Westsuit fit - neck

[jibjab]

hey, i'm 150 pounds, 6 feet, and bought a bare arctic 7mm fullsuit and 7mm vest in a medium tall. i wear a 15" inch neck for shirts. i got my wetsuit in the mail yesterday and tried it on, wasn't too difficult to get on, its tight but not uncomfortably so. its most noticable when bending forward, i get some resistance in the upper back/shoulders. the only thing thats a little uncomfortable is the neck, it squeezes a bit, i can breathe fine but the veins in my neck do show a bit more.. then again the veins in my hands also show more as well. also when i zip the hood up it feels like my cheeks and chin are getting scrunched up.

it was dry, in my living room, and its my first wetsuit so i just want to know if these are issues i should be worried about or if this is the way it is? i'm pretty skinny and i have a small neck so i'm thinking i shouldn't be concerned about the neck thing because odds are everyone else that owns this wetsuit probably has a larger neck than me.. or am i wrong? will it loosen up a bit with use?

thanks

ps. i ordered one of those 6 foot signal tubes, i got it and its the size of a soda can rolled up, i'm supposed to fit this in a pocket???

 

[Dave in PA]

If the veins in your neck are standing out, it's probably too tight. I never trust sizing charts and prefer to try stuff on. do a google search for carotid sinus reflex.

 

[CompuDude]

2 points:

1) Fit on dry land and fit in the water are vastly different things.
2) A size 15 neck is not large. I wear a 15.5-16 myself, and have never had a problem with any stock neck sizes. It's the linebackers and weight room junkies with massive necks that would need to be concerned.

Get yourself in the water (find a friend with a pool?) and you'll see how much better it fits. Or not. But crunching over in your living room a brand new thick neoprene wetsuit is not going to tell you how it is going to work in actual service.

 

[spectrum]

its tight but not uncomfortably so. its most noticable when bending forward, i get some resistance in the upper back/shoulders.

IMO this is a red flag. It sounds like the suit is not tall enough or quite possibly only too short in the torso. Not every trim human fits a stock suit. Since you are already in the "tall" versions of the size I wonder how a stock Large would be? The suit should roll on and not really feel vein popping tight even topside pre-dive. Remember you need to manage getting to the water with your gear while wearing this outfit. Any observable altering of your veins is another red flag.

FWIW I dive that combo in XL and it's a great suit. That reminds me I need to go out and tend my gear after tonight's dive.

Latter,
Pete

 

[meesier42]

I have a couple of custom suits (3, plus a hood) and 2 stock suits. The suit that I think fits the best and the suit that I like the best is the Pinacle Aquatics Seal. its a full 3mm suit with double rolled wrist, ankles and neck and then a merino wool liner (which I love). The double rolled seal on the neck Lets the neck fit a little looser while keeping a nice water tight seal. They also make 5/3, 5, 7/5, 7 and hooded suits in 8/6. Check out their stuff at Pinnacle Aquatics

PS. I don't work for them, or anyone else related to diving, just really like their suits and maybe you will too.
-Josh

 

[ScubaDivaDivemaster]

Pressure on the neck is definitely a red flag, as spectrum said. You don't want pressure on your neck because that can cause some big problems!

Good luck!

C U underwater,
ScubaDivaDivemaster