Scubapro vs 4th Element undergarment

[sharko108]

Hi guys!
I'm gonna order my first dry suit in January and i want to order in advance my undergarments to take (if needed) measure of the suit with my right clothes beneath

So, i was thinking going with 4th Element , probably the Xerotherm and Arctic
But just to be sure of that choice, what would you think about Scubapro K2 medium (equivalent of Arctic?) and K2 light (Equivalent of Xerotherm?)

Thanks a lot

 

[scubadiver888]

I don't know about the Scubapro undergarments. Whenever I buy undergarments they don't really come up. I like to see what other people are saying or get recommendations from people I know who dive for a long time in really cold water (technical divers). Some are giving me REALLY warm recommendations and some even say go heated. In the end I always seem to gravitate towards the 4th Element. I currently dive in 9C water using Xerotherm and it is good. In August it would get up to 15C in some places, at depth. The Xerotherm were okay, i.e. not too warm. However, someone recently suggested the J2 base layer.

I have been diving slightly colder (below 9C) and think the combination of a J2 and Xerotherm might work well for say 8C to 4C. Someone has been suggesting diving in January/February. Then I'm probably going to go with Arctic. If I have all three thickness then I can mix and match for different temperatures.

Additionally, I once snagged my drysuit zipper and opened it 2cm during a dive. It got flooded with liters of water. It was, literally, full from the waist down when I walked out of the water (shore dive). It didn't affect my buoyancy and I didn't really notice how much water was in my suit until I got out of the water. The Xerotherm did a great job of keeping me warm.

If you don't find stories like this for the Scubapro, I'd say stick with the 4th Element.

 

[sharko108]

I don't know about the Scubapro undergarments. Whenever I buy undergarments they don't really come up. I like to see what other people are saying or get recommendations from people I know who dive for a long time in really cold water (technical divers). Some are giving me REALLY warm recommendations and some even say go heated. In the end I always seem to gravitate towards the 4th Element. I currently dive in 9C water using Xerotherm and it is good. In August it would get up to 15C in some places, at depth. The Xerotherm were okay, i.e. not too warm. However, someone recently suggested the J2 base layer.

I have been diving slightly colder (below 9C) and think the combination of a J2 and Xerotherm might work well for say 8C to 4C. Someone has been suggesting diving in January/February. Then I'm probably going to go with Arctic. If I have all three thickness then I can mix and match for different temperatures.

Additionally, I once snagged my drysuit zipper and opened it 2cm during a dive. It got flooded with liters of water. It was, literally, full from the waist down when I walked out of the water (shore dive). It didn't affect my buoyancy and I didn't really notice how much water was in my suit until I got out of the water. The Xerotherm did a great job of keeping me warm.

If you don't find stories like this for the Scubapro, I'd say stick with the 4th Element.

Thanks for your answer! Indeed this is not the first time i'm reading that kind of story where some got some water inside the suit and the 4thE. undergarment kept they warm.
But one question.. you just said that you are diving around 10C with only 1 layer, the Xerotherm?! Actually i was thinking that for that kind of temperatures i was supposed to wear at least xerotherm+artic lol but i guess most versatility is to have anyways both xerotherm and arctic

 

[GiraffeMarineSalvage]

4th element are absolutely great in my experience...
(I have no personal experience with the scubapro line of undergarments)

 

[scubadiver888]

Thanks for your answer! Indeed this is not the first time i'm reading that kind of story where some got some water inside the suit and the 4thE. undergarment kept they warm.
But one question.. you just said that you are diving around 10C with only 1 layer, the Xerotherm?! Actually i was thinking that for that kind of temperatures i was supposed to wear at least xerotherm+artic lol but i guess most versatility is to have anyways both xerotherm and arctic

I store I purchased my drysuit from was clearing out some 4th Element undergarments. Xerotherm was in-stock and on sale so I grabbed two sets (socks, shirt, pants). They didn't have anything heavier in stock or on sale and I just dropped $4,000+ on a custom drysuit. I was planning on saving up and buying something warmer but found the Xerotherm worked for me.

 

[sharko108]

I store I purchased my drysuit from was clearing out some 4th Element undergarments. Xerotherm was in-stock and on sale so I grabbed two sets (socks, shirt, pants). They didn't have anything heavier in stock or on sale and I just dropped $4,000+ on a custom drysuit. I was planning on saving up and buying something warmer but found the Xerotherm worked for me.

Nice to know. Well, maybe a base layer (like merino wool or J2) + Xerotherm could be enough without having to purchase the Arctic even if i think one day or other i would probably need it too

 

[scubadiver888]

Nice to know. Well, maybe a base layer (like merino wool or J2) + Xerotherm could be enough without having to purchase the Arctic even if i think one day or other i would probably need it too

I'd get the J2 rather than a merino wool. A wet J2, even with sweat, is going to feel a lot better than merino wool.

 

[sharko108]

I'd get the J2 rather than a merino wool. A wet J2, even with sweat, is going to feel a lot better than merino wool.

Noted, thank you. When i did my dry suit course i put a decathlon (no full) merino base layer + small fleece + big zip fleece and base layer was really wet but of sweat i think , i don't know if it was because of second layer which didn't evacuate sweat but if it was because of the base merino layer, indeed J2 might be a good solution.. Even if this + xerotherm +arctic will be a lot of expensive haha

 

[Tigerpaw]

I personally use a 4th Element X-Core vest with a BARE Exotherm base layer in waters that are 45F/7C. The X-Core keeps my body core nice and warm. I also have a 4th Element 450 one piece undergarment that I wear during ice diving where the temps are 35F/2C and it keeps me nice and warm. I can't say enough good things about 4th Element under garments, they work well and keep me warm. That being said, regardless of what brand you decide to purchase you will need to do buoyancy checks to make sure you have the correct weighting. For instance my X-Core/Exotherm undies I need 14 pounds to descend and have good buoyancy, whereas my 450g uni I need 22 pounds.

 

[inquis]

As you're probably aware, temperature tolerance is quite personal. One data point: I can use Xerotherms down to 16°C for 30-45 min NDL dives. If I'm doing deco or longer or colder, down to 9-10°C, I'll use the Arctics. Colder than that and I use them both (down to 4°C on some NDL dives).