Wetsuit for tall hippy European

[pauldw]

Thanks @JMJ Wetsuits – unfortunately, as mentioned, the extra VAT and customs duties make ordering from the US quite expensive, so it's not really an option. To be clear: I'm in the EU, which the UK is unfortunately no longer part of.

That's if it's shipped. If you come over here on holiday, you can get one and just wear it back, on the airplane, as your clothing.

 

[dlofting]

Sounds like my wife is similar to you although shorter. She wears a Bare Nixie and finds it comfortable. From their website it looks like there are Bare dealers in the Czech Republic.

 

[trassela]

Goodness, look at all these responses I missed! Thank you everyone and sorry for the long silence! My notification preferences don't seem to work as expected.

Scubapro offers specific lengthy (or short) sizes. So, for example, LT (large, tall). maybe some other brands do too.

Scubapro Everflex Yulex 7.5/5mm Duikpak bij sublub

Scubapro Yulex Everflex 7,5/5mm steamers voor mannen en vrouwenYulex Dive plantaardig natuurrubber is uitermate goed bestand tegen samendrukking onder water ten behoeve van warmte en comfort tijdens het duikenInzetstukken in diverse dikten bieden een uitstekende combinatie van warmte en...

www.sublub.nl

Please try on a ScubaPro. I am apple shaped, and the Scubapro legs and hips are much too wide for me, and perfect for my pear shaped daughter, with her ice-hockey player thighs.
For apple shaped ladies, Oceanic brand worked better.

Oh, that's surprising – Scubapro's size chart indicates an S for my upper body and an XL for my lower body, height, and weight. The XL would be about 10 cm / 4 inches too big around my chest and waist. But maybe the charts lie and it would be a good idea to try anyway.

By the way, a quick Google search ('made to measure wetsuit europe') gave me a few pages of hits, including these:

Site fermé

After many years driven by extreme passion, Kalypse is very sorry to announce that it lowers the curtain and stops producing its magnificent wetsuits. We want to express our deepest gratitude and thanks to all of you for your trust and confidence. The Kalypse team

www.kalypse.fr

Elios Sub | The Wetsuit Specialists

Production of TAILORED WETSUITS for freediving, spearfishing, scubadiving, sport, snorkeling and much more. Order online your custom Wetsuit!

www.eliossub.com

Snugg Wetsuits | Home

Probably the only made to measure wetsuit manufacturer in the UK

www.snuggwetsuits.co.uk

Elios Sub mentioned above will be good, but any two piece freediving suit would work. You should be able to get different sized tops and bottoms instead of going with a custom suit, if that works for you. There are probably more EU freediving suit manufacturers than what is available in the US, so you should be spoiled for choice.

Just be aware that the suits will have options for nylon lining. If you go with a single lined, get smooth skin or open cell inside, nylon outside. It'll be more stretchy, warm and comfortable, but you'll need lube to get it on. If you go with the Nylon on both sides, you won't need lube, it'll be more like a traditional scuba suit.

I've Googled a good deal as well, and have had trouble finding made-to-measure suits that seem really designed for scuba, e.g. have abrasion resistance in the BCD areas, double cuffs etc. I was hoping to get recommendations from people who have experience with particular manufacturers.

Elios does look promising particularly because they do two-piece suits, but my hopes were crushed when they gave me all those options for materials. No idea what they mean and what to choose. @sea_ledford 's advice on the lining is really helpful, thank you!

Another one that looks fantastic is Camaro, but the only way to order custom is to visit their factory store in Austria...

When you said hippy European I thought you meant hippie.
Made to measure or off the rack made to fit is the only way a wetsuit will fit me, could be an option.
A question for @VikingDives Have you made any wetsuits for divers Down Under, and if so, what sort of $ am I looking at?
Asking for a friend.

​

Haha, perhaps it's a bit of both hippy and hippie!

Do you have any tips on where to find off-the-rack and made-to-fit wetsuits, @Pressurehead ? I haven't found any options for that so far.

That's if it's shipped. If you come over here on holiday, you can get one and just wear it back, on the airplane, as your clothing.

I promise that if I do that, there will be a photo posted in this thread.

Seriously though, it's been eight years since my last trip to North America, but now it looks like I'll be coming over at the end of May for a work trip. So I might check out JMJ after all.

Sounds like my wife is similar to you although shorter. She wears a Bare Nixie and finds it comfortable. From their website it looks like there are Bare dealers in the Czech Republic.

Thanks @dlofting, that's super helpful! After checking the size charts of 12 different brands, Bare's 8T is the closest match for me by far, and there's a dealer near me that doesn't normally carry that size but can order it. Plus, Bare's customer service has been amazing so far after I contacted them to find a dealer. Fingers crossed!

 

[berndo]

Maybe what you should be looking for is a dry suit.

You definitely do not want a dry suit for diving in summer in Spain.

 

[Pressurehead]

Do you have any tips on where to find off-the-rack and made-to-fit wetsuits, @Pressurehead ? I haven't found any options for that so far.

Not in Spain , sorry.
Plenty of makers of wetsuits in the EU and the UK.

 

[Angelo Farina]

My wife had the same problem. She solved it buying a two-pieces wet suit, 6.5mm Rubatex, by Scubapro.
She did buy the lower part of size 4, the upper part of size 2.
Nowadays for cheap prices in Europe you can go to a Decathlon shop.
Good price compared to quality.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

When you said hippy European I thought you meant hippie.
Made to measure or off the rack made to fit is the only way a wetsuit will fit me, could be an option.
A question for @VikingDives Have you made any wetsuits for divers Down Under, and if so, what sort of $ am I looking at?
Asking for a friend.

​

I never saw hippies that attractive when I was growing up. All of them had hairy armpits and hairy legs, and they all smelled like a combo of marijuana, petuli oil, and BO.

OP, another vote for JMJ custom wetsuits or try Pinnacle, their suits are very tall. The hip part IDK.

 

[happy-diver]

 

[trassela]

In case any other hippy folks find this thread later: I ended up buying a Bare size 8T (Evoke 7mm older model), and it fits really well. Not a struggle to pull over thighs and hips, and just a little bit loose in the upper body. Great quality, too!

 

[FreqFlier]

I'm tall and have a small waist and chest but some bulk in my hips and thighs.

I do not believe you will find a one piece wetsuit to fit your body shape (the only one that could potentially fit is Fourth Element Proteus 2).

Reasonable option would be a two piece, like Cressi Medas, or ideally a 2-piece separate setup with men's jacket, like Beuchat Sormiou and women's farmer jane or pants