TRILAM vs compressed neoprene

[scubahorse]

2mm hyper-compressed Metalite neoprene or Trilaminate fabric. I want to chose one between Bare TRILAM or XCD2.
I need a suit can use long time, Comfortable, light (and carry less weight), fast dry... :dazzler1:
Thanks

 

[RichLockyer]

A true crushed neoprene like DUI's CF suits is very durable. Most compressed neoprene suits are slightly more durable than trilam, but no longer lasting than a wetsuit.

For light weight and fast dry, trilam is the only way to go.
For comfort... tough call. I've never been uncomfortable in a trilam, but a neoprene suit can allow you to get away with thinner undergarments in warmer water.

 

[Mar Scuba]

I have both the Pinnacle 200 and the Ultraflex Pro. It kinda helps that I'm a Diving Concepts dealer.

I love the flexibility of the trilam suit, and it looks very sharp. In the winter when a neoprene suit takes over a day to dry, trilam is really great.

However, it's also very nice to wear minimal undergarments (t-shirt and lounge pants) with the compressed neoprene suit.

You don't say what temperature water you dive in, or what type of diving.

A wreck diver will have different needs than a caver, etc.

 

[Kim]

Out of interest - who makes crushed neoprene wetsuits? I ask because I was advised to get one from my instructor once - due to a more uniform bouyancy charachteristic than normal neoprene. I never seen one though.

 

[Ming101]

I have to say I do not like the feel of crushed neoprene. My buddy has one and he loves it. We were out diving one day. there were 3 of us, two in gates vulcunized rubber suits and 1 was in a dui crushed neoprene. The guy in the dui had a panic attack under water.(Not a good thing) We got him to the surfice ok, but then it got worse. We had to drag him onto a jetti of rocks and barnicles, then get help getting him off the jetti and to shore. He was ok but the reson I tell you this story is the 2 of us that had the gates suit got alot of little cuts in them and started delaminating within 9 months. The dui is still good to this day. This happened about 3 years ago. I bought the tri-lam replacment for myself. But the sheer toughness of the dui can't be beat.

 

[MechDiver]

Out of interest - who makes crushed neoprene wetsuits?.

DUI, Bare (I think), White, most likely others. Crushed neo is very heavy and takes forever to dry. Trilam also has uniform buoyancy, you really don't get anything there.

MD

 

[scubahorse]

Any one know the weight difference between Bare TRILAM light and HD? Thanks!

 

[MechDiver]

Any one know the weight difference between Bare TRILAM light and HD? Thanks!

I can't give you a hard figure, but I have the HD and it is quite heavy. Wears like iron, dries quickly, but weighs a ton. The Trilam Lights I have seen in shops are very light. I personally wouldn't get one as I think they're too thin.

For what these things cost, you really need to do a "touchy feely" in a shop and dive each if at all possible.

MD

 

[lawofgravity]

2mm hyper-compressed Metalite neoprene or Trilaminate fabric. I want to chose one between Bare TRILAM or XCD2.
I need a suit can use long time, Comfortable, light (and carry less weight), fast dry... :dazzler1:
Thanks

If you want light, fast dry, get the trilam. If you want comfort go for the xcd2, although that is subjective call. I've tried out both suits. The trilam was easier to managed out of the water (fast drying, lighter, easier to store etc..) but I bought the xcd2 because it was so damn comfortable in the water, which imo is the most important consideration when you buy a drysuit. Honestly, other than having to offset the squeeze, it felt like I was diving in my pjs.

 

[RichLockyer]

I've got my XL TLS350 packed for shipping to whoever buys it.
The suit, inflator hose, storage bag, instructions, and box all weigh a touch under 12 pounds.

The TLS350 is a very lightweight suit.