Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[stuartv]

I have extremely wide feet. If a shoe/boot comes sufficiently wide (EEEE+) I wear a 10 but most footwear (e.g. my dirt bike boots or FE wetsuit booties) I have to wear a 12. Are the crushed neo socks at all stretchy so I could order size 10 equivalent, or should I state that I’m a 12?

They are stretchy, but I'm not sure if they are stretchy enough for that much size difference. Best to call Seaskin and ask how to handle that. Hopefully, they can simply make yours 10 EEEE. Maybe they will have you select size 10 and include a note to make them the width you need.

Does anyone have pics of a black suit with orange stitching? I wish they offered orange sleeves or zip cover because black/orange is my jam!

KTM much? LOL! I love my KTMs, but I hate orange! lol

I still have much more research to do on dry gloves but am between the Kubi and the SiTech ovals with Rolock 90. Quick question – why do the kubis offer different ring sizes (80,90mm etc.) but no such spec required for the SiTech ovals with Rolock 90?

Kubi suit rings mate only to Kubi glove rings. They allow for people to choose the size that fits them best. I have size L or XL hands, depending on the gloves. I use 80mm Kubi rings and am glad they are not any bigger than they are.

Oh, and do all dry glove systems use equalization tubes?

I don't use equalization tubes. I've been to over 300' deep in my drysuit - with wrist seals in place - with no eq tubes and no problems. I believe that is because my dry gloves actually fit me well. They are snug over my glove liners. They are not way too big like what I see a lot of people wearing.

YMMV.

One more on gloves – I can find the extra spare seals (silicone) for the SiTech ovals, but cannot for the life of me find the spare silicone seals for the Kubi system. Are they the same part?

Standard Si Tech Silflex silicone wrist seals are what works with Kubi rings.

 

[BillaVista]

if you would have guessed 90mm, you would only have been off by 1.36
View attachment 891158

Oh good lord - I can't believe I missed that!! LOL

So this now brings up a rather critical question - will I fit the Rolock90 (@88.64) or even the Kubi 90mm, or do I need to go to Kubi 100?

Any folks with larger hands care to chime in?

I didn't think my hands were that large - normally a L or XL in glove (ski, meachnic, etc.) but here's a couple of pictures of my hand size (9.5 on the Showa scale) and a video of me trying to get my hand through a 90mm cardboard hole. Seems possible but I have to do some contorsions / kind of screw it in. Will this be a major pain and I am limited to the Kobi 100mm, or will the Kobi 90 / rolock90 work?


Very many thanks all

 

[BillaVista]

KTM much? LOL! I love my KTMs, but I hate orange! lol

LOL. Good eye. This was my fave bike ever!

Copy all with many thanks OP!

 

[elvenhome21]

Oh good lord - I can't believe I missed that!! LOL

So this now brings up a rather critical question - will I fit the Rolock90 (@88.64) or even the Kubi 90mm, or do I need to go to Kubi 100?

Any folks with larger hands care to chime in?

I didn't think my hands were that large - normally a L or XL in glove (ski, meachnic, etc.) but here's a couple of pictures of my hand size (9.5 on the Showa scale) and a video of me trying to get my hand through a 90mm cardboard hole. Seems possible but I have to do some contorsions / kind of screw it in. Will this be a major pain and I am limited to the Kobi 100mm, or will the Kobi 90 / rolock90 work?


Very many thanks all

I discussed this problem in another thread for antares. I have huge hands also the rolock 3 are bigger ID than the 90s. The kubis for me would need to be 110mm ID and that's minimum considering you also have a sticky seal to also push thru. I had prob a 45 min talk with dive right in going over my options ID suggest you call them with the minimum hole size your hand will go thru then add 5mm for seal clearance. Kubi 100 is the biggest on the market with the exception of thenar from scuba force . I bought the thenar xl version but there is no way you can make them work unless ulyour suit wrists are made big enough for them in the first place. So now I'm 3d printing a strong antares that my hand fits thru. I hate antares but the seaskin made the oval cuff on the suit I'm stuck with them given my hand size problem

 

[WillieJustice]

Switch to neoprene, enjoy life

I am not convinced. My neck is a bit more than 17 inches. Buying dress shirts is a problem, too. Trimmed silicone is perfect now, and it doesn't leak, or hasn't yet anyway. With a hood, I stay plenty warm.

 

[afieldofblue]

You might luck out with email. Best to call them if possible.
While it would suck to tear your brand new seal, they are not that expensive and easy to replace.
Relax, it's not a rocket science, you'll be fine.

As a follow-up, I did get an answer (bumped my email after 48 hours ) and a package which hopefully has the missing items is currently on the way!

 

[afieldofblue]

Unless you have a very large neck i wouldn't bother trimming it at all. Wear it and let it stretch out. You'll be better off that way imo. The silicone will eventually stretch/relax and if you trim it then it might end up a bit too loose. Mine give me a bit of color in my face initially but they loosen up within one or two dives.

Thanks - I'll try that first for sure - wasn't sure if silicone streched out much - it wasn't too bad to start with so hopefully trimming won't be necessary!
cheers

 

[rob.mwpropane]

I don't use equalization tubes. I've been to over 300' deep in my drysuit - with wrist seals in place - with no eq tubes and no problems. I believe that is because my dry gloves actually fit me well. They are snug over my glove liners. They are not way too big like what I see a lot of people wearing.

YMMV.

I can't bring myself to go back to using seals. Maybe if it was a crazy tech dive but anything outside of that I just won't. I beat my gloves up on every dive and the only thing I've ever managed is a small pin hole

I recently switch from Showa 720 to Showa 3415. I have XL hands and have always had a hard time getting in the 720's until they stretch some (with liners of course). I've used the 3415 a few times for oysters now, and not only have they held up but they have a little more wiggle room in them and it seems to keep my hands warmer.. maybe better circulation?

My point is, I can see how (with seals) the 720's wouldn't need equalization tubes but the 3415's probably would. So maybe you're on to something. I see people with way oversized gloves too.

I need to call Showa and see which has better cut resistance. 720 or 3415.

Can't wait for them to make Rolock 90s that are flexible like Santis system. Then ring size won't matter as much.. a guy can dream, right!

 

[stuartv]

Oh good lord - I can't believe I missed that!! LOL

So this now brings up a rather critical question - will I fit the Rolock90 (@88.64) or even the Kubi 90mm, or do I need to go to Kubi 100?

Any folks with larger hands care to chime in?

I didn't think my hands were that large - normally a L or XL in glove (ski, meachnic, etc.) but here's a couple of pictures of my hand size (9.5 on the Showa scale) and a video of me trying to get my hand through a 90mm cardboard hole. Seems possible but I have to do some contorsions / kind of screw it in. Will this be a major pain and I am limited to the Kobi 100mm, or will the Kobi 90 / rolock90 work?


Very many thanks all

I wear L or XL motorcycle and mechanics gloves. I could just barely get my bare hand through an 80mm hole cut in cardboard. The Kubi 80mm rings work fine for me. With my glove liners on, it is definitely a TIGHT fit to get the glove ring over my hand - but I can do it.

If you wear L or XL gloves, it is hard for me to imagine you needing something bigger than the 90mm rings.

LOL. Good eye. This was my fave bike ever!
View attachment 891219

Copy all with many thanks OP!

My favorite dirtbike was the 525 EXC I had. I rode a buddy's 300 XC/W once and I just could not really bond with riding a 2-stroke.

I am not convinced. My neck is a bit more than 17 inches. Buying dress shirts is a problem, too. Trimmed silicone is perfect now, and it doesn't leak, or hasn't yet anyway. With a hood, I stay plenty warm.

I am 18" in the neck. I love my neoprene neck seals. You know they come in different sizes, right?

 

[BillaVista]

I wear L or XL motorcycle and mechanics gloves. I could just barely get my bare hand through an 80mm hole cut in cardboard. The Kubi 80mm rings work fine for me. With my glove liners on, it is definitely a TIGHT fit to get the glove ring over my hand - but I can do it.

If you wear L or XL gloves, it is hard for me to imagine you needing something bigger than the 90mm rings.




My favorite dirtbike was the 525 EXC I had. I rode a buddy's 300 XC/W once and I just could not really bond with riding a 2-stroke.



I am 18" in the neck. I love my neoprene neck seals. You know they come in different sizes, right?

I'm finding it hard to imagine too. I think I'll go and cut a 90mm ring from wood with a jigsaw and try again. With a "liner" (all I have now is a tight-fitting mechanics type glove) it's a hell of a struggle to get through the 90mm hole and the cardboard is flexing a lot and degrading my confidence. I know the actual aluminum ring will slide a bit better.

The 300 XC/W was too much bike for me - that little 200XC/W was just perfection - so light and nimble - (mostly rode forest single track) - long gone now though ;-( And my word do I LOVE a 2-stroke...just love it! Different strokes (pardon the pun) for differnt folks - like a lot of diving!

Thanks so much for all you've done to help us all!