Xcel vs. Bare cold water wetsuit ??

[Bait_On_A_String]

Hi. Looking for a wetsuit recommendation. I have an upcoming Galapagos trip, and I'm looking for a cold water wetsuit. I get cold easily, so I'm interested in more thermal protection than my Henderson 5mm.

Wondering if anyone here can comment on either the Bare 7mm Arctic hooded fullsuit, vs. the Xcel SCS POLAR Tri-Density or POLAR Quad-Density suits. Not beholden to these in particular, but they seem to have the features I want.

Thanks!

 

[MechDiver]

How the suit fits is much more important than brand. The full length hooded suit is a good choice, as you can add a torso oversuit if needed. Good gloves and booties will also make a lot of difference to your comfort. Get the suit that fits the best.

MD

 

[jbichsel]

Hi. Looking for a wetsuit recommendation. I have an upcoming Galapagos trip, and I'm looking for a cold water wetsuit. I get cold easily, so I'm interested in more thermal protection than my Henderson 5mm.

Wondering if anyone here can comment on either the Bare 7mm Arctic hooded fullsuit, vs. the Xcel SCS POLAR Tri-Density or POLAR Quad-Density suits. Not beholden to these in particular, but they seem to have the features I want.

Thanks!

Ditto MechDiver. Fit will go a long way.
I have a Bare 7mm Arctic fullsuit with a Bare 7mm Arctic hooded vest, Bare 7mm boots and Bare 5mm gloves. I use this setup down to about 48 degrees for up to 1 1/2 hours without issue. The Bare (size XL) fit me ferfectly off the rack.

 

[Rev. Blade]

I too dive cold water with the Bare 7mm full suit with 7mm hooded vest. I actually found it was too much for Ablone diving. All that swimming got me hot in 52 degree water. For a leisurely SCUBA dive, it very comfortable in Monterey (down around 48 degrees). My 3 mm suit offers MUCH more flexibilty, but that what I wear when the water is in the high 70's (on vacation). Your hint that I also get cold easily, is that I wear a suit at all when the water is 78 to 81 degrees.

 

[ChrisA]

Hi. Looking for a wetsuit recommendation. I have an upcoming Galapagos trip, and I'm looking for a cold water wetsuit. I get cold easily, so I'm interested in more thermal protection than my Henderson 5mm.
Thanks!

Try a setup that is layered. An un-hooded full suit with a hooded vest under it or maybe a farmer John with a step-through jacket. Either will put two layers of neopren over the torso. I don'tthink the exact brand matters much What matrs more is that it fit with absolutly no space between you and the suit without being over tight.

If you do add a lot of thickness and you will have to, try to do some easy local dives to at least 50 feet so you can learn how to control bouancy on the way up as the suit uncompresses. You will need to add a few pounds of lead maybe as mauch as five or six (??) and you will need to add more air to the BC as you go down and (more importantly) learn
to let out more air as yu come up. Best not to wast vacation take leaning to get this right. The local beach is a lot cheaper per minute of bottom time. You will be surprized. It takes a lot of lead to sink a double layered 7mm suit

 

[rcohn]

Try a setup that is layered. An un-hooded full suit with a hooded vest under it or maybe a farmer John with a step-through jacket. Either will put two layers of neopren over the torso. I don'tthink the exact brand matters much What matrs more is that it fit with absolutly no space between you and the suit without being over tight.

.
Layers are a good idea. Last October we expected 75 degrees a Wolf and Darwin, but the currents shifted the week before we arrived and temperature rose to 79 degrees. My suit was really too heavy (6.5 mm FJ) but I wore a lycra hood and opened the zippers on the safety stops and did fine. With the wide range of temperatures layering makes sense. Also, you may cut the suit a bit on the barnacles, not the best place for anew expensive suit.



Ralph