Ultima Dry Glove System question

[Deep South Divers]

I concur with Zef... Since the Aqualung SLT Ovals are rebadged SiTech QCS Ovals, the original Waterproof Ultima Dryglove rings will fit nicely.

As he said, simply remove the hard oval ring from the suit sleeve, which pops off and leaves a soft ring that is glued to your suit. The suit-side, round, hard ring of the Ultima System snaps into the glued-in, suit-side, soft ring already on your suit.

You'll want to put a wrist seal between the two rings - whether you trim that seal back a little or a lot (to get "seallesss" cuffs).

 

[a878bob]

Thanks friends, my store is a AL dealer, and I’ve been pretty happy with my fusion, one of my goals this year is to get a new dry suit. And the fusion bullet air core is up next.

 

[Deep South Divers]

Nice! We expect a full review on both the suit and the dryglove system.

 

[Zef]

I dived with the remounted 720s this past weekend. This time I used the spaghetti tubes that came in the box between my wrist seals and the gloves. To be honest I did not find much of a difference.

My body position when I dive with my arms relaxed with hands forward of my body/head like superman flying. I have my AI computer on my right wrist and my compass on the back of my left hand...this position is comfortable, keeps my trim horizontal without effort, and allows me to quickly and easily check my depth, time, air, bearing, etc.

In the above described position with the tubes, the gloves still vacuumed/squeezed down around my fingers and hands...again I only went down to between 20 and 25meters, the vacuum/squeeze effect was not uncomfortable and actually enhanced dexterity a little bit. The only difference I felt was if I raised my hands above the level of my body, I could feel the vacuum/squeeze of the glove back off a little bit, but did not find that the gloves inflated significantly.

I suppose if went vertical and assumed a Statue of Liberty type pose with my arm straight up, then perhaps over a few moments/minutes the glove might inflate, but I had no reason to try this.

For now, I think I will continue diving without the tubes unless I find that I lose significant motion/dexterity due to vacuum/squeeze below 25 meters.

-Z

 

[Marie13]

I dived with the remounted 720s this past weekend. This time I used the spaghetti tubes that came in the box between my wrist seals and the gloves. To be honest I did not find much of a difference.

My body position when I dive with my arms relaxed with hands forward of my body/head like superman flying. I have my AI computer on my right wrist and my compass on the back of my left hand...this position is comfortable, keeps my trim horizontal without effort, and allows me to quickly and easily check my depth, time, air, bearing, etc.

In the above described position with the tubes, the gloves still vacuumed/squeezed down around my fingers and hands...again I only went down to between 20 and 25meters, the vacuum/squeeze effect was not uncomfortable and actually enhanced dexterity a little bit. The only difference I felt was if I raised my hands above the level of my body, I could feel the vacuum/squeeze of the glove back off a little bit, but did not find that the gloves inflated significantly.

I suppose if went vertical and assumed a Statue of Liberty type pose with my arm straight up, then perhaps over a few moments/minutes the glove might inflate, but I had no reason to try this.

For now, I think I will continue diving without the tubes unless I find that I lose significant motion/dexterity due to vacuum/squeeze below 25 meters.

-Z

I dove with the spaghetti tubes for the first time Sunday. They are a PITA. Just too fussy. They also conduct water up your arm nicely when you get a hole in your glove! . Between the first and second dives I somehow got a couple of small holes on right glove, right next to ring. Didn’t know it until I got wet immediately upon descending on dive 2. Just dealt with it. Water was 68F in Lake Michigan.

Like @Zef, the squeeze doesn’t bother me much. Improves dexterity actually. I think I’m going to try a piece of thick bungee cord this week in place of the spaghetti tubes.

I wasn’t about to try patching the holes in my right glove since since the gloves are so cheap. Went into DRIS on Monday to get fills and had them put a new glove on one ring. I got a funny pic of the guys getting the glove on ring. I blacked out their faces and the girl behind the counter in case they didn’t want their faces splashed over the net. It really does take two and the glove being pre-stretched.

 

[Deep South Divers]

Great review, Zef! I assume everything was dry as a bone? What other gloves have you used that you can compare to? Latex? PVC?

I've only used the tubes once or twice too. Those people that I know that dive with both wrist seals and drygloves at the same time usually stick the thumb loop of their undergarment under the seal to vent the gloves... Or wear "wrist warmers" under their wrist seals so that air vents under the seal through the fabric. Some just set the wrist seal over the underglove or on top of their undergarment.

There seems to be a lot of ways to allow the wrist seals to vent. For me, mine were always "self-venting," whether I wanted them to be or not.

...Which is why I did away with them altogether in lieu of drygloves.

 

[Deep South Divers]

Marie13, it looks like they're installing a set of SHOWA 660s or 495s (the 495 is a 660 that comes with a fuzzy underglove).

In fact, I've been chatting with the boys of DRIS recently and recommended the 720s instead. They're tougher, less likely to get damaged, provide more tactile feel, and are a whole lot easier to get on the rings. The nitrile in the 720s is simply a better material than the PVC of the 660s and 495s.

Try the 720s instead. My bet is that you'd have not gotten a hole in the first place... And if you had, they'd have been easier to install.

If your hole was near the ring itself, it's possible that the damage actually came from the installation - although it might not have failed for a dive or two.

 

[Marie13]

I got about 6-10 dives out of the glove before failure.

No fuzzy yellow liner. Gloves are the 660. I just checked.

Is the sizing on the 720 same as the 660?

I tried latex gloves on in the shop. Fingers were waaaaayyyy too long. Had to go with the smurf gloves for something that fit.

 

[Deep South Divers]

Cool! The 660/495 have long been the glove of choice... That or the 620, which is slightly thinner and orange.

The 720s are thinner, more flexible and stretchier - making them easier to load onto the rings and a joy to wear. Oddly, they're also tougher and warmer. Nitrile is magic stuff compared to PVC.

DRIS said they's start carrying them soon.

 

[Marie13]

I may see if I can find a few pairs cheap on Amazon (Prime member).