I need advice choosing my next dryglove system. I currently use the Si-Tech/Viking system where you pull just a soft glove over the hard ring on the suit side (no ring on the glove side). I like the convenience of getting it on and off, that the replacement gloves are cheap, easy to find and the sizing fits me pretty well. They're supple enough for my photography needs. Perhaps the biggest upside is that when a glove gets damaged or worn out I can just quickly grab another glove and go; I don't have to remove the ring from the old glove and install it on the new one. In all I'm pretty happy with them except for two things:
- I have had one pop off accidentally a couple times when doing a boat entry and then too quickly turning around and reaching up for my camera being handed to me. Not a big deal if I just take an extra moment to let my suit deflate before reaching up, but just one of those things to remember and admittedly it doesn't secure itself as firmly as the systems with rings on both sides giving a positive "lock".
- I wasn't sure if they were leaking a little as my under gloves were always damp after dives. But after having my 10 year old suit tested for leaks they found a bunch on the suit side, so I think it wasn't the dryglove system's fault.
I'm currently choosing between three specific systems. I know that there are other ones out there but these are the three I can have built into the suit from the get-go by the manufacturer, and so please just let me know if you have experience with or knowledge of any of these three options I have:
1) Stick with the same Si-Tech/Viking/Si-5/whatever you want to call it system that I have on my soon-to-be backup suit, where you stretch the soft glove over the hard rings to make a seal. The benefit of sticking with this one is that I already know I like how it works and then I'd have one system for both drysuits which is an added bonus.
2) Si-Tech Antares Oval dryglove system:
http://www.sitech.se/products/dry-glove ... tares.aspx
I don't know much about it but on the surface I imagine that having an oval shape might mean easier to get in/out of the harness, get instruments over the wrist, etc. - not sure if there are any tradeoffs for this though and would love to hear from someone who owns or has used these.
3) Si-Tech Quick Glove system:
http://www.sitech.se/products/dry-glove ... glove.aspx
I think these are their classic drygloves that haven't changed for a long time. Does that mean tried and true or am I missing out on later innovations in dryglove tech?
Everyone's needs are a bit different but for me a major issue is getting them on and off to adjust the camera last minute before the dive, and being able to choose from some gloves that have enough dexterity to feel the subtle camera control feedback underwater. I remember having zip gloves early on and having both the blue smurf gloves and the orange ones. For some reason I was right between those two sizes and the blue gloves were a bit too hard in nature to feel feedback from my camera controls. I also could never get the zip seal back on without help, so that's why I switched to the pull over system eventually.
Anyway thank you guys in advance for any help/advice in this regard! Once I decide on a drysuit glove then I might pester y'all with a color decision as well
![:calvin: :calvin:](./../images/smilies/nerd.gif)