Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[inquis]

Not at all but if you are pushing the mounting ring out of system you may want to try bigger gloves.

Or longer sleeves.

 

[Badger7]

Sidetrack - anyone have a line on where to purchase just the Rolock 90 glove-side ring & blue retaining ring? (Part #s 90-9707 (R/L) and 90-9901) My last shark encounter was a bit... exciting.

J/k, I apparently left them on the table at the dive site.

I was very curious about this as well. It is super nice to have extra setups, or other size gloves. That’s what’s holding me up from upgrading from the Antares.

Teresa at Dive Gear Express helped me out with a special order on one single rolock 90 glove ring and a pair of blue retainers. Unlike inquis, I didn't find my lost glove back at the dive table. Just email DGX, let them know what you need, and they will email you back a custom order form for stuff like that. Super easy, super professional. You do NOT need to buy a whole kit if you just need to replace a single part, or if you want a spare set of glove rings to be able to easily choose glove size based on temp.

What I don't know is if spares for the previous design are available today, and/or if the modified glove rings are compatible with the previous-gen wrist rings.

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

Teresa at Dive Gear Express helped me out with a special order on one single glove ring and a pair of blue retainers. Unlike inquis, I didn't find my lost glove back at the dive table. Just email DGX, let them know what you need, and they will email you back a custom order form for stuff like that. Super easy, super professional. You do NOT need to buy a whole kit if you just need to replace a single part, or if you want a spare set of glove rings to be able to easily choose glove size based on temp.

Unfortunately, they may have changed their tune. I emailed DGX yesterday and heard back today. They said they wont sell individual parts for the kits at this time, and linked me to the kit as a whole. So maybe its about who you talk to, but looks like they'd want me to order the whole kit a second time. Not sure how I feel about that since its an extra $200 and some change and I already have 3 sets of Antares gloves.

 

[inquis]

Just email DGX, let them know what you need

Alas, I tried that, and they said they couldn't do that. Seaskin referred me to drysuitspareparts.com (UK-based), who indicated it might be possible. Waiting on confirmation and price info now.

 

[lexvil]

Unfortunately, they may have changed their tune. I emailed DGX yesterday and heard back today. They said they wont sell individual parts for the kits at this time, and linked me to the kit as a whole. So maybe its about who you talk to, but looks like they'd want me to order the whole kit a second time. Not sure how I feel about that since its an extra $200 and some change and I already have 3 sets of Antares gloves.

Antaries and Rolock have no interchangeability other than the suit side soft rings that are glued in.

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

Antaries and Rolock have no interchangeability other than the suit side soft rings that are glued in.

Correct, my post may have been misleading. I am say that for me to change from Antares to Rolock and be able to have a second set of ready to go gloves with rings would cost ~$450 USD from DGX. Which is hard pill to swallow since I already have 3 full sets of gloves with rings for the Antares system. But if @inquis is successful with the drysuitspareparts company then maybe it would be more affordable.

 

[lexvil]

Correct, my post may have been misleading. I am say that for me to change from Antares to Rolock and be able to have a second set of ready to go gloves with rings would cost ~$450 USD from DGX. Which is hard pill to swallow since I already have 3 full sets of gloves with rings for the Antares system. But if @inquis is successful with the drysuitspareparts company then maybe it would be more affordable.

Ok thanks for the clarification. I used Antares for quite a while, it’s not nearly as bad a system as it’s made out to be, if you really feel the deep need to have a super quick glove solution maybe just snap the oval hard rings onto a ready to go set of gloves and pop out the Rolock system in the event of the need.

I have two sets of Rolock 90 for my two drysuits so I used to bring the complete glove set as a spare but no longer do because I’ve never needed them and ultimately changing a glove is fast and simple, just carry a spare set of gloves once you get tired of bring the extra set of rings.

 

[DivingLane]

I 100% second all of the above. I use and love Rolock 90 glove rings, swear by waterproof brand neoprene replaceable neck seals as better than silicone in every way (you'll get a silicone seal with the quick neck system, so you can make your own call), and I don't mind being the last back on the boat because I already relieved myself once or twice during decompression (I am definitely on team p-valve). Even big expedition pockets could be bigger IMO, definitely wouldn't want to go smaller.

You didn't mention tech boots or neo socks. Both options are fine, totally personal preference, lean toward socks with thicker boots for shore diving, tech boots for mostly boat diving.

I run slighty warmer than others, but I don't think too many people would need a full 250g thinsulate onesey for 60 degree diving. At most a thin merino wool wicking layer and then midweight insulation tops and bottoms like arctic or meshtec should get the job done and require a little less lead, and allow you to to take your top off during surface intervals without needing to totally doff the drysuit. A year ago I would have suggested to buy the seaskin undergarments just to try them, but now with increased tariffs, I'd make sure thinsulate is what I wanted before adding them to my suit purchase.

I tried looking in this forum chat for information on tariff effects and didn't find anything. What has been the consequences for US residents buying from Seaskin lately?

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

Ok thanks for the clarification. I used Antares for quite a while, it’s not nearly as bad a system as it’s made out to be, if you really feel the deep need to have a super quick glove solution maybe just snap the oval hard rings onto a ready to go set of gloves and pop out the Rolock system in the event of the need.

I have two sets of Rolock 90 for my two drysuits so I used to bring the complete glove set as a spare but no longer do because I’ve never needed them and ultimately changing a glove is fast and simple, just carry a spare set of gloves once you get tired of bring the extra set of rings.

Yeah I suppose it isn't that important, just something I am so used to. Worth the looking around, to at least try to find an option. I will most likely be swapping over anyways. Was just unpacking my drysuit bag and found that one of the antares clips is broken, so I am no longer problem free lol.

 

[lexvil]

I tried looking in this forum chat for information on tariff effects and didn't find anything. What has been the consequences for US residents buying from Seaskin lately?

No first hand experience yet but I’m thinking stretching exercises will help with the tariff nonsense, so you can more easily grasp your ankles.