Underlayer for wetsuit?

[fnfalman]

UnderArmor gears do NOTHING for you as far as additional warmth goes.

I wear UA compression long sleeve shirt because it's easier to slide in and out of the wetsuit AND it keeps me from getting sunburn while top side with my wetsuit half pulled off.

 

[fjpatrum]

UnderArmor gears do NOTHING for you as far as additional warmth goes.

I wear UA compression long sleeve shirt because it's easier to slide in and out of the wetsuit AND it keeps me from getting sunburn while top side with my wetsuit half pulled off.

Interesting that my experience differs from that. It's not significant but I did feel warmer... could have been placebo though.

That said, I wear a hooded vest on all wet dives no matter what my "main" suit is. I also have one of the hybrid rash guards wetwillie mentioned and like them very much. The extra 1mm on the chest and back with spandex/lycra sleeves really does make a remarkably noticeable difference.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Hey, just saw this thread and want to add recent personal experience. A Lavacore vest is comfortable, easy to don and doff, and essentially neutrally buoyant, but it is NOT as warm as a traditional (and less expensive) neoprene vest. If you need just a little additional warmth, the Lavacore is good, but in my situation I needed just slightly more than that. For me, diving in 72F water with my 5/4 full suit, a Lavacore vest underneath was NOT sufficient to keep me from getting chilly after 50 minutes of a low-exertion dive. A neoprene vest or shorty underneath my wetsuit is what I needed.

The bottom line is don't expect miracles from Lavacore or similar products. Neoprene is a better insulator.