Warmest undergarment available?

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Are you saying I'm getting chilled because I've been sweating? I guess that's possible. My Lavacore shirt was sort of damp over the upper back.

Thanks for the link; I'll take a look at that sort of thing.

---------- Post added October 5th, 2013 at 03:21 PM ----------

Well, indigo posted this in February, so I presume she has got her issue sorted out. I just revived an old thread because I wanted to focus on the hands vs core question. But as for me, your advice won't fly. I already live in a MUCH better dive destination than Miami :wink:

and in a much nicer house/garden than you could afford in Miami too I'd guess.
 
...//... the cold starts in the hands or the core.... mine starts at about 10 minutes into the dive on my back over my lungs and travels down; eventually I start to feel cold in my shoulders, upper arms and hips. ...//..

Your buoyancy counters the negative gear on your back so that is where the pressure is. As the gear presses down along your back it compromises the little insulation that you have.

Both the 30/30 and the Lavacore seem quite thin. You just may have to resort to more loft in your exposure protection. Add a top with decent loft to what you are diving and test dive it. If that improves things, it will be easier to offer suggestions.
 
I use a 4th element dry base to wick any moisture and than have the Halo 3D for warmth. Dive Vancouver island and have yet to complain about cold


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Your buoyancy counters the negative gear on your back so that is where the pressure is. As the gear presses down along your back it compromises the little insulation that you have.
Makes sense.

Both the 30/30 and the Lavacore seem quite thin. You just may have to resort to more loft in your exposure protection. Add a top with decent loft to what you are diving and test dive it. If that improves things, it will be easier to offer suggestions.
Haven't you told me over and over that cold water only starts at 40°? :D We're talking 60° here, so I really didn't expect to be sooooo cold. Anyway, I'll try wearing a vest or something and see if that helps.
 
Quero,

I'm not sure exactly what the Lavacore is but looking at their website it looks like it's only a base layer. I would expect you to be freezing.

I'd suggest you get a polartec sweatshirt and sweatpants and you should be fine. Maybe a 200 wt like this: Crew Neck Fleece Sweatshirt for Men / Bionic Sweatshirt Made of Polartec Fleece -- Orvis Sorry I couldn't find any women's that didn't have a high neck. Be careful of stuff that has a windblock - they can trap air.
 
Quero, if you think you just want a very thin base layer for tropical dry diving, how about smart wool? It soaks up sweat very nicely and stays warm even when damp. Or, Patagonia Capilene.
I looked at Lavacore and it didn't seem to have any characteristics that would be very desirable under a drysuit, except thinness.
But,60 degrees is kind of chilly. I'd be wearing a 200-300 wt polar fleece with my Smart Wool base layer.
 
...//...Haven't you told me over and over that cold water only starts at 40°? :D ...//...

Yep, but I'll be diving heavy neoprene, Polartecs, polyester, and wool. :D

...//... We're talking 60° here, so I really didn't expect to be sooooo cold. ...//...

60°F (15°C) can be perfectly miserable with inadequate thermal protection...
 
Reading this thread for insights....

I've just bought a DUI 30/30 for diving in not-too-cold water. I'm working hard on getting used to it (feeling like a newbie diver again--this is a MUCH harder task than the skills in my cave course, LOL). I'm wearing LavaCore under it, and the fit/feel are great. I don't want to be very bulky or turn into a sail in the current. But I'm cold, cold, cold. The water is about 60°F.


I have a 30/30 and love it... but would never dream of wearing it in water that is 60°F. Water that cold is full-blown dry suit and undergarment range. The 30/30 is a TROPICAL dry suit, made for warm water. It's not made to keep you warm... it's made to keep you dry.

---------- Post added October 5th, 2013 at 03:30 PM ----------

Haven't you told me over and over that cold water only starts at 40°? :D

There's no such thing as cold water... only wrong gear.
 
Quero,

I'm not sure exactly what the Lavacore is but looking at their website it looks like it's only a base layer. I would expect you to be freezing.

I'd suggest you get a polartec sweatshirt and sweatpants and you should be fine. Maybe a 200 wt like this: Crew Neck Fleece Sweatshirt for Men / Bionic Sweatshirt Made of Polartec Fleece -- Orvis Sorry I couldn't find any women's that didn't have a high neck. Be careful of stuff that has a windblock - they can trap air.

sju, are you suggesting Polartec instead of Lavacore? Or in addition? I don't want to add thickness, just warmth. Do the polartec ones have windblock?

---------- Post added October 6th, 2013 at 04:18 AM ----------

I have a 30/30 and love it... but would never dream of wearing it in water that is 60°F. Water that cold is full-blown dry suit and undergarment range. The 30/30 is a TROPICAL dry suit, made for warm water. It's not made to keep you warm... it's made to keep you dry.

The people here seem to think differently. Most of them are diving wet in single-layer 5 or 7 mm! I'm feeling distinctly wuss-y, LOL. I'll try adding a vest, and if that doesn't work, maybe I'll just have to go back to a 5 mm farmer jane.
 
I never like "stewing" in my own sweat, even in my undergarments here in temperate SoCal homewaters. So I don't understand why anyone would want to wear a drysuit in tropical warm waters of 28deg C or more.

You're in the tropics people --diving wet immersion in a skinsuit is a luxury to be enjoyed!
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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