It's november here. High winds are blasting the blaze of colors off the trees. It's often below freezing at night. The water is NOT WARM and I have made peace with my first Open cell suit.
Last winter I wasnt' sure. It was simply a freakin nightmare to get into. This year I inserted a small plastic bucket into the neck for about a month. I realized I'd measured under my hair - which explained why the neck was tight enough to lower my blood pressure. Now, mysteriously, the suit slides on like a dream with just a little hair conditioner. (the bottoms easily go on with no lube)
In the water, which is currently hovering <>50F at the surface - colder where I like to spend my time - it is simply amazing; perfectly warm and completely comfortable.
It is an elios custom black shadow - with 'new black' lining and superstretch nylon on the outside. I would not buy this suit without a fabric coating - at least not for recreational diving. In my humble opinion it would be way to inclined to blow out. I base this on how I've made a few rips in the neoprene grabbing it too hard - easy to fix of course - but I'd advise something strong holding it together.
As it is the superstretch is VERY resistant to damage - I've fallen into numerous rocks covered with Zebra muscles while trying to get photographs of fish without making any sudden movements. These shellfish are very very sharp and the impacts would definitely have cut skin and, quite probably, a conventional nylon suit - as they did this summer.
Really awesome wetsuit!
Last winter I wasnt' sure. It was simply a freakin nightmare to get into. This year I inserted a small plastic bucket into the neck for about a month. I realized I'd measured under my hair - which explained why the neck was tight enough to lower my blood pressure. Now, mysteriously, the suit slides on like a dream with just a little hair conditioner. (the bottoms easily go on with no lube)
In the water, which is currently hovering <>50F at the surface - colder where I like to spend my time - it is simply amazing; perfectly warm and completely comfortable.
It is an elios custom black shadow - with 'new black' lining and superstretch nylon on the outside. I would not buy this suit without a fabric coating - at least not for recreational diving. In my humble opinion it would be way to inclined to blow out. I base this on how I've made a few rips in the neoprene grabbing it too hard - easy to fix of course - but I'd advise something strong holding it together.
As it is the superstretch is VERY resistant to damage - I've fallen into numerous rocks covered with Zebra muscles while trying to get photographs of fish without making any sudden movements. These shellfish are very very sharp and the impacts would definitely have cut skin and, quite probably, a conventional nylon suit - as they did this summer.
Really awesome wetsuit!
