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Wetsuit q'ns

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
:rcard I find it very odd that there were replies to this thread yet I can't read them in the thread past my own last post (I found a way around it and I just wanted to say: the Seal clubbing joke, I don't find it funny). :naughty

I really like the look of smoothskin as well, but for a first suit I'd end up wrecking it- so i went with a fully lined and coated Merou D'Or. Maybe my next suit will be smooth :)
Also, instead of 7mm on top, it'll be 5, Hopefully it's warm enough.

Vivien: I modified the design you sent: and sent it to Elios and they did not respond that they would make the suit. How do you find the seams between your smoothskin and nylon lined neo to be holding up?
 
iceselkie said:
Vivien: I modified the design you sent: and sent it to Elios and they did not respond that they would make the suit. How do you find the seams between your smoothskin and nylon lined neo to be holding up?
hi brianna,

i didnt receive my wetsuit from marea so far. :confused: maybe next week?!

I guess, the crossing between smoothskin and nylon lined neopren is not sewed. they glue it!

Memo told me:
the places where smoothskin and lined touch each other are really sensitive especially at the parts where it will be stretch, like shoulders.
and the elasticity of two neoprene is different.

so be careful, where you place them...

what design did you make? could you please send it via mail. i'm curious..:)

Vivien
 
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Well, to follow up, I now have the Topsub 5mm custom suit with titanium coating and loading pad. There are no knee pads, however, to make kneepads out of old neoprene or get some from Spetton would not be that difficult and save the knees. I was very warm in this suit in 4- 2 degree water, and it was my hands and feet that ended my dives at half an hour. I'll be looking for some nice 5 mm socks and 7mm gloves, but I'd want open cell seals on the cuffs of these. Hard to find in my size as well. (probably an xxs)
As far as concerns with the wetsuit again, I'm maybe worried about the seams around the inner thigh being stressed by pulling up the pants.:confused: Other than that, I am definitly impressed, now we will just have to wait and compare with Gabe's Elios black shadow suit. This suit totalled around 500$ CDN to aquire.

115938496_ac9152aaa1_o.jpg
 
iceselkie said:
Well, to follow up, I now have the Topsub 5mm custom suit with titanium coating and loading pad. There are no knee pads, however, to make kneepads out of old neoprene or get some from Spetton would not be that difficult and save the knees. I was very warm in this suit in 4- 2 degree water, and it was my hands and feet that ended my dives at half an hour. I'll be looking for some nice 5 mm socks and 7mm gloves, but I'd want open cell seals on the cuffs of these. Hard to find in my size as well. (probably an xxs)
As far as concerns with the wetsuit again, I'm maybe worried about the seams around the inner thigh being stressed by pulling up the pants.:confused: Other than that, I am definitly impressed, now we will just have to wait and compare with Gabe's Elios black shadow suit. This suit totalled around 500$ CDN to aquire.

115938496_ac9152aaa1_o.jpg

One of a kind suit for special freediver girl,look forward to hear what the Elios is like...
 
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You look quite fetching in your new suit.:)

Are you useing lube? Makes life easier and saves those seems if you are not.

Mittens are warmer than gloves - I've got 5mil boots and 6.5mil henderson gold core gloves. I don't particularly like the gloves - but they are warm. I think my longest dive this winter was approaching two hours. Feet get cold - but then warm up. Hands too - but I have to remember to pump my palms. I wear the gloves out but really tighten down the velcro cuffs. The boots are smoothskin around the top and work fine.

Mittens are cheap. I'm curious to hear the cost of the black shadow suit. I think mine was around 300us but it changes all the time with the exchange rates.
 
Are these the boots? http://www.spearfishinggear.com/Mer...creen=PROD&Product_Code=5451&Category_Code=S3
The smallest size listed here is 7-8 (I'm assuming men's) and my feet are a size 6.5 ladies. I actually also ordered a pair of 7mm socks from Topsub, but they are too thick to wear in my bifins' sporasub footpockets (but not my monofin).. I'm thinking I'd like 5mm just to round out the collection, I might need to "tailor" the toe part of these socks. I really like the open cell cuffs.
Same with gloves, the only ones I could find with open cell cuffs were Henderson 7mm Duratex Dry gloves, but the smallest is again, XS. The titanium hyperstretch and the Gold core hook and loops come in XXS
http://www.hendersonusa.com/product_bgh.html#
Nope, I haven't been using lube... I should mix up some shouldn't I?! rofl
Also, Gabe just ordered a few "Hotsnapz". I wonder if anyone here has used them in their gloves/socks?? http://www.hotsnapz.com/
 
iceselkie said:
Are these the boots? http://www.spearfishinggear.com/Mer...creen=PROD&Product_Code=5451&Category_Code=S3
The smallest size listed here is 7-8 (I'm assuming men's) and my feet are a size 6.5 ladies. I actually also ordered a pair of 7mm socks from Topsub, but they are too thick to wear in my bifins' sporasub footpockets (but not my monofin).. I'm thinking I'd like 5mm just to round out the collection, I might need to "tailor" the toe part of these socks. I really like the open cell cuffs.
Same with gloves, the only ones I could find with open cell cuffs were Henderson 7mm Duratex Dry gloves, but the smallest is again, XS. The titanium hyperstretch and the Gold core hook and loops come in XXS
http://www.hendersonusa.com/product_bgh.html#
Nope, I haven't been using lube... I should mix up some shouldn't I?! rofl
Also, Gabe just ordered a few "Hotsnapz". I wonder if anyone here has used them in their gloves/socks?? http://www.hotsnapz.com/


For gloves - try Henderson Insta Dry Gloves I put sleeves over the cuffs, and the seal is so good, that it doesn't leak at all. It's officially, my most favorites gloves now :)

p.s. btw, XS - extra small :p
 
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Fondueset said:
I'm curious to hear the cost of the black shadow suit. I think mine was around 300us but it changes all the time with the exchange rates.

Gabe's Elios Black Shadow suit cost 370$ CDN (rounded up). That's 130$ less than mine in total.
 
4 of us here ordered Elios Camo 7mm custom suits. If duty doesnt hit as per usual (I hope) they were 275$ Canadian including shipping.
Peace,
Erik Y.
 
:confused: :head :waterwork
... i could have had two suits.
 
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Well Gabe just got his suit this morning. It also came with some samples of their other popular neoprenes (and a sticker). The suit looks great, the seams on the cuffs ankles and face aren't smoothskin lined, and there are a few less seams on the whole; it looks really nice.
 
iceselkie said:
Well Gabe just got his suit this morning. It also came with some samples of their other popular neoprenes (and a sticker). The suit looks great, the seams on the cuffs ankles and face aren't smoothskin lined, and there are a few less seams on the whole; it looks really nice.

Hope the suit fits well and is great!
 
I just got my latest suit this week- for summer time diving.

It was, another, Elios as I haven't found another suit i like better- and I've bben through more than my share.

This one is black shadow on ths inside, to make it slide on easier and be less likely to tear while donning/doffing it. Not a probelm in my thicker suits, but a 3mm smoothskin jacket tends to get a little fragile after a couple of seasons of use. Pants are super-ealsitc on the outside to give some more life. I also went with medium density Heiwa so it keeps me warmer below the thermocline- which is always 39.6C year round in these parts.

For gloves I have a set of DUI, blue, drygloves, much like Erik already posted. Most of the time I use my 3-finger 5mm Elios mitts with silver coated opencell on the insde and nylon outers. they were only $25 and are super warm- plus, they allow me access to my camera controls which the thick blue dry gloves don't. If you want something with a wrist seal I would check out the Picasso 3-finger mitts. they are pretty warm, but not as warm as my Elios and cost 4 times as much. I think that Esclapez also makes 3-finger 4mm mitts for winter time diving. I was very happy with their suit, and socks, that I bought from them and imagine their gloves work equally as well.

In summer I wear Picasso 3mm, 5-finger gloves. they have a gold painted opencell on the inside and nylon on the oter. The are VERY warm for only being 3mm thick.

Jon
 
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