizes. I work out with weights enough to stay toned, but I'm not Mr. Buff...I'd say average to slightly above average athletic build. To me, these standard off-the-shelf ScubaL suits are sized for slightly rotund torsos for guys with small arms/legs. The standard suit does not have any of the high stretch neoprene, which further makes this suit tough to fit a variety of body shapes. One other observation is that they type of neoprene they use has a very strong "toxic" odor, substantially more than any other neoprene suit I've ever encountered at the LDS's. I assume they use a lower grade neoprene, which is another reson for their attractive pricing.
ScubaL offers custom fitted suits by sending them numerous & varied body measurements, with their best suit using high-stretch neoprene a little over $200 for a 7mm in my size. That very well may be worthwhile, but now having seen their standard product, combined with the very limited ability to communicate with them, I won't try a custom with them.
After a lot of recommendations on this site, I have now ordered a 2XL Bare Velocity 7mm full-suit (no hood) from LeisurePro.com for $204 with free shipping...hope to have a better experience with that order!
To begin with, you can only reach ScubaL via their website (or snail mail)...they don't post phone numbers for customer service. I ordered a full 7mm w/attached hood, and a 5mm shorty from them on a Thursday. They posted an order status on the following Mon that my order was "processing", my bank card posted payment on Monday as well. I could not get any sort of update until Wed, which said "processed", but didn't say if it had shipped, when it'd ship or anything. I tried contacting them through their live chat, which was down so I left a message...they never answered. I, through extensive searching through the internet, found a phone and fax number for them...left a voice message and sent them a fax. Finally, on Friday, they posted an update to my order saying it had shipped and gave me the UPS tracking number. No sooner had I retrieved this update, UPS delivered the package to me. I was a bit neverous right up until the package arrived, I guess just because ScubaL seems to want to limit the customer's ability to contact them, which to me is a bit scary when they have your credit card number!
So, ready to donn these inexpensive suits, I tried the XL 5mm shorty first...as I legged into the suit, it seemed to fit well in the legs/crotch, then I got my arms thru really tight short sleeves, then to find out the back zipper came with an 8" nylon strap to pull the zipper up with. This was way too short to flip it over your shoulder, or to utilize in any other contorted position to close the zipper, so I too it back off and attached an 18" nylon shoestring to the 8" strap, resuited and was able to then zip it up. The shorty fit well in the legs and torso, but the short sleeve arms were very constricting in the armpits and the shortsleeves, making it very uncomfortable. The neck has an adjustable velcro closure, but the neck shape was irregular and I never was able to adjust it to close around my neck, without making it too tight. My disappointment began to set in.
So, I try the 7mm fullsuit with hood, which I ordered one size larger (2XL, the largest standard size they offer) to allow for potential underlayers. The arms and legs are zippered, and it has a front zip all the way up to the bottom of the hood. With the zippers fully unzipped, I could hardly get my legs and arms through, and being a 2XL, the arms and legs were a little long for me. Problem was, the arms/legs were so tight, I couldn't even pull them up enough to adjust for the overlength, meaning I could not close the zippers to the ends. Plus, when I did close the zippers, it was really tight to the extent my hands went flush, and it was obvious blood was being cut off. The arms at the elbows were extremely tight as well. I proceeded to zip it up, and found the torso to be a bit baggy in the middle (big air pocket in the waist area, but it fit me well through the shoulders and hood (I wear an XL - 7-3/4" cap size). When it came to taking the suit back off, I had to get my daughter help pull the suit down past my shoulders, then peel it off. The arms were so tight, there was no way for me to get this suit off unassisted. It was obvious that was not getting anything under this suit other than a skin...which I really wanted to be able to donn a vest under it for colder waters...which would only be possible with a sleeveless vest. Bottm line, the suit was too tightand long in the arms and legs, there was no question that I was returning it.
BTW, I'm in reasonably good shape, 6"1", 215-220lbs, and usually fit well in XL sizes. I work out with weights enough to stay toned, but I'm not Mr. Buff...I'd say average to slightly above average athletic build. To me, these standard off-the-shelf ScubaL suits are sized for slightly rotund torsos for guys with small arms/legs. The standard suit does not have any of the high stretch neoprene, which further makes this suit tough to fit a variety of body shapes. One other observation is that they type of neoprene they use has a very strong "toxic" odor, substantially more than any other neoprene suit I've ever encountered at the LDS's. I assume they use a lower grade neoprene, which is another reson for their attractive pricing.
ScubaL offers custom fitted suits by sending them numerous & varied body measurements, with their best suit using high-stretch neoprene a little over $200 for a 7mm in my size. That very well may be worthwhile, but now having seen their standard product, combined with the very limited ability to communicate with them, I won't try a custom with them.
After a lot of recommendations on this site, I have now ordered a 2XL Bare Velocity 7mm full-suit (no hood) from LeisurePro.com for $204 with free shipping...hope to have a better experience with that order!
