Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[Craine]

Finally ready to order mine after six months of procrastinating. Options as follows:

Suit & Stitching
Color: Black & Red
Thread Color: Red

Style & cut
Fully Telescopic Torso

Zip & pee valve options
Main body dry zip cover, same color as arms
YKK Plastic Dry Zip
Fitted SiTech Trigon Pee Valve

Seal, neck, and wrist systems
Quick neck with Silflex seal - black
SiTech Oval Cuff - black

Valve options
SiTech Valve system (including hose)

Boot & sock options
Compressed Neoprene socks

Additional protection
Kevlar knee pads
PU shoulder reinforcement

Comfort & customization
40mm suspenders
No logos
Change mat/bag upgrade
Elasticated back

Pocket & attachment points
2x Expedition pockets (forward facing)

I'm also purchasing a set of 150g undergarments, an extra neck seal, set of extra wrist seals, the Rolock 90 kit, and a set of Showa unlined gloves.

Comments or thoughts? Am I not thinking of something?

 

[ADVRider808]

I was curious to know what type of lube Seaskin sent you. Was it a chapstick-sized container of lube or did you get a little brick of beeswax?

Look for the lip balm container by ZipTech (also sold by Gear Aid), contains no silicone.

Zip Tech Zipper Lube

Check out the deal on Zip Tech Zipper Lube at The Dinghy Shop

www.dinghyshop.com

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Sorry for posting so much, but until get back on my feet, I’m living my diving life vicariously through the rest of you. My dive buddy outgrew an undersuit and at the price of dinner, relegated it to me to use. It’s a few years old, but has little use and made by Mobby’s. The shell is quite a bit more durable than the Seaskin 150 and it is a bit more lofty. So it might be closer to the 250. Wondering if I should replace the metal zipper pull tabs.

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Dive it before you do anything, the zippers look fine to me? It looks like a nice suit, but I'm not sure it looks 250 lofty?

Finally ready to order mine after six months of procrastinating. Options as follows:

Suit & Stitching
Color: Black & Red
Thread Color: Red

Style & cut
Fully Telescopic Torso

Zip & pee valve options
Main body dry zip cover, same color as arms
YKK Plastic Dry Zip
Fitted SiTech Trigon Pee Valve

Seal, neck, and wrist systems
Quick neck with Silflex seal - black
SiTech Oval Cuff - black

Valve options
SiTech Valve system (including hose)

Boot & sock options
Compressed Neoprene socks

Additional protection
Kevlar knee pads
PU shoulder reinforcement

Comfort & customization
40mm suspenders
No logos
Change mat/bag upgrade
Elasticated back

Pocket & attachment points
2x Expedition pockets (forward facing)

I'm also purchasing a set of 150g undergarments, an extra neck seal, set of extra wrist seals, the Rolock 90 kit, and a set of Showa unlined gloves.

Comments or thoughts? Am I not thinking of something?

Get the word "Kevlar" removed from the knee pads, that's a special request (I don't know why).

Do you plan on SM diving? Hence the forward pockets?

I believe the elastic back is for women.

I didn't see a warm neck, not sure if that's needed or not. I got whatever the deluxe neck is. In the beginning I didn't like it but now I've gotten used to it and hopefully with a newer hood I can keep some warmth around my neck (my current hood has no bib at all).

I got all the pads / braces and don't regret it (yet), and I really beat the hell out of my suit. It stays dirty. I don't know how much they help, but I did what I did.

 

[ADVRider808]

Finally ready to order mine after six months of procrastinating. Options as follows:

Comfort & customization
Elasticated back

Pocket & attachment points
2x Expedition pockets (forward facing)

I'm also purchasing a set of 150g undergarments, an extra neck seal, set of extra wrist seals, the Rolock 90 kit, and a set of Showa unlined gloves.

Comments or thoughts? Am I not thinking of something?

Elasticated back: is your waist considerably smaller than your chest/seat? Per the website this option is aimed at humans with an hourglass shape. I think most males with a small/medium waist also have a small/medium seat.

Expedition pockets facing forward: are you a sidemount diver and this is something you are looking for in particular?

 

[Craine]

Get the word "Kevlar" removed from the knee pads, that's a special request (I don't know why).

Do you plan on SM diving? Hence the forward pockets?

I believe the elastic back is for women.

I didn't see a warm neck, not sure if that's needed or not. I got whatever the deluxe neck is. In the beginning I didn't like it but now I've gotten used to it and hopefully with a newer hood I can keep some warmth around my neck (my current hood has no bib at all).

I got all the pads / braces and don't regret it (yet), and I really beat the hell out of my suit. It stays dirty. I don't know how much they help, but I did what I did.

Elasticated back: is your waist considerably smaller than your chest/seat? Per the website this option is aimed at humans with an hourglass shape. I think most males with a small/medium waist also have a small/medium seat.

Expedition pockets facing forward: are you a sidemount diver and this is something you are looking for in particular?

Kevlar markings: I had no idea that was even an option, honestly I thought the text was there for the website images only, thanks for pointing it out!

Elasticated back: Yes, I have a pretty significant difference (16cm) between chest/seat and waist. (110cm vs 94cm).

Expedition pockets: I have a pair of "homemade" tech shorts that have the pockets forward facing, but I'm not married to the idea. I don't dive SM (and don't plan to), so probably ought to just switch them to regular.

I don't dive cold water, mostly east/west coasts of Florida, so I didn't get any warm neck options.

 

[Boarderguy]

Comfort & customization
40mm suspenders
No logos
Change mat/bag upgrade
Elasticated back

Nix the elastic back imo.

I'm also purchasing a set of 150g undergarments, an extra neck seal, set of extra wrist seals, the Rolock 90 kit, and a set of Showa unlined gloves.

Buy 3-4 spare neck seals. You will inevitably tear your first one and then you won't have a backup. They are FAR cheaper from Seaskin than anywhere else. I've only tore one but have 4 spares available. 1 lives in my SAD and the others with all my extra crap in the garage.


Also, pockets on your sides of you're not diving SM

 

[ADVRider808]

Kevlar markings: I had no idea that was even an option, honestly I thought the text was there for the website images only, thanks for pointing it out!

Elasticated back: Yes, I have a pretty significant difference (16cm) between chest/seat and waist. (110cm vs 94cm).

Expedition pockets: I have a pair of "homemade" tech shorts that have the pockets forward facing, but I'm not married to the idea. I don't dive SM (and don't plan to), so probably ought to just switch them to regular.

I don't dive cold water, mostly east/west coasts of Florida, so I didn't get any warm neck options.

Also, If Seaskin indicates that they do not have the Rolock 90 system in stock, check with DrysuitSpareparts.com

In anticipation of them not having it in stock (based on a recent post in this thread), I ordered a set from Drysuitspareparts (Submerged Diving Limited) and got them for 137 GBP ($172) along with a number of spare seals. Shipping was $23.

I've been spec'ing a suit much like your build but have been waffling between yellow arms or yellow chest. Getting the Rolock 90 now was hedging against Seaskin still being out when I order my suit.

 

[Badger7]

Some spare wrist seals aren't a bad idea either. Sitech silicone wrist seals are about $50 stateside, half that from EU sources like Seaskin.

 

[Litefoot]

Finally ready to order mine after six months of procrastinating. Options as follows:

Suit & Stitching
Color: Black & Red
Thread Color: Red

Style & cut
Fully Telescopic Torso

Zip & pee valve options
Main body dry zip cover, same color as arms
YKK Plastic Dry Zip
Fitted SiTech Trigon Pee Valve

Seal, neck, and wrist systems
Quick neck with Silflex seal - black
SiTech Oval Cuff - black

Valve options
SiTech Valve system (including hose)

Boot & sock options
Compressed Neoprene socks

Additional protection
Kevlar knee pads
PU shoulder reinforcement

Comfort & customization
40mm suspenders
No logos
Change mat/bag upgrade
Elasticated back

Pocket & attachment points
2x Expedition pockets (forward facing)

I'm also purchasing a set of 150g undergarments, an extra neck seal, set of extra wrist seals, the Rolock 90 kit, and a set of Showa unlined gloves.

Comments or thoughts? Am I not thinking of something?

My first dive in my Seaskin was a repair project with small tools in my side pockets in 40 degree water. I wore dry gloves (Showa 720's) with thin liners underneath. Probably the best possible "tactile" arrangement possible. My pockets are large bellows. After pulling open the pockets and reclosing them making sure the velcro surfaces mate together over and over in low visibility, I can see why others choose the zippered pockets. They may not "lay flat", but to me, they may be more utilitarian and easier to operate with gloves. Of course, that would depend on if the zippered pockets are a one hand operation. I may be totally wrong. Anybody?

 

[rob.mwpropane]

My first dive in my Seaskin was a repair project with small tools in my side pockets in 40 degree water. I wore dry gloves (Showa 720's) with thin liners underneath. Probably the best possible "tactile" arrangement possible. My pockets are large bellows. After pulling open the pockets and reclosing them making sure the velcro surfaces mate together over and over in low visibility, I can see why others choose the zippered pockets. They may not "lay flat", but to me, they may be more utilitarian and easier to operate with gloves. Of course, that would depend on if the zippered pockets are a one hand operation. I may be totally wrong. Anybody?

Zippers are one hand operation, but the grass is always greener. If I ever get another suit it'll probably be the one thing I'll change, but not because zippers are bad... just to try them.

I wish they were bigger. I take all my crap and have a bungee attached to the pocket ring. So essentially I can open the pocket, pull everything out and it's all still clipped off on the loop. Feel for / look for what I need, unclip and then throw everything back in there on the loop. I did have to get some type of pull string for heavy gloves to be able to open and close the zipper.



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