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New Elios 6mil smooth out review

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 90 days.
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I'll keep a look out for that cap on this side of the lake. ;)

Here's a few quick shots of what I was talking about.

First, there's a shot of an ice cap. It's 3mm thick and smoothskin on the outside so that your mask can seal to it. Costs about $30.

Next, is a shot of my Picasso 3-finger mitts. These are gold coated on the inside and have a double seal on the wrist. This keeps all water out, but the index finger is cut a bit small on them and it gets cold quicker than the rest- must be made that way to fit inside the trigger guard of a speargun? I see where they now sell for $110!:rcard No reason to buy them at the price.:head

Third, is a shot of my Elios mitts. These are my current favorites- and at $25 you can't go wrong.:inlove Silver coating on the inside seals well with my freediving suit even though it doesn't have the fancy double cuff like the Picasso's. The fingers have a nice cut to them and my hands have never gotten cold in them- yet. ;)

Last, are my "ultimate" dry gloves that are so warm, and such a pain to put on, that I rarely wear them. They have drysuit wrist seals on them and can be worn with either a wetsuit or a dry suit- I mainly use them with my kayaking drysuit for winter paddling. They also have some very nice fleece lining which keeps your hands toasty. Only downside is the large size of the fingers- would be just as useful if cut as a mitt. The gloves are so bulky that I have a hard time with my camera controls when I use them. They retail for around $100 but can be bought off of ebay for less. They are good to around 20 meters, but below that they would either squeeze your hand or flood- unless your wearing a drysuit that will allow you to 'burp' air into them.

Jon
 
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icarus pacific said:
Howzit, Fred? Getting a tad bit cold and white there I see.
just a tad.... the vehicles are on the ice... it's 8" thick already. Little communities of ice houses are springing up on the area lakes and we'll soon have to dig out the 14" bar chain saw to find soft water.
Fred
 
Thanks for all the info/help guys.

I posted my last requests (had included knee pads) and confirmed measurements last night. I'm waiting for the exact quote. Then I will pay and wait.... I feel like a kid in a candy store. rofl

My wife is finding it hard to contain herself from laughing at me, but I don't care. She just doesn't understand. :chatup I hope to get her "involved" next year. All of my kids really enjoyed it.

As far as the 7mm socks, I have really small feet (8-1/2), so should be ok to fit in a pocket. Right now, I don't have regular freediving fins...just the strap around the heel kind, but they have worked for surface diving & down to 25' or so...

Any way. Thanks again.

Gene
 
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Okay, I´ll start:

Cressi Gara 3000 - my first and only pair of Freediving fins after I used some mares avanti quatro for scuba-doing.
I chose the 3000s because the footpockets fit me really well and they seemed quite not too soft and not too hard.
They make such a he** of a difference that I was completely stunned when I first tried them.

I only know a comparable situation from climbing: have You ever tried rock climbing with sneakers and then with real climbing shoes? That's about how it felt to me.

I can't say anything about the other fins there are, but these definitely rock hard.

sanso
 
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Don't worry guys.

Freediving fins are the next thing on the list. One thing at a time...at least on my limited budget.

4 Kids still @ home, 1 in college & 2 married (1 with 2 grandchildren & 3rd on the way), keeps the pocket book kinda light. I feel blessed to be able to do as much as I do...I feed them beans & rice for a couple of weeks to save up LOL rofl

Peace,

Gene
 
Nice pic of the ice cap, Jon. That's some serious exposure gear.

FINS: My garas were a mere 30usd on ebay. Straight to me from some guy's dusty closet... and they'll last longer than I'll need'em. I started with pretty much two chunks of stiff blue plastic that were wayyy over-priced at the local dive shop. At least they were blue. I've been shovelling snow with them lately...

Waterway fins are very nice. I'm considering some Nemo Power Fins.

Fondueset's ice fins are way cool.

All this said... once you pick up a pair, you'll wonder how you ever did without.
 
Brian,

I'd love to go to the dive/carp shoot, but I kind of doubt I will have my Elios by then. Right now, I just have a 3mm hooded vest (open cell inner) and a cheapo wetsuit from Fleet Farm. I think I would not last long.

I'm planning on attending the ice dive 2nd weedend in Feb.

Thanks for asking.

Gene
 
Hey all. I was thinking of get a 3 mm open cell inside (or black coating) and soft outside (or mesh skin) but you think it will be too fragile?
I already have a cressi 5 mm opencell, nylon and since i have water with temo from 15º (winter) to 25º (59F-77F) i wanted a 3mm suit so that i can have more confort and have less balast. the soft out was to glide more and to be able to use it in the winter... what do you think (i'm a spearfisher!)
how is the difference between the opencell and the black coat?
thanks
Fernando
 
Fonduset,
I got a 5mm Elios smooth out 2 years ago and am using it over a 5 mm farmer john standard neoprene nylon-out and skin-in I had. But the Elios top is so easy to put on and so comfortable, that I've decided I got to get the bottoms. Could you be a little more specific about the neoprene and which nylon you have for your 6mm bottoms?
Here in Japan, I have the choice of diving in the Pacific with a low of 19 C/ 68F, the Japan Sea with a low of 14C/ 57F and Lake Biwa which I've pretty much given up on because it's now around 12C/54F. The lake is only 15 minutes away. Reading about temps in the 30s is inspiring. Maybe I'll give it a shot.
 
The pants are just like my black shadow 5 mil suit - only thicker. They are 'new black' cell inside, nylon out. My 5 mil is 'superstretch' out but I'm not sure theres much difference - I sure can't tell. I think it's the same neoprene. Both pairs are high wast- not farmer john. 54F is not bad in a 5 mil. (57 is about when I switch out of my 3 mil plush lined suit :) ) If you are out all day it can get chilly but I find it pretty comfortable in my 5 for a couple of hours or so.

The only trouble I've ever had is when it gets really cold (low 40s and 30s F) I would sometimes get nausea from the face hit. I fixed it with a Henderson ice mask - but this year I seem to be okay without it. The trick is to let your face adjust gradually.
 
Fonduset,

Has anyone ever tried making a "face mask" out of a piece of neoprene? Something that the snorkle could go through & would cover every part of the exposed face except where the mask is.

Obvioulsly, it would need to be easily removed should one need to get the snorkle out of the mouth for a breath that did not have water in it. :t

Just a thought.

Gene
 
Gene,

It's called an "Ice Cap" and is made by Henderson. You should be able to get one from any divestore up here. With the cut of the Elios wetsuits I have found that I don't need one anymore.

Jon
 
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Gene,

It's called an "Ice Cap" and is made by Henderson. You should be able to get one from any divestore up here. With the cut of the Elios wetsuits I have found that I don't need one anymore.

Jon


hey there jon,

what do you do allow water flow for equalization when wearing the ice cap and hood? are you punching holes in the hood and cap?

cheers,
sean
vancouver, canada
 
I made holes over the ears for my ice cap. reverse squeeze can definitely be a problem with it. I used to have that problem more with my open cell suit hood as well but now I allways dive with doc's proplugs and it seems much less of an issue - just let some water in initially and I'm pretty much good to go.
 
'Reverse Squeeze' or 'hood squeeze' happens when an open cell hood seals over your ears as you dive - creating a negative airspace in the outer ear that compresses with depth. You might notice it because you feel less need to equalize. However with depth it can cause hemmoraging in the ear canal and if it is released suddenly - by, for example, letting water into your hood to relieve the pressure at depth - or accidentally as a result of movement or whatever - sudden pressure on the eardrum and rupture. I was told by the guy at the scuba shop that he knows several divers who've blown eardrums with the Henderson ice cap. I used a hot nail to make holes over the ears of mine.

Doc's proplugs are earplugs with a very small hole through the center to allow for equalizing. They slow the entry of water into the ears and allow it to get and remain warm - pretty much eliminating cold water shock. They also seem to help prevent hood squeeze - though not entirely - by disrupting the seal of neoprene against the outer ear.
 
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