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#1
September 6th, 2004
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My friend asked for suits to me and i said i will make some search to find out which is best for him and probably for me
 Well he is spearo and used to open cell suits so it will be opencell. What i did not decide is outer lining. We don't want smoothskin coz everybody says its fragile for spearfishing. But as i read in elios web site now they have "shark skin" outer lining which is the comprimise between. Anyother advise? Which neoprene? Yamamato 45 or Heiwa? Which density? and why? 
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Elios Suits.
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#2
September 6th, 2004
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Hey! Well I have a smoothskin suit from Merou... I have been bouncing around reefs and havent noticed any scratches. The only "injury is from the boat where a sharp metal thing stabbed my leg and ripped a tiny tiny little bit... nothing to worry though. Even though it is quite resistant so far, it does have quite a mental impact, whenever i hit something i think "OH SH*T" and turn around and chek out the area... it is quite annoying especially when diving deep and serious spearing (uses oxygen and scares fish)
Anyway, thats my opinion about smoothskin... BTW it really is smooooooooooooth, it is great gliding around in the water!
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Greetz from the Riviera, Matt FreeDive or NoDive Happy Hunting!
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#3
September 6th, 2004
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Yamamoto is more insulating & flexible, yet more delicate.
And has more buoyancy change (which could be good or bad, depends on whom you ask). Heiwa is more durable. I'de say go for Heiwa, since it's still offers a lot regarding all the above properties. Regarding density, Eric F says that low dens. Heiwa is indestructable.  I don't know the sharkskin, sorry. Elios should know if it's durable enough for spearfishing. If not sharkskin, then nylon superstretch should be a good enough compromise between flexibility and durability. I'de say spearing with smoothskin is a sort of a gumble, can't tell'ya the odds though. Consider that snorkel bum's suit might have a different neopren that is more resistable than the heiwa/yamamoto you'll have. If still going for smooth out, than consider taking sandwhich=open in, nylon superstretch in the middle and smooth out.
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#4
September 6th, 2004
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I have worn an elios open cell/nylon elastic outside (low density Heiwa) since the beginning of summer for spearfishing & freediving. It has been very durable & warm, but still very flexible and comfortable. I like the reassurance of nylon on the outside for rocks and stuff. The open cell of the heiwa is very resistant to damage. I don't know anything about the sharkskin. The only thing I would recommend is getting elios to sew in a loading chest pad, I didn't on mine and regret that.
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#5
September 9th, 2004
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What does "open cell" mean exactly?
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#6
September 9th, 2004
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Wet suit material is made from foamed neoprene which has small bubbles in the material. Therefore, 'open cell' means that the bubbles and voids are exposed on the surface. Neoprene that is produced with a 'skin' has a smooth surface with no visible bubbles.
Pesky
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#7
September 9th, 2004
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Open cell is very tacky when rubbed against skin. It must therefore be lubed with water & conditioner or something else to put on. Once it is on though, it seals nicely and is like a second skin.
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#10
September 11th, 2004
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its show in elios website. www.eliossub.com they advertise it as faster and stronger and more flexible than smoothsikin.
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#11
September 11th, 2004
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I have a sample of the freedown. I don't know of anyone who dives the suit. The exterior surface of the freedown is more slick than normal smooth skin. Also, the open cell side is more slick as well. It is not coated, but almost feels like there is a coating on it. It slides ok against the skin. What I understood from elios is that this neoprene was mainly designed for competition freediving, to minimize drag in the water.
The freedown does feel more dense than the low density heiwa, so it may be a little more durable, though you may give up flexiblity because of this. The freedown is very resistant to damage from nicks and tears, but then again so does the heiwa. Subjective tests I have done stretching the heiwa vs freedown (same thickness) seems the heiwa is a bit more flexible. When compared to a heiwa suit that is exterior lined with nylon vs straight freedown - who knows which would be more flexible? I still think that a nylon exterior lined suit is the way to go for spearfishing unless you have a lot of extra money because you have to consider the cost of the freedown is significantly more than a heiwa suit.
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#13
September 11th, 2004
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what is kanoku?
May be i should try sandwich, opencell inside, superstrech nylon middle and smooth skin outside or freedown outisde. What you think? This will be surable enough? Even if the outer part get scratch or something, neoprene on lining in the middle shoul compensate it...
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#14
September 12th, 2004
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I'm not sure it'll be enough Murat, rocks would still likely to make cuts on the open cell side.
On the other hand, kanuko is probably the most durable outer layer there is, so it might be an overkill. Why won't you ask Elios, I'm sure they deal with a lot of italian spearos.
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