Undergarment Poll - What do YOU wear under your Fusion?

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I dive the mk3 up here in minnesota starting in mid september but use the mk2 for everything else. I went down to walmart and for about $40 got 3 different thicknesses of stuff to wear under the mk2.

-a wicking layer
-poly long underwear (actually was on sale at an outdoors store)
-fleece sweat pants and sweat shirt

I generally just use the wicking layer and the mk2 in the summer and add the sweat shirt on some dives.

I like the mk3 a bit more than layering but its usually overkill for most dives.

if your dive times are longer than 60-90 minutes in 45 degrees than the mk3 would be the route I go.

overall the mk2 is a better first choice.

 

[Van Isle]

Faced with the same decision, I went with the MK3. I've never been "too warm" in my MK3 in the water. When it's warm I generally wear nothing underneath. Now that the water is consistently 45F I wear long johns underneath and I can be warm enough (with wet gloves) for 50+ minutes. AND be good for another dive. My water here rarely gets above 55F, so I can't really say how the MK3 fairs warmer than that. But I think it's easier to buy cheap stuff to stay warm when it's REALLY warm out (long johns, or cheap fleece) than cheap stuff to fill the gaps when it's REALLY cold. For example I wore my fusion in Puerto Vallarta at 75F wearing long johns and a really thin sweater and was very comfortable.

That being said...you have to add a fair bit of weight to dive the MK3. Consensus at ye olde LDS is anywhere from 5-10 lbs added on to what you were diving before.

Cheers, congrats on the Fusion.

VI

 

[TSandM]

I'd get the MK3. For your cold range, you can put something under it (like I do, with the drybase and the Thinsulate vest). For the midrange (45 to 60) you can begin removing underlayers. Above 60, you can probably get by with a base layer and some polarfleece. At 70 degrees, I'm diving a 200g Thinsulate undergarment, and at 75, I'm diving Lands End Polarfleece sweats. It's only in that 60 to 70 degree range where you might be struggling a bit, either a bit too warm or not quite warm enough (guess which direction I'd err in?)

 

[MagicChicken]

I really appreciate the input

I'd rather be a bit too warm than not enough. I think I'm gonna go with the MK3 john

One more question... Van Isle and other mentionned a noticeable increase in buoyancy when MK3s are worn. Could one expect a similar increase with MK2 john + MK2 jacket + warm underlayer?

 

[livewire]

While I can't tell you if the buoyancy of Mk3 would be exactly the same as Mk2 john + Mk2 Jacket + warm underlayer, generally speaking you should absolutely expect an increase in buoyancy as you add layers--the loftier, the more buoyant. The simple laws of physics are that the more water you're displacing, the more buoyant you will be (Archimedes Principle). Adding the jacket over the john, which is now adding loft and air space to your suit, will require some led to compensate. The underlayers may not make too much of a difference if they are thin, but if they are thick and lofty, again, you may need more led. In my experience, you're most likely going to have to do some trial and error to get it right!

By the way, as the OP of this thread, thank you to all who responded. Thanks to Mike at Dive Right In Scuba, I'm now diving in 55 degree water (F) with my Mk2 john and underarmor cold gear layer and a t-shirt in between. 3mm gloves + 6.5mm hood, and I'm good for three dives. I cool down at around 45 minutes of dive 1, but it's tolerable and hasn't stopped me from doing dives 2 and 3 or recovering nicely in between. Still, I'm getting ready to fix that problem by switching from the t-shirt to a very thin wool sweater.

I am also happy to report that the Mk2 has performed well in a leak! I foolishly didn't check my neck seal while rushing to get into the water (folded over!) and had some cold water run down my neck and wet my chest while under. I continued the dive and while I felt like I had an icepack on my chest for a while (probably the t-shirt!), it didn't spread, and it was survivable for 50 minutes at 56 degrees. It dried out quickly between dives and I was back in the water for the 2nd and 3rd dives without issue. Nice job Whites!

 

[Birmbear]

Does anyone wear a Pinnacle Temperate suit under their whites? Especially here in the Puget sound?

THX,
__Ric

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Does anyone wear a Pinnacle Temperate suit under their whites? Especially here in the Puget sound?

THX,
__Ric

I have worn it with a Fusion on a few dives...had it down to 42degrees at 87 feet. I was perfectly toasty for 39minutes

 

[Birmbear]

Great...thanks!
__Ric

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

UnderArmor is one of the best layering garments as it carries moisture right away from the skin and therefore reduces the conduction of heat away from the body. Whether you wear your Mk2 or Fourth Element or even a sweatsuit if it's not too cold, the dryness next to the skin is key to comfort.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Weezle Extreme+ gives you mobility that is as close to unhindered as you can be unless you're plumb naked--notable improvement compared to a MK 2. With normal air in the suit it is also plenty warm for temps down to 40 - 42F. Furthermore, the wicking capabilities are excellent, so if you should get wet it's not as big a deal as with most other undergarments. The downsides are: (1) cost--around $350--and (2) some friction between the inner liner of the Weezle and your skin (quite a bit more friction with polypro underwear underneath the Weezle).