Whites Fusion Bullet.

[Pullmyfinger]

I'm going to buy a drysuit before this winter and am narrowing down my choices.

I am interested in the Fusion Bullet, due to it (presumably) being the best choice among the available skins for supporting pockets. Is it possible to install the larger Halcyon pocket on this suit with any sagging issues? Has anyone done this?

I gather that the bullet has more issues with drying than the other skins, but I'd be willing to deal with that if it'll take the big Halcyon pockets.

I saw one persons review on the fusion I forget which skin, they had posted some pictures which showed a lot of pilling on the back and under the arms. Does the bullet skin have any problems with fabric wear under the arms due to webbing wear?

The new option of having the suit with the replaceable neck and wrist seals is a big plus for me. I'll be traveling with the suit so I want the option of being able to replace the seals myself.

That feature might override some of the negatives of the suit such as pockets and increased drying time with the bullet skin for me.

Also, I'm 5'11 and weigh between 210 and 220 depending on the gravity at different times of the year.

Any advice on what size I should get.....the L/XL would fit my height, but it's listed max weight is 210. Would weighing 220 create a problem. The next size up lists a max height of 6'4", I don't want the suit to be too tall for me.

Has the fit of the suit really improved over previous versions? I've read that many of the older versions were too tight in the legs.

Another question/concern I have.......I've been seeing a few of the Fusion listed for sale, some by people that were previously advocates for the Fusion. Any idea why? Is it that after the honeymoon is over the issues with the suit sort of become a pain to put up with?

Also, DRIS offers the suit as a package deal with the Mk2 undergarments. I've notices that the jacket has a regular collar. Does the collar create any problems under the neck seal of the suit, such as bunching up or just being bulky in that area?

For those that have the Whites undergarments, how do you like those?
I'm considering getting the 4th Element Arctic undergarments, but wanted to get some opinions on the White's undergarments before I decided.

I really appreciate any input or advice I can get on this decision.

Thanks you,

Mitch

 

[TSandM]

Mitch, I own and have dived all three skins, and I'd recommend the Tech over the Bullet. Yes, the pockets sag a bit -- but not really even annoyingly, except when you have the suit unzipped. I don't like the Tech pockets very much at the moment, but I've not had the opportunity to dive them without dry gloves. I think I would like them better. They will hold a LOT of stuff. I may put a stiffener in the edge of the flap, and then I'm sure I would like them much better with dry gloves.

I don't know if all Bullet skins are the same, but mine, and the skin belonging to another diver I talked to last week, does not have Velcro to attach the sleeves at the wrist. This means you can't pull on the skin to pull your arms on, and that's annoying. I also found the skin to be much less flexible, and render the suit more difficult to don -- and ease of donning is not where the Fusion is scoring high points to begin with.

The difference in cut between the original suits and the present ones is dramatic. My new suit is trivial to get my legs into, whereas the old one involved a great deal of pulling and swearing to get over my Mk3 undergarment. The arms don't seem that different.

The neck ring is utterly brilliant. I would install that in any suit I owned from now on. About the wrist rings, I'm still a bit ambivalent. They are very large and obtrusive, and significantly affect your choices of dry glove options. Wrist seals are so easy to DIY replace that I'm not sure how much better off I am with the rings. I had hoped to use the silicone seals, but they don't fit me. They would probably fit you just fine.

I'd recommend the XL/XXL size for your stated dimensions. The glory of the Fusion is that too big is just fine -- I dive my husband L/XL as my backup suit (I use a S/M) and have no problems at all doing that. Go for big; it doesn't gas trap, because the skin prevents that.

I had about 450 dives on my first Fusion. Two tiny pinhole leaks, and one big honking tear -- and I defy any suit not to tear when bolts from a set of doubles grab it when you are falling off a boat . . . I crawl around on limestone, and on and off SoCal dive boats (involving kneeling on grated metal), and I fall down distressingly frequently on Puget Sound rocks, and the Fusion handled it all.

Oh, and you asked about the undergarments. I have dived the old DUI 400g; the DUI fleece 300g; the DC 200g Thinsulate with 200g vest, the Weezle Extreme +, the 4th Element Arctics, and the MK3. The MK3 definitely wins. It's easy to get in and out of, comfortable to wear, very warm, and has adequate pockets. It has a zipper that zips up and down (handy for those of us with p-valves) and a butt zipper (for those without). It seems to survive the washing machine and dryer very well. The stitching gives out a bit, and it frays and vents a little stuffing as it ages, but I dive the living daylights out of anything I own, so unless you do 200 dives a year for four years on your undergarment, you very well may not encounter any issues I do

 

[Pullmyfinger]

Thank you for the detailed descriptions.

I really appreciate your time in writing that up.
Would you recommend just having the neck ring installed and have the regular wrist seals left in place?
I know from other posts that you use Viking rings for dry gloves. I'm still researching dry glove options also.

Thanks Lynne,

-Mitch

 

[irishsquid]

Mitch, you and I are pretty darn close to the same size. I'm 5'11", 205lbs. I have the L/XL Bullet and use the MK2 undergarment. I haven't had any issues with the fit, though I wonder what the XL/XXL would be like if I had it all to do over. It was interesting to doff and don at first, but, now it is fairly easy. I don't have a whole lot of use on mine yet as I only use it for extreme winter diving here and still don't get that many dives (only 1 dive buddy has a DS). It looks as new as the day I got it. My skin has the velcro at the sleeves that Lynne was talking about. Drying time (a couple days hanging) has not been a big issue at all for me, but; I have nothing to compare to. All in all, I'm very pleased with mine. It is warm, dry, and very flexible. I have done up to an hour in mid 40F water and I haven't had to use the undergarment jacket yet so I can't comment on the collar and on a couple occasions, have unzipped and removed the sleeves. The only negative I can state in this post is: It can SUCK following up a post by Lynne; she is so thorough and spot on it can make one feel inadequate and at a loss for words.

 

[TSandM]

Well, as I said, I'm ambivalent about the wrist rings. On the one hand, they give you the ability to swap out a damaged seal. On the other hand, in 900+ dives, I have had ONE damaged wrist seal. Wrist seals are pretty easy to DIY, because the biggest challenge in doing wrist seals is finding an obturator that will properly expand the suit so you can get a smooth surface. I have found champagne bottles work GREAT for wrist seals!

The rings are also necessary if you are going to use the silicone wrist seals. I could see someone with latex allergy being very happy about this option. I can't use the silicone ones (too big) so I don't have that advantage.

The rings are really going to complicate any seal-mounted dry glove system, and are incompatible with any suit-mounted system. I was very lucky that the kludge for the Viking rings worked, but it does not work with Latex seals. (It might, if I could find an o-ring of appropriate size and diameter to put between the seal and the Viking ring, but the ones from the dry glove system are not big enough in diameter.) I honestly don't know why SiTech didn't use the same concept for the wrists that they did with the neck seal, although perhaps the smaller diameter makes getting the snap ring in and out too difficult.

And thanks for the compliment, but I'm not thorough, I'm prolix . . .

 

[irishsquid]

...
And thanks for the compliment, but I'm not thorough, I'm prolix . . .

Modest too! I had to look up prolix.:blush:

 

[TSandM]

airsix says he doesn't need "word of the day" because he has me . . .

 

[Ouvea]

Pullmyfinger:

I have the Whites MK2 jacket and a complete Fourth Element Arctic undergarment. I use my Fourth Element Arctic and use the jacket when the water gets into the mid/high 40s. I get cold on my second dives at times, so I wear the MK2 jacket as additional insulation. I thought the jacket was going to be thicker but it's quite thin. I do not believe that the MK2 undergarments would be as warm as my Fourth Element Arctic undergarments. Although, I have not tried the MK2 as a stand alone. I did not have any problems with the collar of the MK2 interfering with my neck seal. It is windproof and would make an excellent top side jacket, especially on a boat.

I once dove (in Monterey, CA - 50F water) with a fellow from Hawaii that was using a Fusion and the MK2 undergarment. On the second dive, he was so cold that I could see him shivering and his teeth chattering. I was fine with my Arctic and the instructor with his Weezel was nice and toasty. If you're diving in 60 degree water or warmer, the MK2 might work but I don't think they will keep you warm in 50 degree water. However, i do get very cold easily, so your experience may differ. To give you an idea, in a full 7mm wetsuit with a 7mm vest, I usually last about 1/2 hour before the cold forces me to return.

Claude

 

[irishsquid]

Pullmyfinger:

... If you're diving in 60 degree water or warmer, the MK2 might work but I don't think they will keep you warm in 50 degree water. However, i do get very cold easily, so your experience may differ. To give you an idea, in a full 7mm wetsuit with a 7mm vest, I usually last about 1/2 hour before the cold forces me to return.

Claude

I commented earlier that the MK2 worked fine in mid 40 degree for me.
Claude makes a good point (see my bold of his quote above). YMMV based on your tolerance for cold. I use a 5mm wetsuit 60 degrees and above. 70 degree and up 3mm keeps me pretty comfortable. I grew up swimming mountain streams.

 

[Jax]

Thank you for the detailed descriptions.

I really appreciate your time in writing that up.
Would you recommend just having the neck ring installed and have the regular wrist seals left in place?
I know from other posts that you use Viking rings for dry gloves. I'm still researching dry glove options also.

Thanks Lynne,

-Mitch

Mitch, forget about the pockets. I use the XS Scuba Highland shorts, huge bellows pockets, and it transfers to any thing I'm wearing. No reason to have permanent pockets on anything when you just pull up your shorts on whatever you are wearing.