Thermalution Heated Vests

[DiverGirl1972]

I looked around in previous threads and there just doesn't seem to be a lot of posts regarding regular use of heated vests. I get cold quite easy. I dove a 5mm w/ 1.5 skin and beanie in Raja Ampat and was still cold. People thought I was nuts!

We're going on the Nautilus Explorer to Socorro mid February and I'm pretty worried, as the water temps are going to be in the low-mid 70's. I'd generally avoid cooler destinations, but it's Socorro and it's been my dream to see the giant pacific manta rays there for 9 years. I don't want to have to cut my diving short and I don't want to wear a 7mm. It's just too bulkey and I don't want to have to wear a bunch of weight in my travel BC.

Has anyone used one with success? I priced out Thermalution back in January when we booked this trip and they're weren't as pricey as they seem to be now. There is a "sale" going on now, which would save me $50 bucks but I have to buy it by December 16th.

Does anyone have any first or second hand experience with these? I feel it's my only hope to be comfortable, but would love some feedback if possible!

 

[davehicks]

My wife and I dive with the Thermolution, but so far in cold water / dry suit setups. The vests are great, and so far have been very reliable and effective. We've had a pair of them for probably a bit over a year and done over 50 dives each. I recommend it. The first people I met using these vests were a couple in Indonesia diving in wet suits, and they really liked it too.

I've been to Soccoro a number of times and will go again next year. For sure my wife will bring her vest, I probably won't. You need at least a 5mm suit, and maybe will wish you had a 7mm if you don't bring one. If you stick with 5mm, get a hooded vest such as a LavaCore to wear under the suit. You will need the hood, especially if you get cold. I just just use a 1mm hood there, but the LavaCore will work great too.

 

[DavidFL]

I bought a thermalution several years ago to wear under wetsuits and have successfully used that heated-rash-guard under a 2/3 wetsuit where most everyone else is in a 5mil or 7mil. I have not had any problems with the heated rash guard. I did have some kind of defect in a spare set of batteries I bought, but they were replaced under warranty without any issues. The original batteries sold with the thermalution were pretty small, and I had to be pretty careful to make them last through 2 60 minute dives and a surface interval. Last year I bought a heated vest with the remote controller for use under a drysuit; it came with larger batteries; the larger batteries work with both my vests and last long enough for my purposes.

 

[grantctobin]

I looked around in previous threads and there just doesn't seem to be a lot of posts regarding regular use of heated vests. I get cold quite easy. I dove a 5mm w/ 1.5 skin and beanie in Raja Ampat and was still cold. People thought I was nuts!

We're going on the Nautilus Explorer to Socorro mid February and I'm pretty worried, as the water temps are going to be in the low-mid 70's. I'd generally avoid cooler destinations, but it's Socorro and it's been my dream to see the giant pacific manta rays there for 9 years. I don't want to have to cut my diving short and I don't want to wear a 7mm. It's just too bulkey and I don't want to have to wear a bunch of weight in my travel BC.

Has anyone used one with success? I priced out Thermalution back in January when we booked this trip and they're weren't as pricey as they seem to be now. There is a "sale" going on now, which would save me $50 bucks but I have to buy it by December 16th.

Does anyone have any first or second hand experience with these? I feel it's my only hope to be comfortable, but would love some feedback if possible!

What size are you? @Haaginheimer is selling one

 

[tursiops]

I looked around in previous threads and there just doesn't seem to be a lot of posts regarding regular use of heated vests. I get cold quite easy. I dove a 5mm w/ 1.5 skin and beanie in Raja Ampat and was still cold. People thought I was nuts!

We're going on the Nautilus Explorer to Socorro mid February and I'm pretty worried, as the water temps are going to be in the low-mid 70's. I'd generally avoid cooler destinations, but it's Socorro and it's been my dream to see the giant pacific manta rays there for 9 years. I don't want to have to cut my diving short and I don't want to wear a 7mm. It's just too bulkey and I don't want to have to wear a bunch of weight in my travel BC.

Has anyone used one with success? I priced out Thermalution back in January when we booked this trip and they're weren't as pricey as they seem to be now. There is a "sale" going on now, which would save me $50 bucks but I have to buy it by December 16th.

Does anyone have any first or second hand experience with these? I feel it's my only hope to be comfortable, but would love some feedback if possible!

My wife and I have the Compact model, it works just fine. A friend borrowed my wife's for a Galapagos trip, and just came back with glowing reports. We don't leave them on....just turn them on for a few minutes when needed, usually near the end if a dive.

 

[DiverGirl1972]

Thank you all for your feedback! I definitely am feeling better about buying one - though they're darned expensive, especially if you throw in a spare battery. I suppose if it does what it claims to do, it will be worth it's weight in gold to me.

What size are you? @Haaginheimer is selling one

Based on their size chart, I think I'd be a medium. Why are they selling?

 

[davehicks]

The size is pretty flexible, it's just a thin lycra vest that is pretty elastic. As long as you are not multiple sizes away, it will probably work. Even if it were a bit loose as you wear it under a wetsuit it's likely to be snug against your back.

As for run time, the model I have "Yellow Grade Plus" will run for at least 3 hours on Low setting. I rarely go above low, except at the end of a long dive, last of the day.

 

[grantctobin]

Thank you all for your feedback! I definitely am feeling better about buying one - though they're darned expensive, especially if you throw in a spare battery. I suppose if it does what it claims to do, it will be worth it's weight in gold to me.

Based on their size chart, I think I'd be a medium. Why are they selling?

For Sale - Thermalution Yellow Medium He went with a full can setup for longer burn time at higher wattages.

 

[MrBigfins]

I dive the vest as well. It has been amazing. I typically dive it under a 7 mil suit when water temps are under 50 degrees. I would buy again in a heartbeat. They aren't cheap, but they are priceless in cold water situations.

 

[rmssetc]

Has anyone used one with success? I priced out Thermalution back in January when we booked this trip and they're weren't as pricey as they seem to be now. There is a "sale" going on now, which would save me $50 bucks but I have to buy it by December 16th.

I get cold easily. I wear a Thermalution shirt under a 5mm wetsuit in Cozumel in Dec/Jan (79~82F water) and it makes a huge difference for me. I would be uncomfortable and would not enjoy the dives (particularly 2nd & night dives) without the shirt.

I usually turn it on about 1/2-way through a 75~90min dive. I've found that a set of batteries will always last through 1 dive, but sometimes runs out during the 2nd. I change batteries during the surface interval.

I did have a problem with the switch on mine after ~75 dives.

The US distributors were difficult to reach & slow to respond...but the manufacturer (out of Taiwan) was extremely helpful, clear, and prompt. The shirt was repaired quickly, at a reasonable cost, and worked fine afterwards.

Look on eBay -- they do come up occasionally.