Whats the perfect drysuit, without drying out my wallet

[Boogie711]

I prefer the USIA drysuit. I got the suit, thermal wear, bag, LP hose, and a maintenance kit, all for under a thousand. Plus, they have a lifetime warranty on seam leaks.

You're joking, right? USIA?

I've seen some pretty horrible looking suits out there - delamination, threads coming loose around the zipper, etc - and they were pretty much universally USIA. That's just my experience.

Then again, you also tried to tell us that all DUI drysuits leak, so I guess we know how much weight to put in any of your responses. :54:

 

[jonnythan]

Then again, you also tried to tell us that all DUI drysuits leak, so I guess we know how much weight to put in any of your responses. :54:

That's not fair. Most of my friends who are drysuit certified got certified on rental suits - all DUI's, from two different shops. During a drysuit conversation, they all complained about the DUI's and how they leaked inappropriately, and how happy they are with their White's suits that fit and keep them dry.

For some reason, I didn't just file their comments into the "oh these stupid people" bin. Just because it has a DUI patch doesn't mean it's God's gift to divers.

 

[Dan Gibson]

But if you reread the posts, it sounds like $1200 to $1300 is considered reasonable. I wouldn't say $1600 is unreasonable for a DC suit if you get the correct fit the first time around. The custom suits are about $1400, but they have a telescopic torso from what I am told. You will spend less money in the long run if you spend a little more up front. How many people have gone through more than one suit before they are happy with their suit? That would be a good pole.

If you are lucky enough to fit in a stock DUI, you get a seven year warranty and you might find one at a good price on the list on their site. My 350 TLS was expensive but cheap compared to many places. I had Dave Sweetin size me for a cave cut and the thing only came to just over $1800. That is about $500 cheaper than most of the shops I have seen it in up north. Of course, going to High Springs to have someone who trully knows how to fit you is the real key. What we tried and were successful at up here was to put people in a one size smaller suit when it came to DUI. They are just cut too big given the sizing charts. If you are of average build or slightly muscular, it will darn near fit like a cave cut. That assumes one doesn't have rediculously long arms or legs.

As far as Bare suit go, all the people I know who bought Bare drysuits look like they are wearing a Potato sack. They are just cut too big in the stock sizes. Whites seems to have the same problem, or some of the people sizing divers for these suits have no idea what it should fit like. Also be aware that it can take quite a long time for a Whites suit to come back across the border. That is one reason most of us won't touch there suits anymore.

Another nice thing about DUI suits is the customer service is very good and they are pretty quick. An even quicker route is to use Superior in Minnesota. I believe the guy there used to work for DUI, so he really knows these suits well. You can have orders expediated at a small charge if you are in dire need of having the suit back quickly.

You guys talking about $1500 suits for a guy who wants something reasonable are scary!

Look into the Bare NEX-Gen. You can find them around here in the States for $500 or so. Add to that a decent set of heavy Polypro underwear, and you're in business for water into the low to mid 60s. If you want to dive in colder water, then consider the Bare 200gm thinsulate/polypro garmet - Leisurepro sells it for under $200.

This assumes that the suit fits - you need to check size charts. If you're an odd size, then you're hosed because all custom suits will cost you a pretty penny.

I dove a NexGen for a year - spearfishing - and it held up REAL well.

 

[Genesis]

Well, according to DUI's sizing charts I'm a stock large.

I tried a stock medium in the pool. It was ok, provided I never wanted to dive with heavy undergarmets. I could have literally never gotten it on though if I did - and that would be a problem. So I bought the stock large.

A "cave cut" is fine if you're going to dive only in caves around here where the water is 68-72F all the time. But most people who buy drysuits don't do that - I know I don't. I use mine in the salt of the gulf in the winter, where it might be in the mid 50s, and then I use it in springs, which is the usual 68-72F. If I can't put that second layer of underwear on, its useless, and I ain't buying two suits. So I live with SLIGHTLY big (to fit the bigger undergarmets....)

The NexGen doesn't fit too badly, provided you get the right one. The NexGen I had was a stock size and fit me ok - until I lost 30lbs! THEN it fit like a potato sack - but that wasn't due to the suit, it was due to me losing a bunch of weight. So I sold it.

Fit is EVERYTHING on a Drysuit.

As for DUI's leaking, the stock low-profile exhaust valves indeed do. I've had the DUI folks tell me otherwise, but 15 minutes in the pool, emerging with a sopping-wet left arm, closed their yaps, and I got my suit with the high-profile Apeks valve, which DOESN'T leak. IMHO DUI ought to quit putting those pieces of junk on what is otherwise a wonderful piece of kit.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

First of all, I have owned two DUI's BOTH with the Apeks LP valve. No leaks for me. I think they are hit and miss... As I said in another thread, we had 15 suits at the shop I used to work at, and guess what??? NO leaks in any of those either...

 

[jonnythan]

I understand that, but I don't think it's fair to discount everything someone says because they said something negative about DUI suits though.

 

[Genesis]

Well I was 0 for 2 when I demoed the DUIs I tried on......

That was enough for me!

 

[LUBOLD8431]

I understand that, but I don't think it's fair to discount everything someone says because they said something negative about DUI suits though.

I didnt. I agree that fit is everything with a drysuit. However, I dont believe that EVERY SINGLE Apeks Low Profile Valve is JUNK!!!

My suit and many others that I know of are proof that they are not.

 

[J1M1]

I own an Andy's and i like it. it is dry. good suit.

 

[jonnythan]

I didnt. I agree that fit is everything with a drysuit. However, I dont believe that EVERY SINGLE Apeks Low Profile Valve is JUNK!!!

My suit and many others that I know of are proof that they are not.

I never said you did. I thought Boogie did:

Then again, you also tried to tell us that all DUI drysuits leak, so I guess we know how much weight to put in any of your responses.