In between suit sizes - which one should I get?

[misterlizard]

I am looking at the Cressi Apnea 5mm and the Mares Instinct Sport 5.5mm. The trouble is, my measurements fall right in between 2 sizes:
I am 72 inches (182cm) tall, I weigh 75kg, waist 32in, chest 36in, hips 37in. So I could either get size 3 which would fit everything except height (69in), or I could get size 4 which would roughly fit everything except that weight and chest.
Any ideas?
I guess that it would be best to go for size 3, as all the dimensions are correct except the height and hopefully it'll stretch enough to fit my height. I guess if I go for a size 4 then it may be a little too loose which would make it pretty useless.
Help!

 

[azapa]

in this case the standard recommendation is to go to the next size smaller. Some very stretchy suits can accommodate more swing, stiffer, thicker suits will be less kind.

I have just noticed you are a similar size to me, a size 3 cressi is perfect on me, like it were made to measure.

 

[cdavis]

Long and skinny, like you (and me) usually does better in a custom suit. Price is not that different. Have you looked at Elios?

Connor

 

[azapa]

don't listen to Connor, he throws too much money into this sport. You'll be fine in an off-the-shelf (but stretchy) cressi #3.

(do compare prices though, if there is really not much difference you can't go wrong with a made to measure)

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I think I'd go with the larger suit. Its a bitch to have a suit squeezing you.

But unfortunately, I don't get to make that choice. No standard suit ever made could fit me, so I had to go to custom suits. I would never go back.

 

[misterlizard]

Thanks for the advice. I'd like to get a custom suit, but I'm really strapped for cash at the moment, so I reckon I'm going to go with the Cressi Apnea size 3. On the Cressi website the sizing table only shows diameter dimensions and it says that the suits are really stretchy, so I guess that suggests that height doesn't matter too much. I wouldn't want to have a baggy suit - I've done that before and it was completely useless.

 

[misterlizard]

Ok, change of plan, I'm going to order size 4. I called a couple of gear shops around the UK this afternoon, and they all said that size 3 would be far too short for me. If the 4 is too around the chest, I'll buy a thin neoprene vest to wear underneath it.
I'm looking forward to being warm in the water - I've been spearfishing for around 18 years now in surfing wetsuits and they don't really do the job!

 

[Pav]

For information OMER suits are a lot smaller than Cresi suits when comparing the numbers. I think OMER are at least 1 digit behind in sizing.

I stick to cressi simply because I know what size I am in them!

 

[foxfish]

Hi Tom, can I ask how much the suit will cost you?

 

[misterlizard]

Just about to order it at £103 (and then £19 postage). Not bad I think?

 

[azapa]

Beuchat number 2 is fine on me. For what its worth.

TOM you should not worry about "short" as the booties you will need to wear overlap that area.

What ever you decide, for the benefit of others, please provide some honest feedback to this thread when you are done. Thanks.

 

[misterlizard]

Absolutely, will definitely try to remember to post on here what I find. Cheers.

 

[foxfish]

That is a good deal but just have a look at Dive Skin custom suits Spearfishing Suits - DiveSkin - Quality Neoprene Products

 

[misterlizard]

Just so you know, I bought the Cressi Apnea 5mm size 4. It fits fine (a little bit loose around the neck and waist but otherwise just right) and I went for a quick dive yesterday to try it out. The visibility was pretty awful and there weren't any fish around so I only stayed in for about 45 minutes, but the suit was great! The water temperature was 9 degrees and I was definitely very very warm. Why didn't I get a proper suit years ago?! I've been diving in my surfing suit for over 10 years (yes, the same old suit for all that time) and I've spent an awful lot of time being rather cold. My new suit's amazing! I even let a bit of water in through the hood yesterday to cool off a bit. And it's only April! I'm very very pleased with it.
The only thing I need to do now is get myself some more weight - I couldn't stay down yesterday; my new suit is much much more floaty than my old surfing suit.

 

[foxfish]

good news then