Suit life?

[Jon]

I've got some 6 year old freediving suits with nylon outer linings that are still going strong, even after letting lots of newbies try them out who had no idea the proper way to put a suit on. :duh They seem to wear on forever.

I also got myself a couple of opencell/smoothskin suits last year and had great luck with them the first year- none of the rips and tears that others have had. Or at least thats what I thought! All of a sudden I've started ripping them to shreads every time I use them.

It can't be just because of weight gain since the suit I ripped last night tore under the arm pit when I entered the water- and there's no way you can gain weight under your arm pit, even if they do look like Madonna's. rofl

So, do these suits have a shorter shelf life, or do they just start to self destruct after so long? I really like the freedom of movement, and how quick they dry in winter time, but I am getting sick of gluing them every time I go for a dive- and it's not just from the fumes. :yack

Is this "Freedown" stuff really any stronger than a standard opencell/smoothskin?

Jon

 

[Murat]

how do you keep them jon? fold up? or on hanger? do they exposed direct sun light too much?

 

[Jon]

Lying down, flat, on shelves in my basement. I dry them on hangers after every use and then lay them flat.

Jon

 

[crusty]

I just bought a new open cell suit and had the same questions so i asked a mate who works in the industry.
He said that by the nature of the Rubber open cell wont last that you that long and a suit that is used regularly will only last a sesaon or 2, 3 at best.
The big point he made was to buy a suit that is Stiched and Glued on the seems not just glued.
I have seen some suits last 5 years but others only 6 months, it may also be how the rubber is cut and the pattern used.
They are big bucks for a short life but they keep you farm warmer

Crusty

 

[Jon]

Thanks for the info Crusty.

These haven't ripped along the seems but in other places.

Do you know how Freedown matches up to bare opencell?

What does everyone else do, get a new suit everyother year or get some type of inner lining? I see that Elios makes a sandwhich suit- opencell inside with a smoothskin outside but a layer of nylon stuck in the middle. That sounds a little bit more tmepting to me if you can still breath in it. Otherwise I may just go back to opencell/ elastic nylon in the future.

Here's some shots form the 6mm suit that tore when I put it on. The 3mm tore once when I put it on, which may have been my own fault for not using enough lube, but last night it split at the armpit when I rolled into the water headfirst- which seems to be the easiest way to enter off a large dive boat while wearing a monofin.

Jon

 

[crusty]

Jees that one big rip.
I have the same armpit problem with a 5mm, think its because i have put on a bit of upperbody weight and the armpit seems to be the week point or the part of the suit the most stress is placed on , i just glue it up all the time.
I just bought an Imersion suit with the Neoprene ( i think ) tough exterier so hopfully it will wear better.
I going to see how long it lasts and then decide on wether to back to the old neo ones.
Ive also been useing Sorbolene cream as a lube its a basic moisturiser you can use heaps its cheap super slippery and makes my skin lovely and soft at the same time

Crusty

 

[pat fish]

After two years my 6mm blackshadow elios has turned a bit stiff and seems to be shrunk... :waterwork

 

[Fondueset]

I've noticed a few scrapes on my 5mm black shadow suit - it has superstretch nylon on the outside and tends to get scraped around the neck and ankles inside. I bought a thermic plush lined 3mm suit for ease of wear and I have to say the thing is tremendously warm. I much prefer wearing the thinner suits and this one has served well down to 48f surface temp - knock five or so off that at depth. My next thicker suit will definitely have some kind of lining - I think it lengthens the life of the suit, is more comfortable and easier to wear and still very warm if the suit fits right.

 

[Jon]

I have a 6 year old Imersion suit that's still going strong. It is opencell on the inside but has nylon on the outside. It may not dry as fast or move as easily as my smoothskin/cell suit but it certainly has held up over time.

Jon