Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[Badger7]

If you don’t mind my jumping in here, what is your distribution between trim pockets and weight belt? Or do you wear a belt?

Seconded, I wouldn't mind some fresh ideas either. I spent a few hours in the pool yesterday. Ended the day at 400psi in a single HP100 Worthington with 2 pounds behind each shoulder and 4 pounds on each hip (12lb lead total), 6 pound steel backplate. Completely dumping the wing and "comfortable" squeeze I could hold a motionless stop at 10ft fairly well, but still experienced some very slow foot drop (Apeks RK3 HD) over time that needed minor corrections. Was using mid-weight meshtec undergarments and ran glove liners and hood (sweating my arse off) to make sure the weighting requirements were as real world as possible.

Torn as to whether adding a couple more pounds at the shoulders makes sense next, changing it up to 3 pounds in all corners, or maybe just shifting the tank up in the cam bands another inch. I'll get it all figured out over the next few weekends, but any suggestions or random thoughts welcome as well as any configurations that work for you guys.

One thing I was surprised at - If I add any more weight to my kit, it won't be self-bouyant with a full 30lb wing, so I guess I might be also looking at going to back to moving some lead to a weight belt or swapping in a 40 lb singles wing. Probably easiest to just throw strap on some lead to my body.

 

[Boarderguy]

If you don’t mind my jumping in here, what is your distribution between trim pockets and weight belt? Or do you wear a belt?

Seconded, I wouldn't mind some fresh ideas either. I spent a few hours in the pool yesterday. Ended the day at 400psi in a single HP100 Worthington with 2 pounds behind each shoulder and 4 pounds on each hip (12lb lead total), 6 pound steel backplate. Completely dumping the wing and "comfortable" squeeze I could hold a motionless stop at 10ft fairly well, but still experienced some very slow foot drop (Apeks RK3 HD) over time that needed minor corrections. Was using mid-weight meshtec undergarments and ran glove liners and hood (sweating my arse off) to make sure the weighting requirements were as real world as possible.

Torn as to whether adding a couple more pounds at the shoulders makes sense next, changing it up to 3 pounds in all corners, or maybe just shifting the tank up in the cam bands another inch. I'll get it all figured out over the next few weekends, but any suggestions or random thoughts welcome as well as any configurations that work for you guys.

One thing I was surprised at - If I add any more weight to my kit, it won't be self-bouyant with a full 30lb wing, so I guess I might be also looking at going to back to moving some lead to a weight belt or swapping in a 40 lb singles wing. Probably easiest to just throw strap on some lead to my body.

16 lb belt sitting right on/above my hips, 6-12 lbs in weight pockets on my waist strap, 4 lbs opposite my pony on the lower can band. I don't want any squeeze at stops so I'm a bit heavy. The varying weight is for different tanks or undergarments. 6lbs with my 119 regardless of undergarment. 8lbs for 150 with a 100. 10 lbs for 250 with 100 or 150 with 80. 12 lbs for 250 with 80

 

[Badger7]

16 lb belt sitting right on/above my hips, 6-12 lbs in weight pockets on my waist strap, 4 lbs opposite my pony on the lower can band. I don't want any squeeze at stops so I'm a bit heavy. The varying weight is for different tanks or undergarments. 6lbs with my 119 regardless of undergarment. 8lbs for 150 with a 100. 10 lbs for 250 with 100 or 150 with 80. 12 lbs for 250 with 80

fresh or salt?

 

[Boarderguy]

fresh or salt?

Sorry, that's for salt.

Also, I'm 5'11", in reasonable dad shape, and about 190 lbs.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

SS bp ~ 5lbs, 2lb on those Highland weight attachments that attach to 2" webbing (so 4lbs). They're at about the bottom of my ribs. In between my doubles (LP85's or HP100's) I have a Halcyon V pouch that holds 6lbs in the bottom "tail" portion. I dive with Hollis F1's. The only thing that I change ever is the weights on the 2" webbing. I'm 5'11.5" 195-200#'s with a bit of a dad bod, like holding hands and sunsets

 

[Boarderguy]

SS bp ~ 5lbs, 2lb on those Highland weight attachments that attach to 2" webbing (so 4lbs). They're at about the bottom of my ribs. In between my doubles (LP85's or HP100's) I have a Halcyon V pouch that holds 6lbs in the bottom "tail" portion. I dive with Hollis F1's. The only thing that I change ever is the weights on the 2" webbing. I'm 5'11.5" 195-200#'s with a bit of a dad bod, like holding hands and sunsets

You joke, but the difference for weight between a tubby and a skinny little twig bitch is significant.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

You joke, but the difference for weight between a tubby and a skinny little twig bitch is significant.

I don't think that matters.. sure there are some generalizations, but you need what you need and everyone is a little different. It helps to get ideas I guess, but you still end up with your own setup / way of doing things.

 

[FabletheRaven]

Damn! It's finally shipping. Only slight hiccup is the rockboots are out of stock (I had put down techboots and socks instead of rockboots and socks so it's my bad really).

Question: They were going to ship me a Size 12 rockboot, but I'm really a size 10.5 shoe. 12 seems like a lot, in the past Ive used size 10 rockboots without issues. Should I be looking to buy size 10 or 12 rockboots?

 

[Boarderguy]

Damn! It's finally shipping. Only slight hiccup is the rockboots are out of stock (I had put down techboots and socks instead of rockboots and socks so it's my bad really).

Question: They were going to ship me a Size 12 rockboot, but I'm really a size 10.5 shoe. 12 seems like a lot, in the past Ive used size 10 rockboots without issues. Should I be looking to buy size 10 or 12 rockboots?

Go on Amazon, select prime, order a pair in each size, return the one that doesn't fit well. If Amazon doesn't have them then go to your LDS and see what's available. These should be tried on with your planned undergarment socks and drysuit on (legs/feet).

 

[stuartv]

Damn! It's finally shipping. Only slight hiccup is the rockboots are out of stock (I had put down techboots and socks instead of rockboots and socks so it's my bad really).

Question: They were going to ship me a Size 12 rockboot, but I'm really a size 10.5 shoe. 12 seems like a lot, in the past Ive used size 10 rockboots without issues. Should I be looking to buy size 10 or 12 rockboots?

I wear size 10.5 (US) shoes. My NRS booties that I wear over my Seaskin socks are, I think, size 12.

I would be inclined to trust Seaskin. Or, well, what I actually did was not get rock boots from them at all. I just waited until I had my suit then took it to REI, put on my normal under socks, put my feet into the suit legs/feet, and tried on NRS booties to find the right size, then bought those.