UnderArmour

[Gac]

Has anyone experimented with wearing UnderArmour shirts or leggings for warmth? Think it might help?
I understand that most of the insulative properties of a wetsuit come from the air trapped in the suit, which is a little different thermal principle from on-land warmth, but what if...

 

[jonnythan]

Won't really do anything for you. Much better off adding a little more neoprene in the form of a vest or hood or something.

 

[MASS-Diver]

It does work great under a DS though (wicks away the moisture).

 

[spstar]

I have been wearing the shorts for two years now and really like them I dont wear them for warmth just the ease of getting the WS on.
It also does away with crotch bunch of your traditional swim suit, Beings Iam not your typical SPEEDO wearing type :11:

 

[darylm74]

I know at least 3 people who wear underarmour under their dry suits and they claim they have to wear less weighty undergarments. I can't verify this since I have never done it myself but knowing the people who use, it I would suggest that there might be some truth to it, at least under a drysuit. If you're diving strictly wet, I agree with Johnnythan, best to increase your mils on the wetsuit.

 

[ScubaSixString]

Has anyone experimented with wearing UnderArmour shirts or leggings for warmth? Think it might help?
I understand that most of the insulative properties of a wetsuit come from the air trapped in the suit, which is a little different thermal principle from on-land warmth, but what if...

Couple of things. There are gas bubbles trapped in the neoprene that provide some insulation (also bouyancy). But the main way, in my understanding, that the wetsuit keeps you warm, is by trapping a layer of water in between you and it....your body heat heats the water and wala.

Wearing something in between you and the wetsuit probably won't provide much extra warmth. Might be time to move up to a thicker wetsuit.......more weight....and a longer suit up time

*mumbles* D*mn northeast atlantic and its D*mn low temperatures.......

 

[jonnythan]

Couple of things. There are gas bubbles trapped in the neoprene that provide some insulation (also bouyancy). But the main way, in my understanding, that the wetsuit keeps you warm, is by trapping a layer of water in between you and it....your body heat heats the water and wala.

Total myth, 100%. If that were the case a 7mm wetsuit wouldn't be significantly warmer than a 3mm wetsuit, but it obviously is. That layer of water is the enemy.

 

[Gac]

Yes, thermodynamics teaches us that water is not an insulator but rather an efficient conductor for heat, and the PADI OW classes state that correctly to be about 20x as efficient as air. The general principles of drysuits seems, to me, to be based upon this. I have only a rudimentary study of the topics, but enough to know a fallicy when I see one.

I currently wear underarmour shorts under my WS, which SPStar already mentioned as a comfortable change from the crotch cramp of a bathingsuit. I love the feeling of the UA shorts.

Since any circulation of water through the WS will detract from the insulative properties of the suit, could the UA gear prevent water circulation?

 

[Gac]

and oh yea, I have a 3/2 full WS. Generally I'm a pretty warm guy with good cardiovascular circulation. I have not yet been diving in water <70 F. Based on general recommendations from suit thinkness, I would be on the thin side already on the 70F mark. If I add a 5/4 hooded vest over (or under?) my 3/2 WS, what would the effective thinkness be? Just 5+3? Or would I loose some heat insulation in the layering?

Ty

 

[ArcticDiver]

For moderate water temps, ~+40F to +55F, I weat Under Armour Cold Gear tights and top as my first layer under my dry suit. Next layer is PolarTec pants and separate top. Really comfortable and warm. With a bit warmer water it is either the Cold Gear, or the PolarTec by themselves until it is warm enough to go to a wet suit. When water temps get down to the +30s a poly undergarment by itself suits me.

But, what others do is no real guide to what you should do. Comfort is an individual thing that varies widely among people at the same water temp.

Can't think of a thermodynamic reason to wear any UnderArmour product under a wet suit. If you are cold in your wetsuit then either wear a beanie or hood, get a thicker suit, a better sealed one, or switch to dry.