Which is the best dry suit

[Dive Source]

Yes there is, but the reason has more to do with marketing and snob appeal than suit quality. You can get as good a suit for a lot less money elsewhere.

I have to agree but maybe I'm biased after working for Abyss for three years. Hey to each his own...:54:

Looking at your choices I would opt for the Viking because of the repairability of the suit (providing you have glue and a bit of know-how). The only thing that can really Kill a viking suit is delamination of the rubber from the liner which is caused by improper drying and then mildew forming. Other than that you can cut them in half and glue them together again if you know what your doing.

BARE makes some nice suits as well ( I currently use an ATR HD) but they weren't on the list.

good luck

 

[Scubakevdm]

i see what you are saying, as long as the zip dont break i am fine... cause hole and tears i can repair by myself, but the zip is a whole different thing.
That is what i am afraid of when buying a front zip, wll they break much easier than a back zip bacuse of fricktion with a bcd and a harness...

/Jonny

I'm sorry, I should have explained zip seals a little bit better. They're not so much a zipper related thing, and more of a wrist and neck seal thing. They call them zip seals 'cause they seal on the suit sorta like a zip-lock bag seals. So if you tear a neck seal, you just zip the torn one out, then zip the new one in. Incedentally, DUI can retro-fit zip seals into DUI suits with conventional seals. Here's their website if you'd like to learn more.
www.dui-online.com

 

[Meb]

Not to get of the current line of thought, but perhaps someone has an opinion? I'm about to buy a DUI drysuit, for various reasons, I'm commited to DUI. However, in person and on the boards I hear arguments for the CF 200 vs. TLS 350 that go both ways. Anyone try the 50/50? I'm not thrilled about the weight/dry time of the CF 200, but I prefer the implied durability over the TLS 350.

I'm diving midwest quarries with rocky/slippery entries and spend many hours in my suit on training weekends. I'm thinking the 50/50 is the best of both worlds, but have yet to find an owner/user's opinion.

A sheep looking for a flockily yours,
Meb

 

[LUBOLD8431]

THe CF- 200 is a heavy suit, bulky. The FLX- 50/50 is no different, even though just the bottom half is the CF-200 material. If you want something more durable than the TLS, I would suggest the CLX-450. Its a cordura trilam, and very durable. Add some kevlar knee pads, and you are all set. Thats what I own, and its been working fine for a few years now... (NE diving on rocks, and boats, and Instructor)

 

[Vin]

i see what you are saying, as long as the zip dont break i am fine... cause hole and tears i can repair by myself, but the zip is a whole different thing.
That is what i am afraid of when buying a front zip, wll they break much easier than a back zip bacuse of fricktion with a bcd and a harness...

/Jonny

Jonny - Its not the zip - its the valve. In Cypres the H20 is still warm. but whats the point of a dry suit if your wet? I contantly dive with the DUI low profile and have to keep it closed on decent and at depth and then re open the valve on ascent other wise I am soaked. Granted I don't own the suit but I demo them just about every weekend. and The issue is the damn valve. All the pretty colors and add ons and zipper placement doesnt amount to squat if a dry suit is not dry #@)(#(@%@_#!!!

DUI is a great product - good quality and they will custome build the suit for you... BUT stay away from the low profile valve!!!!!! Esepecially if you are 3 weeks (shipping time) from a replacment.......

You need a work horse- something that will give you years of service..... they simply built the valve- or glued it on and never beta tested it.... bogus.

I have been diving in 32dgrezz and after 1 tank, I am soaked - not sweat but H2O... no good.

my 2 cents

Vin

 

[Dry Diver]

For years I've been telling everyone, the best suit on the market is the USIA Aqua Pro Plus. Lifetime warranty on seams. Comfortable seals. You can order a custom suit and get in 2-3 weeks. DUI takes 6-8 weeks. You also can call anytime and talk to a Tech. They have been around for years but are mostly used in the Northwest. They blow DUI away in sales in the Seattle are. You go out in the sound and everyone is wearing their Shark Logo. You can get into their suits for less than a thousand. Check them out www.usia.com

 

[Arnaud]

For years I've been telling everyone, the best suit on the market is the USIA Aqua Pro Plus. Lifetime warranty on seams. Comfortable seals. You can order a custom suit and get in 2-3 weeks. DUI takes 6-8 weeks. You also can call anytime and talk to a Tech. They have been around for years but are mostly used in the Northwest. They blow DUI away in sales in the Seattle are. You go out in the sound and everyone is wearing their Shark Logo. You can get into their suits for less than a thousand. Check them out www.usia.com

USIA makes airbags, not drysuits, and my car has plenty of the former already, thank you.

 

[tye1138]

I personally own 2 older typhoon front zip tri-lam military dry suits. I like both of them, but one of the biggest complaints I have about trilam is the squeeze + the bulk factor. My Typhoon's have dry gloves and rubber hoods with exhaust valves. I've done over 300 dives per suit and never had a leak. I'm personally interested in getting an older Viking just to goof around with, ya know, something different. My question for ya'll revolves around comfort and zippers.

I've never owned a rear zipper dry suit before and the vikings are pretty much all rear zipper. Its it a real nightmeare dawning and doffing a viking by yourself? My Typhoon is so easy, its almost too easy. I don't mind a bit of difficulty, but a TUN of difficulty is something else. I'm also concerned with comfort and relibility. My trilams are not too comfortable, they tend to pinch me more times then necessary and I've recieved scars from diving!!! I tend to use AGA FFM's when diving just for ****z and giggles and keeping that in mind, my suits have viking rubber hoods for mating the mask to the suit.

Anyhow, any insite would be helpful!

 

[Dry Diver]

USIA Aqua Pro Plus. Has a lifetime warranty. Dui only offers a seven year.
www.usia.com

 

[Boogie711]

DD - are you going to admit to working for USIA or something? The only time you ever post here, it's to push USIA. Kind of ridiculous now, come on. You go ahead and tell your USIA buddies they can buy advertising like everyone else, and you can feel free to stop annoying us.