Bodyglove 5mm freedive ex3

[FreeRestriction]

Im trying to figure out if this suit is an open cell or closed cell. I want open cell right? I googled around but didnt find my answer. Im getting deja vue like ive asked a similar question here before a few years ago...Anyways ive had this suit for 3-4 years and its still going strong but if its a closed cell is it worth it to get an open cell suit? Any bouyancy issues that im fighting with a closed cell suit? Perhaps get a matching hood and call it good?

 

[FreeRestriction]

So i found out that its a closed cell suit.

 

[Massin]

If youve been comfortable using is for 3-4 years mate it sounds like a winner regardless lol. Open cell is warmer and more comfortable but not as durable..

 

[FreeRestriction]

If youve been comfortable using is for 3-4 years mate it sounds like a winner regardless lol. Open cell is warmer and more comfortable but not as durable..

Right. Im just more or less wondering now if theres any performance advantages with open cell. As the saying goes "you dont know what you dont know" meaning i might be doing just fine with this suit but an open cell might make for a much nicer dive experience and perhaps have some performance enhancments i could be taking advantage of.

So the question is... Is an opencell suits only advantages comfort and warmth?

 

[growingupninja]

Right. Im just more or less wondering now if theres any performance advantages with open cell. As the saying goes "you dont know what you dont know" meaning i might be doing just fine with this suit but an open cell might make for a much nicer dive experience and perhaps have some performance enhancments i could be taking advantage of.

So the question is... Is an opencell suits only advantages comfort and warmth?

Warmth is the performance advantage. Thicker rubber means more weight to get down and because of the compression of the suit at depth, that extra weight is going to be a lot heavier at the bottom of the dive.. So you are fighting the suit both on the way down and up. I can dive longer in my 5mm open cell during the winter months than some of my buddies that use 7mm closed cell scuba suits, and I don't have to deal with the added overhead of a thicker suit.

A lot of freedive suitmakers claim that their suits permit better movement and less leakage etc but that is probably marketing. Guys who make custom fitted closed cell suba suits say their suits are ever bit as good in that department but admit that open cell is a little warmer. Not surprised the bodyglove suit is closed cell; open cell suits are such a bother to put on they are pretty much reserved for the specialty brands.

In my opinion if you want to spearfish save up and pay a little extra for a Riffe or Omer, or some other reputable brand--those companies tend to get it and they make the suit exteriors very tough all around so the suit protects you from being bashed into rocks and urchins. Mine has saved me from hospital trips on multiple occassions, WITHOUT getting shredded in the proccess.

 

[FreeRestriction]

I really have no interest in spearfishing i just got that suit because it was the most freediving geared suit sold at sport chalet. I never have good luck with ordering stuff blindly. It never seems to fit quite right.

As far as warmth my 5mm closed cell is plenty warm for me in 55 degree water and way too warm in summer so id probably need a 3mm suit at the most if open cell.

The fact that im fighting my suit more up and down is plenty enough reason for me to get an open cell suit.