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Elios Suit for Uk Spearing

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.
here the water is quite cold. Normally after 45 minutes to an hour in my surf suit I could expect to shake for half an hour with numbness in my hands and feet. With the elios 3mm this never happens. With the 5mm even when the water is in the 40sF I will get a slight chill afterwhile - but never to the extent I used to get it summer with the surf suit. It's a HUGE difference.

I think 'coating' is probably different from 'lining' - lining refers to a fabric of some sort on the inside - whereas coating is a treatment to the neoprene itself and does not change it's contact with your skin - so the warmth remains the same. Fabric linings inevitably allow a little more water circulation.

I'd like to try a suit with their Thermic Pile lining sometime.
 
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+Open-Cell
I get the impression that lined suits are not as warm as an open cell suit, which will stick to your skin. The coatings seem like a good idea but I get the impression they will need some lube too. Most spearos seem to go for some sort of open cell (cheaper, warmer, quieter & closer fitting) --and if you are going to lube up, might as well save the money and get an uncoated open cell (also I think somebody on a similar thread mentioned that coatings can break down after a time(?)). Once you or the suit is lubed, linings, etc. make no difference...it becomes super easy. By the way, out late friend Alison:waterwork posted a comment on one thread saying she did not need lube to get her suit on -- it seems like body hair might be the main reason for needing lube...so maybe shaving might be an option (stubble might be worse though!).

+ Elios Instructions
Either way -- look carefully at elios on-line instructions for donning & doffing the suit. It is really important. It makes getting in and out quick & simple...and avoids unnecessary strain on the suit. It will significantly reduce the risk of toppling overboard or suffocating in the rubber too. (I am only half joking).

+Exterior
BTW I went for the simple nylon exterior to give the suit extra protection (it is also the cheapest option)...I thought about knee pads but figured the nylon will probably be enough protect for me...could always add knee pads later if it became an issue. Obviously, get the loading pad. It is plenty stretchy. I actually like the idea of a slick unlined exterior...I had a triathlon suit that had a slick exterior -- looks good, is slick when swimming & drys quick if you are in and out of boats ... but it is more vulnerable to damage (from rocks/boat entry/etc.). I quite like the idea of semi-camo (read the Jersey article on why semi camo might be better than full camo) & Elios have some interesting ideas & options for that. Maybe next time, when I have learnt a bit more about it. However, I am very happy with my suit -- and really cannot fault it; I am pleasantly surprised by how incredibly warm it is (and that is the cheapest 5mm option). Fantastic garment -- one of my favourite possessions.
 
Again - important to distinguish between lining and coating - coating has no effect on warmth - and makes the suit slide on a little easier - though lube is still needed - lining is a fabric lining which does allow a little more water circulation - hence slight reduction in warmth.
 
Fondueset,

Actually some coating makes the suit warmer. I think they call them thermic suits or thermic coatings. I used open cell suit with no coating and with titanium coating. The coated one keeps the heat inside of the suit better thus provide better isolation.
 
I was thinking about that - sort of along the lines of the 'space blanket' technology - reflecting heat back into the body.
 
The econo 5mm open cell is very warm anyway; getting too hot was more of an issue for me than getting cold the first 2 times out, end of November, south coast of England. I plan to dive again in December -- the water is cooling down though. I will let you know how I get on. I had not planned to dive January or Feb. -- but I am seriously considering it now. I may leave off the booties next time -- less heat, less floaty legs (and then I can wear my newer, bigger Speedo fins too) -- fins keep feet pretty warm anyway (I hope!).
 
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got a reply from elios with a few choices but the best seems to be between 6.5mm new black coating smooth inside/nylon elastic black outside or 6mm thermmic lining inside / nylon elastic outside theres not much differ in the prices. just wondering is 6mm too much for the atlantic. I know if my 7 mm semi dry i,d be cold after 1 1/2 hours but all I,ve read about the elios suits seems to be they could be too warm. Any ideas ?
Cheers Feargus
 
I should have added I cant freedive in the semi dry to any extent as its so inflexible and I need a lot of weight but the elios suits even in 6mm should be more flexible ? I usually use the suit for scuba
Feargus
 
fcallagy said:
I should have added I cant freedive in the semi dry to any extent as its so inflexible and I need a lot of weight but the elios suits even in 6mm should be more flexible ? I usually use the suit for scuba
Feargus
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Can't help you with scuba info -- that, I am told, is whole different ball game for wetsuits...the densities, etc. will probably become relevant. Most spearos aren't down deep enough or long enough for it to be an issue.
 
My 5mil elios - which has superstretch nylon out, new black in - is a non-issue flexibility wise - Very comfortable and easy to move around in. Don't know what your water temps are But I doubt you'll be too warm. I sometimes get a slight chill after awhile in my 5mil when the water is around 50f - but I think this is alot because the air is very cold and I spend enough time out in the wind getting the suit on - with nearly frozen lube that has been riding around in the back of my truck A strong cold wind seems to almost pull more warmth out of the suit than water does.
I don't think you'll find flexibility an issue, regardless.
 
Dived yesterday (11th Dec 2005) for about 2 hours -- the bottom-of-the-line 5mm Elios spearo suit was once again toasty warm . I did wear my booties -- need not have bothered though. Highly recommended.
 
Open cell is very warm - I've got a 5mm open cell/smoothskin Elios suit for pool training, and I'll never go back to nylon lined! If I get another suit for recreational outdoor diving, it will be open cell inside and nylon elastic outside, as the smoothskin tears very easily.

Lucia
 
XabreTooth said:
How much are those tailor-made elios suits, I wonder?
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Prices mostly range between 150 and 230 euro, it all depends on what you get. Just send them an email, tell them what kind of diving you do and they will reply with a dozen or so suggestions for suits and the prices. It might take a few days for them to respond but they are very helpful.
 
Mr. X said:
Dived yesterday (11th Dec 2005) for about 2 hours -- the bottom-of-the-line 5mm Elios spearo suit was once again toasty warm . I did wear my booties -- need not have bothered though. Highly recommended.
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2 dives in January, still plenty warm.
RE. Elios prices, I am using the cheapest 5mm option ecoline -- and it is great. Open cell & plenty warm, flexible & tough. Nylon outer has already provided effective and much needed protection against abrasion on hidden rocks. By keeping it simple (ecoline neoprene, standard spearo suit with high waist pants) it brings the price right down -- the only extras needed: loading pad & custom fit. As ecoline has a nylon outer, you can get away without knee & arms pads (believe me, I have been on the rocks recently!) unless you do a lot of heavy Aspetto crawling around on the bottom [ one of the American spearos wrote that he wore old jeans over his wetsuit for that! ]
 
It must stay pretty warm there in the winter. water here is 3c right now. Went for a dive today - only my hands got cold - I think I'll start casting about for some dry gloves. 5mil elios here too. I have a 3mil plush lined elios for spring/summer/fall.
 
Not sure what the water temperature is here (I think somebody said maybe 10 C a few weeks ago?) -- normally they put it down to Gulf stream. Certainly much warmer than the mid-west (do you dive under ice on L. Michigan?!).I hadn't thought of a lined suit -- because open-cell is so warm but good idea for the Summer - warmth not really so much of an issue & could avoid lubing up.:hmm
 
Now that I've mastered the open cell situation I'd go with that. But at the time I wanted something I could slip into quickly over a lunch hour that would also be very durable.
 
Fondueset said:
Now that I've mastered the open cell situation I'd go with that. But at the time I wanted something I could slip into quickly over a lunch hour that would also be very durable.
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Diving in your lunch hour -- that's cool.
 
naiad said:
Open cell is very warm - I've got a 5mm open cell/smoothskin Elios suit for pool training, and I'll never go back to nylon lined!
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Hi Niaid, I just noticed this post. You say that your wear a 5mm open cell suit in the pool -- presumably that's an outside pool? (I was getting pretty warm in the sea).
 
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