Which wetsuit brand to buy? What should I look for?

[Idaho-Marke]

Hi,

I live in the mountians and everyone tells me I need a 5MM wet suit for MDing lakes and dredging rivers. There are a lot of wetsuits out there. What are some of the things I should be looking for. I understand there is now lining that makes it easy to get in and out of. That's new since the last time I bought one. What else should I look for?

Thx.

 

[Lou from downunder]

The warmest wetsuits are the ones worn by competition spearfishermen.
They are unlined on the inside and generally lined on the outside.
To get past the fact that an unlined wetsuit is near impossible to get on dry, we "lube" up the inside of the suit with something slippery.
I have a plastic drink bottle filled with water with a generous squirt of cheap shampoo to provide lubrication, some use unscented hair conditioner, sorbolene cream for those with delicate skin.... the choices are many.
Dont however use truck wash like one guy I know. After a days diving he was wondering why his skin was peeling off.
NO zippers... at all. Every zipper is only another point where water can get in.
It might be a pain getting in and out of the jacket but you soon learn to do it by yourself, having to go to the toilet when the need is great is a great way to fast track the learning process.
These types of wetsuits are the warmest and most comfortable around.
The two leading brands world wide are Picasso and Omer.
Both are made from Yamamoto rubber and are the weapon of choice of nearly every world spearfishing champion over the last 20 years.
If however you plan on using one in an environment where you expect to encounter protruding sharp sticks and the like beware that this can seriously damage these suits...... but then again it would probably wreck most suits made of neoprene.

So there you have it.
I would'nt be seen dead in any other make of wetsuit.
Hope this is of some help.

Lou.

 

[TNBob]

Henderson makes the best wetsuits on the planet in my opinion. 5mm thickness should be enough. I have one 5mm for 50-80 degree water and a 7mm for below 50 degree water. I have worn both and they make the highest quality wetsuits for diving and treasure hunting I have found. You can buy them on Ebay.
Bob

 

[vudulou]

Hendeson does make some of the best around...for me, I don't use any lube a all...I keep a couple of the plastic WalMart bags in my gear bag...put one on my foot and Presto! my foot is through the suit...you may consider getting a pair of fisherman's waders if you're not doing any swimming...

Cheers,

Lou

 

[grumpyolman]

We used to use Talcum powder or corn starch in the unlined suit to get it on . Off was peel it and turn it inside out. Comfortable..Yeah! Warm...Yeah! For the average diver...not! It takes a certain kind of dedication to a hobby or contest to put up with a skin in suit. I've never had a wet suit leak in a zipper area. I have had dribbles go around a neck seal or an ankle seal. A good fit will help eliminate a lot of the leak and water flow through problems. Unless you have an unusual body shape, IE really tall, really heavy, really short, an off the shelf suit will probably work fine. If you are a newbie...go to a good dive shop that wants your repeat business and have them fit you into a suit. Doesn't have to be custom built...just a good fit. Many shops will let you try it and if it doesn't meet your satisifaction you can return it and try another. A lot of the dribble problem can be almost eliminated by wearing a shortie (kind of like what a collegiate wrestler wears only with short sleeves) that is thinner than a regular suit...under the suit. It helps keep the leaks off the core of the body and provides another layer of warmth for the core as well. Get a hood that fits perfectly. Nothing worse than a headache 10' into your dive because the hood was too tight. (Or a headache 10' into the dive because the hood was too loose and the water flow within the hood is creating the headache). I'm keeping one wet suit for myself, but in the next month or so I am going to a dry suit. Jim