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Polosub vs. Elios and thickness?

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

New Member
Feb 6, 2011
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Hi boys and girls!

Looking for my first custom made freediving suit (probably 2 suits) and at the moment I’m looking at Polosub and Elios.

Anyone tried both? Anyone got some other brands to check out?

I´m pretty sure on a 2 piece suit with smooth inside and outside but I’m getting confused about thickness. Some say that 1,5 mm. is good for the pool some say 3 mm??

For the Blue (I live in Denmark) i would normally dive in water between 10-20 degrees Celsius and I´m thinking 5 mm for the temperature but I´m also concerned about the compression??

(I´m using monofin in DYN and CWT)

All comments would be great :t:t
 
I live in Spain (near the Cantabric Sea) and a 5 mm. is good for me. For scuba diving I always use a 7 mm. semidry suit because no matter the temperature I feel cold
 
Jeg kan klare mig med en 2x3mm i 8 grader varmt vand i ca. 1 time. Jeg tror jeg ville gå efter 5mm hvis jeg have penge til en ny.
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Would a 3 mm be ok for the pool?

Anyone that could comment on Elios vs Polosub??
 
I live in the UK and 5mm good fitting Elios seems to be enough during the diving season (April-October for me) although I do get cold on occasion if I spent lots of time in the water..

Regarding the pool question: what do you need the suit for? Static training? If you'll be doing static training sessions then you'll be ok with the 5mm (or just the top) you'll buy for open water but if you'll be doing dynamic training I don't even know if you'll be needing a suit (I don't). Depends on the pool temp obviously but I'd be surprised if you need anything more than 2-3mm max for the pool...
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I live and dive in norway and my mtm elios 5mm is a bit on the cold side when the water temp goes under 10 degrees.in the pool I use the 3mm shorty I picked up in a toyshop for 200 noks, works fine for those long sessions...
If anybody have any exspirience with the polosub suits I would be very interested to hear about it.Im looking for a thicker suit for winter diving and they have some nice designs,mixing smoothskin and nylon exterior.
 
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Hi Elliott

No experience with Polo but some with Elios.
For freediving suits (you don´t mention spearing), I can vouch for the Elios suits in most respects.
For freediving in sea/lake in our country a 5mm smoothskin out and opencell in is a perfect compromise unless you intend to go icediving or extend your season.
I suggest you get a stretchy and comfy suit in a soft neoprene like Heiwa soft or Yamamoto 45. Don´t worry about compression; the discomforts of this is in my opinion by far canceled out by having a suit which is warm when doing breath up and recovery and stretchy when moving.

For DYN and DNF a few of the Aarhus guys got themselves Elios 1,5mm Y45 supersmooth coated suits. A suit so thin will have to have nylon on the inside not to rip, and it does take a little experimentation to find the right balancing with led here and there, but definitely doable.
Please note that a suite in the pool greatly reduce the feel of the water, but gives you the possibility to add more weight which gives more momentum and thereby a longer glide which is particularly interesting in DNF. In my opinion neoprene suits for DYN/DNF is for reduced water resistance and better glide and less for staying warm.

You are more than welcome to PM me.

Best regards
H!
 
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To the question weather it's warm enough, you have to consider more variables.
Things like in water time, body fat, being rested, having some food a few hours before the dive, body type, suit material, suit fit, the amount of swimming, the type of use (competition, rec, etc.).

Like stated for the pool you could consider static training and dynamic training, and the pool temperature.

Let me just share with you what I use and what variables I considered.
In the pool I train the water is relativly warm 28c and 29/30c for the static pool.
In both I wear a 3mm high density high waist nylon inside,smoothskin outsite pants. And a 3mm sleeveless vest, made of soft neoprene, metal coating inside, very stretchy nylon outside. This setup keeps me warm in this static pool, and warm enough for my dnf training. Doing 16x50's. It's not very streamlined, but the 3mm keep my legs horizontal. The shirt keeps me warm too, and I love the freedom of movement the sleeveles shirt provides, though I do have enough water ingress when I push off the wall or swim with my monofin. Actually for monofinning I take the shirt off and add a 500gr to my 1Kg weightbelt, because of the drag with monofinning and heat generated.

For competition, I like to use a warmer 5mm suit, because as a preparation I like to lay on the surface for 15minutes and 'sleep' in the water. in 26c water I get cold in a 3mm, especially when I did not eat. Like experienced at Nordic Deep.
For DNF I use a triathlon suit with various thicnkness, ranging from 5 to 1,5mm on the shoulders. I like to switch to a sleeveless design.
For DYN I use a swimsuit.

For depth I use various setups's in the northern European waters, Dutch lakes, German lakes, Swedish Fjord. For training I like to use 5mm smoothskin/opencell, For competition I use the thinnest stuff I can get away with. To me that means being relaxed in the water for about 6-7 minutes within controllable shivering range. For instance in Germany I used my triathlon suit with an old 3mm -sleeves cut off -top underneath. No gloves or booties in 18c surface water, - 2-4c @ 50m depth. At Nordic deep I used my 3mm high density Elios smooth/nylon. You should know that I don't do any in water warm-up for competitions.

Oh about my body, skinny type, low fat, 187cm tall, long limbs, currently weighting 74Kg. It used to be 68-69. And yes than I needed more suit or internal combustion.

I have no experience with other tailor suit manufacturers than Elios. But I intend to have my next suit being designed by them.

Success finding the right suit for your needs.

Kars
 
Thanks for all your replys, I figure by time i must have 2 suits but i'm starting vith the one for pool use.. (1,5 - 2 mm.) my search got me directed against Elios or mabee even an Orca Breathe or Free but I find it difficult to see what would be the best?

Kinda like the 1 piece Orca models but the taylermade 2-piece Elios are less ekspencive?? Any inputs?
 
Hi Elliott

I see you also threw yourself into the Breathe thread. The Orca seems like a really good alternative IMO (and I actually got a little inspired ;-)

Breathe 265 €
Free 455 €
Elios 1,5mm 2piece Y45 supersmooth 250€

Shipping:
Orca 25 €
Elios 30 €

According to a friend who just ordered from Elios, he will have to wait untill the end of summer for the 1,5mm supersmooth to be available. So that in it self points to Orca i guess; if it fits you that is...

Best regards
H!
 
Both quality suits. I have heard from more than one person that polosubs mm for mm are the warmest suits. I couple of friends own them and I have inspected them close up and they truly are well made suits. I have been using Oceanos for a few years and that too is a well made (great for the $$$) custom suit, my next suit will more than likely by a polosub.
 
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