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A question about lined suits?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Got a reply from Elios

Hello,

Thank you in advance for this contact and about your indications, we can suggest you several solutions:

FIRST: You want a tailor made suit, thickness 5mm, to use for spearfishing & scubadiving, complete of jacket closed with hood incorporated + long john trousers.

SECOND: your preference are for:

- easy to wear (in this case the lining inside or coating inside will be the best)

- elasticity

- medium density rubber to use also for deep divings

- Color Camo

- not necessary the wrists and ankles seals because on tailor made suit will not have a lot or water inside and will be more easy to wear, more durable and also reversible! (can wear on both side)

OPTIONS:

1) Suit 5mm New Black coating cell inside / Camouflage Brown lining outside (see photo Carlos) neoprene Heiwa medium density Price Euro 249,00 (include chest pad and knee pads) this is Top-model for spearfishing and scuba-diving near the rocks, very very warmth, aderent to the body, elastic and good also for deep divings, but also very very slippery to get into. £193

2) Suit 5mm Smoothskin Black Camouflaged oneside (see photo Elios Camo) / Nylon elastic Green inside Neoprene Heiwa Price Euro 203,00 This is a new model, very elastic, easy to get into like a t-shirt, fast dry outside the water, more durable than unlined suits, low-water resistance and reversible (see photo 4). (you can use for freediving the smoothskin outside and for scuba-divings the lining outside) £157

3) NEW Suit 5mm nylon standard green olive inside / Camouflage Spearo lining outside (see photo New Mimetic) neoprene Ecoline soft density Price Euro 190,00 (include knee pads) Just arrived, this is an ultra soft rubber, comfortable, easy to wear like a t-shirt, very very durable and reversible. (can wear on both side) £147

4) Suit 5mm nylon elastic green inside / Camouflage Brown lining outside (see photo pesca 2) neoprene Heiwa medium density Price Euro 224,00 (include chest pad and knee pads) this is the best seller for spearfishing and scuba-diving near the rocks, elastic, ver comfortable, easy to get into, durable and reversible. (can wear on both side) £174



These are some of the better solutions for your needs, but if you want other informations or details, don't hesitate to contact us. In case of order:

- Previsional delivery date in about 30 days from the order

- Payment available directly by Credit Card or by bank tranfer money

- Freight costs in Guernsey amount about to Euro 40,00 £31

Wait your response...

Best regards


Pretty good response I thought. Very comprehensive, even sent me some pictures which i haven't attached at present.

Dave
 
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great reply indeed dave. what temps do you dive in and how long are you in the water each session? How did the elios chap know to rec. 5mm?
 
Option 4 sounds worth a try-inner lining but stretchy.
The medium density Heiwa does seem tougher than soft neoprene. I've used my Elios all this season and it's got no fingernail marks yet. I don't take particular care dressing or undressing when it's cold or I'm cold or when I'm on a crowded beach. Both my Picasso suits got fingernail marks very quickly. (When they do I like to dry out the suit then put some glue in the mark and nip it back together.)
 
azapa said:
great reply indeed dave. what temps do you dive in and how long are you in the water each session? How did the elios chap know to rec. 5mm?
Click to expand...

Water temp varies from 18 C in the summer max down to 7 C in the winter. I seldom do over 3 hours summer and only an hour or just over for winter night dives.

Elios Sub is Italian based and they have a good knowledge of European waters, supplying many suits to the UK and Channel Islands. Home

Elios suits seem to have an almost mythical reputation amonst European divers. When this thread first started many people simply said "get an Elios suit" and many divers still say that. I just wanted to look at alternatives. I find it interesting that Elios do sell nylon inside suits and do recommend them.

Option 4 looks similar to the Diveskin suit but is £45 more expensive. How much is Elios reputation worth?

Dave
 
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Old Man Dave, if I remember correctly, DiveSkin don't use Heiwa for their suits. I remember in an old thread that it was established that they don't use Heiwa but a cheaper alternative. I may be wrong, but that's what I remember.

One thing some of you must realise is that different neoprenes of different densities have different flexibility and durability. You have to mix and match brand of neoprene to density of neoprene carefully.

I have a medium density Heiwa 3mm open cell in/smoothskin out, and I haven't managed to destroy it yet. And I must say, I'm the worst when it comes to taking care of things. I treat my suit like crap, and it hasn't torn. The same cannot be said for a Yamamoto 45 suit of the same specs. It rips too easily in that 3mm thickness. Someone wrote on the forum that he put a thumb through the trousers just putting it back into his bag. A thicker 5mm suit would be more durable. However, the Heiwa suit is less flexible and soft than the Yamamoto 45. But I would still go for the Heiwa because in that thickness and density, it is more durable.
 
For spearfishing the Heiwa is probably a great choice. The Yamamoto and tearing is due to the rubber being so soft and stretchy. I tore mine second day of putting it on (talking and not being careful). But that is also a smoothskin outer so there is no support for the rubber. Oceaner (a much more costly option) now sells a Yamamoto 45 with a nylon shell to help support the rubber called the Rec 45. They claim it to be the most comfortable recreational freediving and spearfishing suit. I have no doubt it is. As for durability of the rubber over time from putting it on and taking it off, that is up to the diver. Wearing out from compression, I don't know Yamamoto's track record in that regard.

For PFI's description of the Rec 45 suit: Performance Freediving - Rec 45
 
Old Man Dave said:
Option 4 looks similar to the Diveskin suit but is £45 more expensive. How much is Elios reputation worth?

Dave
Click to expand...
One difference in the two suits is that the Elios one is lined with a nylon that is stretchier than normal.
I too remember the thread about Diveskin not using Heiwa. I think it was Spearo Dave who said that.
 
Neoprene type seems to be a huge topic. Just looked at the family wetsuit collection and ranked our suits according to flexibility/stretchiness of the neoprene. The results (most flexible at top) are as follows:

1. Gul 5/3 superstretch surfsuit (new)
2. Second Skin 5/3 surfsuit (approx 5 years old but infrequently used)
3. Diveskin spearo suit 5mm nylon outside, smooth inside (approx 3 years old)
4. Second Skin 5/3 surfsuit (approx 10 years old)
5. Billabong 3/2 shortie (approx 7 years old)
6. Gul 5/4/3 surfsuit (approx 2 years old)
7. Scubapro 7mm jacket (approx 8 years old)
8. Gul 3mm surfsuit (old)
9. Alder 3mm surfsuit (very old)
10. Circle One 3mm surfsuit (ancient)

Conclusions from the study are that age has a significant part to play in wetsuit performance and that I own more wetsuits than anyone else in the family.
 
The H BOMB from Ripcurl has an electric blanket sewn into it! It is seriously HOT to touch. Price tag of £700 !! Saw a demo this weekend in Newquay. Adjustable temp + boost button!

What next!!
 
Reactions: Old Man Dave
Pav said:
The H BOMB from Ripcurl has an electric blanket sewn into it! It is seriously HOT to touch. Price tag of £700 !! Saw a demo this weekend in Newquay. Adjustable temp + boost button!

What next!!
Click to expand...

Built in jacuzzi for a really relaxing dive! Then again that happens most times when i dive with my wind. Not too keen on feeling the bubbles move up to the hood.
 
I've ordered this suit from Diveskin. "Standard 5mm spearfishing suitwith loading pad. Hood attached jacket, no zip. Longjohns. 5mm nylon outside and inside. Cammo parrern outside (abstract green).Wrist and ankle seals. Made to Measure."

About £170 delivered Guernsey.

Dave
 
Reactions: foxfish
Cor, I think thats the quickest decision I've ever known you to make Dave! :t

Will be interested to see what you think.
 
Spiros has charged me $225 which is less than his quote of $279 but paypal seems to use a really rubbish rate of exchange. Google says $225 is £139 but paypal have charged me £156. Give with one hand and take with the other.

Just got to wait for it to arrive now.

Dave
 
Reply from Spiros. On a Sunday as well, after I had confirmed my Paypal invoice.

"Thanks Dave,

I'll start production on Monday and have it shipped till Wednesday.

Have a great weekend,
Spiros"

Dave
 
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These suits from MUST DIVE in Greece look nice. I just love the camo scheme on these. I am sooooooo tempted by the green camo! Saw a guy come out of the sea a while back in a Picasso suit with the same camo pattern. Spec is 5mm Yamamoto 39 open cell.
 
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Spiros said he sent my suit on 3/12/08. That's a week ago today. Should be here soon. Just waiting now.

Dave
 
I'll be interested to read your review once you've been out and tested it. Always good to get some user feedback on wetsuits.
 
Spiros gave me a tracking number for Royal Mail. Trouble is Royal Mail tracking can't be done through their web site for parcels sent from abroard. Very helpful. However the Post office web site does allow you to track Royal mail parcels sent from abroad. How wierd is that? Anyway put in the tracking number and Hey Presto it's stuck in "International Hub Transit" whatever or rather where ever? Hree's the printout.

Dave


Status: In progress

Parcel tracks

Date Time Location Tracking Event

07-12-2008 21:59 International Hub Transit item processing
07-12-2008 21:59 International Hub Arrived in destination country
06-12-2008 14:13 Heathrow Airport Arrived at destination country
05-12-2008 01:13 ATHENS AMU (EPG) Left origin country
05-12-2008 01:08 ATHENS AMU (EPG) Arrived at Outward OE
 
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