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Elios smoothskin on the inside?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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arriflex

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2006
15
1
88
I'm currently contemplating a couple of the myriad of configurations of the Elios suits so highly revered. I've narrowed it down to Heiwa 5mm high waisted trouser and jacket set. At the risk of asking redundant questions (I've already done quite a bit of reading and searching and haven't seen this one addressed) I'd like to hear about people who have used the reversible feature of Elios' wetsuits.
They market a number of wetsuits as reversible based on a nylon or elastic interior and the smoothskin exterior. Jon has previously mentioned that he has worn the smoothskin in to keep warmer than the default configuration of having it on the outside. Has anyone else tried this with smoothskin or other coatings in? How does wearing the smoothskin in compare to open cell?
It is likely that I will do the bulk of my diving (abalone in norcal) in that configuration, but like the idea of being able to use it in more temperate waters when freediving recreationally and have the faster smoothskin worn on the outside.
Thanks to all on the forum, I've been reading it without registering for years, and have learned much from it!
edgar
 
Edgar,

For what your doing I would get the standard opencell on the inside and nylon out.

I find that opencell sticks to the body better and may keep you a bit warmer than smoothskin on the inside. The suit I have is a nice compromise but if I wasn't planning on using it with a monofin I would have gotten a standard opencell/smoothskin.

Jon
 
Thanks Jon, I had a feeling that would be the case. I'm really excited about getting into a wetsuit I can breathe in, my 7mil farmer john doesn't even let me bring my arms above my shoulders!
Out of curiosity, what about the monofin prompted you to go with the nylon inside instead of open cell?
Someday I would love to try a monofin, anybody rent them on Oahu? I'm planning a trip there next winter and plan on doing a bunch of freediving...
edgar
 
My first wetsuit will be an "Elios" open cell, 5mm top 3mm bottom, tailor made, green, superstretch outside. No water between neoprene and skin with an open cell. Nearly no water.
 
Edgar,

I did not try that reversible wetsuit that you mention from Elios but I sell Marea wetsuits in USA and the best wetsuit for your application is an Open Cell and Nylon outside like Jon told you.
It will be really flexible and resistant at the same time.

It will be impossible to cover both activities (Abalones and recreational Freedivingin warmer waters) with only one suit.

Cheers

Ivan
www.freediveforlife.com
 
arriflex said:
Has anyone else tried this with smoothskin or other coatings in? How does wearing the smoothskin in compare to open cell?
It is likely that I will do the bulk of my diving (abalone in norcal) in that configuration, but like the idea of being able to use it in more temperate waters when freediving recreationally and have the faster smoothskin worn on the outside. edgar

Well.... Elios told me about two types of coatings: Titanium and Gold (!). They say the one in Gold is very "warm".
but take care of what follows: Gold is a very good termic conductor, that is as you wear the wetsuite with a gold coating, it catches your warmth in a while and this fact gives you the "warm experience". On the other hand Titanium conductes 15 times worst the warm, that is a Titanium plated wetsuit is not as "warm" as a gold one, but is better in the long term isolation: absorbes slowly your warmth and spreads it out slowly to the neoprene and to your skin again. And then..... well..... if water gets into the wetsuit, I think gold tries to "warm it up" asap, so that skin and gold warm up the water like a Toast being toasted in a toaster.
Tschüss!!
 
I just purchased a golden inside wetsuit from Elios. I ordered a 2mm custom made suit and have just tested it.

I was swimming for up to 5 hours in 23 C (73 F) and didn't get cold at all. After some days of intense diving I got a little tired and started using the upper 5mm Omer suit and still the 2mm Elios.

The Omer 5mm was only slightly warmer than the 2mm Elios.

The nice advantage of the smoothskin was if both wetsuit and I were dry, I could slip into the suit without the need of conditioner.
 
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AlexF said:
I just purchased a golden inside wetsuit from Elios. I ordered a 2mm custom made suit and have just tested it.

I was swimming for up to 5 hours in 23 C (73 F) and didn't get cold at all. After some days of intense diving I got a little tired and started using the upper 5mm Omer suit and still the 2mm Elios.

The Omer 5mm was only slightly warmer than the 2mm Elios.

The nice advantage of the smoothskin was if both wetsuit and I were dry, I could slip into the suit without the need of conditioner.

Uaaaaaa!!! Big Fishes!
Listen.... I don´t know.... what do you suggest? I would like to order an open cell and smoothskin outside....
There is a reason.....
open cell because of the "dry effect"
smoothskin because they say it is a very good boundary against the wind, compared to a stretch or superstretch outside....
wait a sec.... I give a call to Elios. See you.
 
Alex,

Nice aj and milk fish congratulations.

Great Buddy too!!!!!!!!


Cheers

Ivan
 
Sergio, both the Omer and the Elios are my first quality suits I have aquired, and that is because on ly last trip I froze and had to leave the water while there were huge tuna all over the place.

I don't know much about these open cell wetsuits, so what I did was asked. I also called Stefano at Elios and told him what I wanted. He recommended me 4 or 5 different wetsuit combinations and I chose one of those.

Let me tell you that service is not the greatest, at least it wasn't with me. I asked for knee and loading pad, and as you can see they are not in the wetsuit, although I was charged for them. The response was that the suit was made on a hurry to get it to me before a trip I had planned.

I would REALLY recommend that you install some type of pissette into your suit because you end up swimming in your body fluids for a loooooong time as there is no water exchange on these suits. I'm thinking of sending my suit back to have him install the loading pad and the pissette, but I would do it just for the latter. You know, the only way out is through your cheeks, yikes!!
 
sorry for all the things Elios hasn´t sent you.

AlexF said:
I would REALLY recommend that you install some type of pissette into your suit because you end up swimming in your body fluids for a loooooong time as there is no water exchange on these suits. I'm thinking of sending my suit back to have him install the loading pad and the pissette, but I would do it just for the latter. You know, the only way out is through your cheeks, yikes!!

Alex, don´t know what is a pissette and a pad.... are they/should they be part of the suit, see, I am italian. Would you please explain me when you´ll have the time?
I called Elios, the main question is if it is worth to have an open cell... and if I understand correct, it is not worthed, as you say. I would like to have a wind isolating suit: that is, black shadow outside, not inside. Black shadow "isolates" from wind, according to what they say, because it dryes very quickly, the water doesn´t stick at all. Beginning with a Black Shadow outside, I can´t have an open cell inside: it would get easily broken, with 3mm thickness. so.... I should order a stretch or superstretch inside, the ideal if you mean that our body should breath in some way...
Have fun, see you.
 
Sergio, the loading pad is just an extra cushion to protect chest and suit from the speargun butt when loading.

The pissette looks horrible, but I would pay anything to have it installed into my suit. I just went diving with a friend and he has a beauchat (don't think its spelled right) wetsuit and it has a pissette. All it does is allow you to piss out of the suit, so you don't have to swim all day in it.

Here's a picture on another thread.

http://www.medfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=218&highlight=pissette

My friend's wetsuit was smooth on the outside and it dried so fast, it was amazing.
 
what if I wear a normal open cell inside/jersey outside elios inside out? Is the open cell similar to the smoothskin if worn outside? I just want to try the feeling of the smoothskin outside wihtout actually buying one right now.
 
daiquiri said:
what if I wear a normal open cell inside/jersey outside elios inside out? Is the open cell similar to the smoothskin if worn outside? I just want to try the feeling of the smoothskin outside wihtout actually buying one right now.

Uhmmmmm... don´t know.... I can´t understand.... they say usually if you can wear a suit inside out... well.. try, it is not forbidden.
Smoothskin stops the wind, open cell does not.
Smoothskin glides, open cell doesn´t as good.
:friday
 
roflThat "pissette", as you call it has to be the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life, EVER. I can't stop laughing! OMG, I can't imagine walking around with that thing!roflroflroflDon't get, please don't get it installed. I'd rather piss on myself than have that thing hangin out my suit! Why dont you get a 2 piece suit? Waist up pants and a top. I would have to be "aroused" to piss out of that thing anyway!

The guys on that link are saying that they won't have enough neoprene for their pissette. LMAO!!!!
 
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AlexF said:
Sergio, the loading pad is just an extra cushion to protect chest and suit from the speargun butt when loading.

My friend's wetsuit was smooth on the outside and it dried so fast, it was amazing.

Done. Ordered my first wetsuit. Elios. 3 mm, black shadow inside,

pelagos camufolage BASTARD OUTSIDE
 
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Good for you Sergio! you will remember it well, I'm sure. I have yet to order my first and am very excited to.

Happy Swimming!

Cheers,
Chris
 
i kno i kno that thing was hilarious. i almost died laughing when i saw that thing. imagine walking on a beach with that thing sticking out, people would think you are very "excited". LMFAO!
 
I don't think that you would want a suit with the slick skin on the outside for diving in Norcal. The nylon outside makes the suit a little more resistant to tearing on rocks. Up here in norcal I beat the hell out of my suits just getting in and out of the water.
 
What abour sandwich neoprene Smoothskin outside and in middel stretchy fabric and inside in open cell. This way you will not have to be expert with glue repairing your suit after you rip it to pieces when making some stupid mistake wanting to get in or out of the suit fast.
 
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