Advice on a drysuit

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bucknaked
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by bucknaked »

You can get neapree booties with the bare tech
mrtoybox
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by mrtoybox »

Talkingabout drysuits...like elbows and a#^%$^%e's, everybodies got an opinion on them. I dive the DUI CF400, a custom compressed neoprene suit. I probably have 1000 dives on it and have only replaced the zipper and the neck seal. I use the DiveX dry Gloves, easy snap on and off, never leak system. Its a heavy weight suit, but durable as promised. I wish my boots were attached to the suit instead of having to put them on over the neoprene socks that are attached to the suit,
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

What I dont like about the built in boots is the air that gets trapped in them. Although the apollo has rather bulky boots that dont compress easily.

On another note, I didnt even notice BARE's SB suit till today's MMM dive. Looks to be pretty nice, although almost as expensive as DUI. I'll deff be taking a 2nd look at that one. Stretch/Breathable Trilam :eek:
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LCF
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by LCF »

You can use Trident's fin keepers over integrated boots, to minimize the air-trapping in them.

Integrated boots/Turbosoles/sock and rock boot options are very personal, I think. I really hate using an over-boot. It's one more thing to forget. It can also be awkward, once you've packed your legs and their insulation into your suit, to bend over and fasten boots. But the worst thing is that they can come off . . . and having lost a boot 1000 feet back in a cave, I really dislike having anything on my feet that can come off. (Of course, you can get so much air in integrated boots that you kick them off, too.)

Turbosoles, which are the little neoprene shoes that DUI puts on their suits, are a good compromise in a lot of ways. The Velcro that goes around the ankle makes it extremely unlikely that you can kick them off, and finkeepers over them severely limit the amount of gas you can get in your feet. They're easy to get on, and attached to the suit. The two things they don't have going for them are that the soles offer very little protection from rocky surfaces (and there's no ankle support at all), and they're prone to leaks (which are pretty easy to fix).

I don't think there is anything in exposure protection for cold water that is perfect. EVERYTHING has its pluses and minuses, and each of us has to decide what the important pluses are, and the intolerable minuses, and choose accordingly.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Grateful Diver »

pogiguy05 wrote:I have the Bare SB and I love the suit even though I had a rough start. make sure you get measured accurately and take your time to get the right size. I would also say that BARE is very great on their customer service and never questioned the problems I was having. The Bare SB will run you under the $3000 and even though I think the VEST is part of the whole package I have not used mine much. It also makes for a tighter fit in the suit and definitely changes my weighting needs if I wear it. My suit does not have many dives on it so I cannot say anything about durability but the stretchy fabric definitely helps someone like me who has girth issues. I can don my fins with no problems.

NOTE it has one integrated pocket on the left side large enough for a spare mask or what ever you wish to put there.

If you are ever at a thursday dive I would be glad to show you mine. I am out of diving for a couple weeks though.
Sorry, but I have to disagree about Bare customer service. I ordered a Bare XCS2 in February ... custom-cut, measured twice to make sure we got it right. Suit showed up about the time of the Expo ... in fact, it was on display at the Expo ... and when it showed up I realized that it was built for someone about four inches taller than me and maybe 2-3 inches rounder. I took it back where I purchased it, and although the shop has been a strong advocate for getting things set right, Bare has been dragging their feet. It's July, and I'm still waiting for Bare to make it right.

I emphasized that I am going on a trip on July 20th, and needed the suit by the 19th. Last I heard from Bare, they're planning on shipping it on the 18th. When I asked if I could pay extra for a hurry-up, they said no ... they don't do that.

Pity is I think it's a really nice suit ... but I will most likely never buy another Bare product because of the way they handled this. I think their customer service can best be summed up as an "it's not my problem" attitude.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Grateful Diver »

LCF wrote:You can use Trident's fin keepers over integrated boots, to minimize the air-trapping in them.

Integrated boots/Turbosoles/sock and rock boot options are very personal, I think. I really hate using an over-boot. It's one more thing to forget. It can also be awkward, once you've packed your legs and their insulation into your suit, to bend over and fasten boots. But the worst thing is that they can come off . . . and having lost a boot 1000 feet back in a cave, I really dislike having anything on my feet that can come off. (Of course, you can get so much air in integrated boots that you kick them off, too.)

Turbosoles, which are the little neoprene shoes that DUI puts on their suits, are a good compromise in a lot of ways. The Velcro that goes around the ankle makes it extremely unlikely that you can kick them off, and finkeepers over them severely limit the amount of gas you can get in your feet. They're easy to get on, and attached to the suit. The two things they don't have going for them are that the soles offer very little protection from rocky surfaces (and there's no ankle support at all), and they're prone to leaks (which are pretty easy to fix).

I don't think there is anything in exposure protection for cold water that is perfect. EVERYTHING has its pluses and minuses, and each of us has to decide what the important pluses are, and the intolerable minuses, and choose accordingly.
I've had suits with built-in booties as well as suits that require rock boots. Rock boots have been less warm overall, probably because they tend to compress whatever you're wearing for socks more than built-in boots do. Turbosoles are nice, except that they don't give you much support for shore entries and exits ... which is what we mostly do around here.

Santi's boots offer the best compromise I've seen yet. They fit comfortably, provide reasonable support, are flexible enough to give you a lot of options for foot warmth, and the ankle straps do a great job of regulating air flow to the feet.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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Jeff2Dive
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

Grateful Diver wrote:. I think their customer service can best be summed up as an "it's not my problem" attitude.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
That can be said of any company or service, which doesn't justify. It depend primarily on the individuals handling it and their integrity or lack there. I do hope you get your suit soon. Personally I'm patient, and try and work with everyone, but some point I would call the bank or credit card and pull payment and say keep it.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

After taking a look at Bare's SB system, tis'very nice indeed. Although Im curious about the longevity of the fabric considering it's a stretch brethable. Warranty is 2 years on the fabric, lifetime on the seams. Anyone have an SB thats got a bunch of dives on it? How's the shoulders and hips?

Another concern that a coworker of mine brought up is the zipper seat. Aparently his USIA zipper was leaking according to him. That would be something to check when looking at a suit is how well it seats AND remains seated under movement. I guess both his LDS and USIA gave him the run around on it till the warranty was up and he finally poney'd up to r/r the zipper at his cost. They were telling him that he was sweating and thats why he was wet, or that he wasnt securing it properly :nutty: His word of advice (if you think the suit has a leak) get the shop to pressure test the suit if it's still under warranty.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Grateful Diver »

Jeff2Dive wrote:
Grateful Diver wrote:. I think their customer service can best be summed up as an "it's not my problem" attitude.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
That can be said of any company or service, which doesn't justify. It depend primarily on the individuals handling it and their integrity or lack there. I do hope you get your suit soon. Personally I'm patient, and try and work with everyone, but some point I would call the bank or credit card and pull payment and say keep it.
First off, there's a 60-day limit on credit card disputes, and this transaction has long exceeded that ... and in fact had done so before I even realized this was going to be a problem.

But I'm going to take issue with your first statement ... it's not always the individuals, because in this case both the shop owner and the Bare rep have made a sincere effort to resolve the problem. They're just not getting any response from the people who need to fix it.

The same cannot be said for other drysuit companies I've dealt with. Both DUI and Whites have excellent customer service reputations ... and deservedly so. And I've had great experiences with both. With DUI, if the issue went to this point I'd be speaking directly to one of the owners of the company. When I was struggling with issues with my Whites Fusion (I was one of the early owners), I was invited to bring the suit directly to the factory up near Victoria and they gave me a VIP tour of the facility while they worked on the suit. You can't get better than that for customer service. Unfortunately it just wasn't the right suit for me. And the one time I had to send my Santi suit back for repair, it was a simple, straightforward process. No runarounds, non excuses, and the suit actually came back to me sooner than they said it would.

There are always two components to any major purchase ... the quality of the product, and the support you'll get from the company who sold it to you. To my concern, the latter is just as important as the former.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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spatman
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Advice on a drysuit

Post by spatman »

Jeff2Dive wrote: Another concern that a coworker of mine brought up is the zipper seat. Aparently his USIA zipper was leaking according to him. That would be something to check when looking at a suit is how well it seats AND remains seated under movement. I guess both his LDS and USIA gave him the run around on it till the warranty was up and he finally poney'd up to r/r the zipper at his cost. They were telling him that he was sweating and thats why he was wet, or that he wasnt securing it properly :nutty: His word of advice (if you think the suit has a leak) get the shop to pressure test the suit if it's still under warranty.
There are plenty of divers on this forum (myself included) who have put many dives on USIA suits without any problems with the zipper. Don't be too hasty in judging the brand just because one person claimed to have a leaky zipper.
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renoun
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by renoun »

spatman wrote:
Jeff2Dive wrote: There are plenty of divers on this forum (myself included) who have put many dives on USIA suits without any problems with the zipper. Don't be too hasty in judging the brand just because one person claimed to have a leaky zipper.
Especially since until recently there was pretty much a single source for zippers.

I have a USIA suit too, it was a killer deal from Craig's List and has served me well. Their factory is in Or. and they have quoted me very reasonable prices for service.

There really isn't anything you can't do to a drysuit with the right kind of glue if you are willing to DIY. Seals are a wear item that need replacement every year or two. I would love to have the new silicone seals with quick change ring sets but changing latex seals is cheap and easy.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

I agree, customer service is just as important as the product quality. I understand the major manufacturers make good quality products without a doubt, it's just a matter of who to go with. I suppose it boils downt to fit and service then.

I know seals can be done local, although I'm curious about the zipper. Does the suit go back to the manufacturer to r/r ?
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renoun
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by renoun »

Jeff2Dive wrote: I know seals can be done local, although I'm curious about the zipper. Does the suit go back to the manufacturer to r/r ?
Most folks send suits back to the factory for zippers but some prefer to work with repair specialists and send their suits to the Midwest or Florida for zipper work. Locally Adventures Down Under in Bellingham and Hoodsport’N Dive in Hoodsport do zippers. I even know a few folks who have replaced their own zipper. Zippers are around $250-$450 installed.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Don-B »

Jeff2Dive wrote: I suppose it boils down to fit and service then.
Fit is the key to loving or hating you suit.
Are you a "stock size" or will you need a custom?
If your not in a big hurry DUI is going to have a demo days Aug 11-12 in Muk.
it might be worth going to.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

Don-B wrote: Are you a "stock size" or will you need a custom?
If your not in a big hurry DUI is going to have a demo days Aug 11-12 in Muk.
it might be worth going to.
A stock size would fit me just fine at 5'11" 165. Although I keep hearing how custom orders need be returned because it didnt fit right. I dunno, my mens warehouse "Suit" was tailored, fits perfect, I would hope that if I spend several times the amount on a drysuit that it should fit the same.

Demo Days :partydance:

By the time I found that out I had already arranged to be at a wedding down in Hood River OR that weekend :banghead:
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Don-B »

Jeff2Dive wrote:
Don-B wrote: Are you a "stock size" or will you need a custom?
If your not in a big hurry DUI is going to have a demo days Aug 11-12 in Muk.
it might be worth going to.
A stock size would fit me just fine at 5'11" 165. Although I keep hearing how custom orders need be returned because it didnt fit right. I dunno, my mens warehouse "Suit" was tailored, fits perfect, I would hope that if I spend several times the amount on a drysuit that it should fit the same.

Demo Days :partydance:

By the time I found that out I had already arranged to be at a wedding down in Hood River OR that weekend :banghead:
There is also one in Newport Or. the next week go figure.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

I know... would that they could be in newport that weekend and in Muk the next
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Grateful Diver »

Well, a week ago I was bitching about having to wait so long to get my new drysuit. Today, I picked it up ... about a week and a half ahead of when they told me it'd be ready. Brought it home, tried it on, and it fits beautifully.

Good timing too ... I'm gonna be in the water with students the next eight days in a row. Can't wait to see what it feels like to dive dry again.

:taco:

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Jeff2Dive
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

Thats great news Bob. Let me know how it goes.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by H20doctor »

I dive a boot suit.. Air isnt a problem..
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by drgoogle »

Where do you go to get a custom dry suit made? Or, is there a shop that has a range of sizes? I'm interested in getting one but the manufacturers put me either in a 3xl or 4xl suit, which doesn't seem to be stocked anywhere.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

Your local LDS that stocks the brand you want can do a custom order, just be sure to ask the community of divers who to go to for measurments if custom. Otherwise the larget selection I know of would be Underwater Sports in Seattle, but I dont know about other shops further south. The tacoma dive expo will have pretty much every stock size I would image, but only comes about once a year. As stated above the DUI Dog Days is comming Aug 11-12 and I'm sure DUI has a stock suit that might fit, or reconditioned that they can bring, since if you plan to go you need to pre-regester anyway.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

Down to the final count :burntchef:

:uh: DUI FLX Extreme vs Bare SB :dontknow:

DUI: superb quality/durability/longevity/zip seals, great fit & flexible
Bare: best fit/COMFORT/flexibility hands down - longevity/durability appears moderate

If I had the money I'd buy both :pirate:
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by pogiguy05 »

Jeff2Dive wrote:Down to the final count :burntchef:

:uh: DUI FLX Extreme vs Bare SB :dontknow:

DUI: superb quality/durability/longevity/zip seals, great fit & flexible
Bare: best fit/COMFORT/flexibility hands down - longevity/durability appears moderate

If I had the money I'd buy both :pirate:

I have a question for you. What are your measurements? I am 5'10" 225lbs and my inseam is 29" and my torso is around 30" and I wear a size 11 which I am also seriously flat footed. My suit is a XXL with some length taken out of the legs but I am not sure just how much.

If you close to my measurements I would be willing to let you see and maybe try on the suit. A little shorter then 5'10" OK taller I would say NO as the problems I had with the first suit.
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Re: Advice on a drysuit

Post by Jeff2Dive »

I'm 5'11"+ but under 6' 165 lbs. Stock Mediums fit me like a champ. I steped into an XL and was excessively baggy and way long, I appreciate the offer though :notworthy:
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