Undergarments

[mmadiver]

It's been awhile since I've been in the market for a new undergarment but my ancient DUI thinsulate is finally starting to show its age and needs to be replaced.

I dive a Santi e.lite in 40-60 degree water with typical run time of 140mins.

This is a product area I'm totally unfamiliar with as I've been satisfied with my DUI for the past 10 years.

Have there been any major advances in undergarments?

Any product considered vastly superior to others?

All recommendations for a solution are welcome.

Also- not looking for a electronic/heater vest option.






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[tbone1004]

4th element arctic. It's expensive and you can build the same thing out of Polartec garments from REI, but they have some nice features that make it worth the price.
4th Element Arctic Package | Dive Right In Scuba - Plainfield, IL - Dive Right in Scuba
Northeast Scuba Supply sometimes has them on crazy sale in weird sizes too.

 

[Hickdive]

Santi BZ400.

4th Element Arctic just won't cut it on their own under a membrane suit for those temperatures and run times.

 

[TSandM]

There's been no great leap forward (still waiting for that Aerogel undergarment!).

I have owned and dived the DUI 400g (old, red one), Whites MK3, 4th Element Halo, Whites Thermal Fusion, and I have dived the 4th Element Arctic and the Weezle Extreme Plus. It seems as though these days, I mostly dive the Mk3, with my Santi suit. It's warm, it's easy to get in and out of, it has a handy breast pocket for keys and pockets to put your cold hands in, and it has a nice drop seat for the days when I don't feel like sheeping up. The TF offers just about the same insulation, but is more difficult to get in and out of, and mine kind of fell apart after a while (still usable, but many seams have unraveled). The Halo was a very nice, streamlined undergarment, easy to get in and out of and easy to get in and out of a suit, but lacked pockets, and the key pocket was in a ridiculously inconvenient place.

 

[skankpile]

For commercially available stuff I'd stick with the 4th element halo, and I've seen really nice Santi thermals. I prefer a 1 piece so things don't move around.

I'm totally OCD on this topic:

These days I'm importing fabric and making my own as I'm just not satsified with whats available.

Malden Mills makes nice fleece (powerstretch & powerdry), and for a base wicking layer I'm using the Carvico fabrics: darwin, artica, acapulco, and xlance. Good garments start with good materials so check carefully. Avoid laminated materials like the plague.

I'm using a new Merrow MB-4DFO machine for flat stitching, and a typical industry standard 3 needle flatlock machine for some standard hemming... its a real pleasure to have perfect fitting undergarments. I've actually stopped wearing cotton, nylon, and wool at all for undergarments as the modern olefins/poly from Carvico are so far ahead of what is mass produced in the market currently. I just laugh when I see nylon and cool-tech shirts from the majors going for $40-$80 per shirt as the Carvico materials outperform these to such a degree its crazy.

For cycling I made my own fitted suit out of Carvico Acapulco (100% poly, yes thats 100% poly with no elastane) and its more comfortable to wear this in 100+deg weather than any $300 cycling jersey I've ever worn... you'd have to try it to believe it: This suit also makes a perfect dive skin, UV block, rash guard, and I also wear it as an undergarment under my workclothes.. its that awesome.

All my socks and underwear I make out of carvico xlance... it a different kind of material and like no other in the world, but hard to explain until you've felt or worn it. Xlance is like a second skin and does loose some elasticity (no elastane but a patented olefin stretch fiber.. it just stretches different) with wear so fit has to be spot-on. Anyway, I wear the xlance socks for a week without washing as the material does not to wear, does not hold odor, and wicks like crazy. Sounds strange, but untill you've tried it..

My next step is an ultrasonic seaming and taping machine to step up my game for zippers and edge hems... then maybe I'll make somethng available but I dont think the market is willing to pay for this level of garment as fit is as imporntant as the quality of material; I'd have to make made to measure garments.

So the short of it is if you have the capacity and skillset make your own...you'll be much happier.

 

[mmadiver]

There's been no great leap forward (still waiting for that Aerogel undergarment!).

Apparently the Navy is already working on it.

 

[jcaplins]

I'm thinking of going with this:

Men's Superman Union Suit with Cape : Target

It comes in adult sizes and has a cape.

Naturally, it will be layered under a suit or tuxedo.

 

[tbone1004]

the navy is, i'm was doing some work with them at my old company.

Anything branded polartec is all the same stuff coming out of Malden and is just a fancy napped, knit, polyester. Works very well and my choice of undies, but I also have a very good cold tolerance, and prefer as thin as possible

 

[Hickdive]

I'm thinking of going with this:

Men's Superman Union Suit with Cape : Target

It comes in adult sizes and has a cape.

Naturally, it will be layered under a suit or tuxedo.

Pshaw!

 

[jcaplins]

Pshaw!

View attachment 190577

You win.