Santi BZ400 :-)

Seydlitz · June 29th, 2007, 01:41 PM

Hi, Just had a new undersuit made from Santi and have to say what a well made fitted suit that it is ...think Tomek Deserves praise for the thought thats gone into a properly designed undersuit ..Good Stuff ..

A

TDave · June 29th, 2007, 02:39 PM

That's very good news as I'm just going through the process of trying to measure myself up and ordering one.

Head a lot of good things about them already, and they look to be seriously well constructed.

Did you encounter any specific issues I should take into consideration?

Cheers

TD

Sterny · June 29th, 2007, 04:16 PM

I'd add my praise to Andy's - I'm on my second Santi BZ400, and continue to be very happy with them.

My first one was cut a fraction too large (always a bit of a risk when doing things remotely), but not so much that it caused any problems. It gave me excellent service and kept me lovely and toasty warm for well over 100 dives in the last 18 months (one or two of them fairly wet due to suit leaks, but I never suffered). It would probably have lasted a *lot* longer if I had looked after it better, but I chose not to put up with a smelly undersuit, and decided to machine wash it whenever it started to smell bad, knowing full well that this would shorten its life. I'm prepared to pay the cost of one of these every year or two (at the rate I dive) to have a warm undersuit that doesn't stink. Eventually, after around 10 washes and 100+ dives it is somewhat thinner and less warm than it used to be, and will be consigned to summer diving or as a back-up. Structurally, the suit is in perfect condition - no tears or anything coming apart. I even holed the front of the undersuit the first time I wore it (lifting my twinset onto a high bench with the bolts facing my chest - thank goodness it wasn't my drysuit I holed!), and over another 100 dives, that little hole through to the insulation stuffing never got any bigger. Good quality stuff.

Key things I like: I don't need much air in my suit for it to be warm. It's warm when wet. Never had any problems dumping gas from the shoulder, at least none due to the suit (some due to the idiot wearing it!).

I got my new one cut a bit tighter, and it fits like a glove, thanks to Marcin Kaluza. I've only dived my new one twice so far, but it's great - very warm. It's obvious that Tomek continually looks for ways to improve the suit - there's several minor design changes and improvements, and it's a very professional article.

One happy repeat Santi customer here!

Sterny · June 29th, 2007, 04:23 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by TDave)

Did you encounter any specific issues I should take into consideration?

Not much. I would think the measuring instructions would have changed in the two years since I first ordered one and measured myself, but my first attempt at getting measured by a friend ended up for whatever reason in the suit being much too big for me. Marcin Kaluza gave outstanding service, re-measured me, and got it sorted out, but I suppose what we all learned is to really measure accurately, and don't 'give it a bit extra' in any of the lengths.

***Fiona*** · June 29th, 2007, 04:40 PM

Andy I am sure we would get a greater appreciation for the suit if you modelled it for us

Gav · June 29th, 2007, 05:11 PM

Sounds interesting, do you have contact details/website address please?

***Fiona*** · June 29th, 2007, 05:19 PM

I don't know some people need everything doing for them :tongue:

Santi

Sterny · June 29th, 2007, 05:38 PM

Those of us in the UK can contact Marcin Kaluza, of this parish, if they prefer a local contact who can help with measurements etc.

Gav · June 29th, 2007, 05:40 PM

Thanks Fi

***Bob Cooper*** · June 29th, 2007, 07:02 PM

I got measured for one of these at the London dive show "by accident". I was looking for a replacement for various DUI 400g undersuits for a while.

Anyway, the undersuit was deliverd a few months ago and I used it for the first time last week on a short cave dive. First impression is that it is a little too big in the chest (seems to be a common theme). Apart from that, I'm very pleased with it. It remains to be seen whether it will be as warm as a DUI 400 but looking at it, I reckon it will be.

Bob

June 29th, 2007, 01:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Seydlitz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Never Far from a good Belgian Beer and a Crackwh*re Posts: 455	Santi BZ400 :-) Hi, Just had a new undersuit made from Santi and have to say what a well made fitted suit that it is ...think Tomek Deserves praise for the thought thats gone into a properly designed undersuit ..Good Stuff .. A

June 29th, 2007, 02:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
TDave(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lancaster, UK Posts: 93	That's very good news as I'm just going through the process of trying to measure myself up and ordering one. Head a lot of good things about them already, and they look to be seriously well constructed. Did you encounter any specific issues I should take into consideration? Cheers TD __________________ Dave Smith

June 29th, 2007, 04:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sterny(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The limpid tropical lagoons of Ealing, West London Posts: 550	I'd add my praise to Andy's - I'm on my second Santi BZ400, and continue to be very happy with them. My first one was cut a fraction too large (always a bit of a risk when doing things remotely), but not so much that it caused any problems. It gave me excellent service and kept me lovely and toasty warm for well over 100 dives in the last 18 months (one or two of them fairly wet due to suit leaks, but I never suffered). It would probably have lasted a lot longer if I had looked after it better, but I chose not to put up with a smelly undersuit, and decided to machine wash it whenever it started to smell bad, knowing full well that this would shorten its life. I'm prepared to pay the cost of one of these every year or two (at the rate I dive) to have a warm undersuit that doesn't stink. Eventually, after around 10 washes and 100+ dives it is somewhat thinner and less warm than it used to be, and will be consigned to summer diving or as a back-up. Structurally, the suit is in perfect condition - no tears or anything coming apart. I even holed the front of the undersuit the first time I wore it (lifting my twinset onto a high bench with the bolts facing my chest - thank goodness it wasn't my drysuit I holed!), and over another 100 dives, that little hole through to the insulation stuffing never got any bigger. Good quality stuff. Key things I like: I don't need much air in my suit for it to be warm. It's warm when wet. Never had any problems dumping gas from the shoulder, at least none due to the suit (some due to the idiot wearing it!). I got my new one cut a bit tighter, and it fits like a glove, thanks to Marcin Kaluza. I've only dived my new one twice so far, but it's great - very warm. It's obvious that Tomek continually looks for ways to improve the suit - there's several minor design changes and improvements, and it's a very professional article. One happy repeat Santi customer here! __________________ "I thought I had a great idea today, but it never really took off. In fact, it didn't even get on the runway. I guess you could say it exploded in the hangar." - Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes Last edited by Sterny; June 29th, 2007 at 04:20 PM.

June 29th, 2007, 04:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sterny(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The limpid tropical lagoons of Ealing, West London Posts: 550	Quote: (Originally Posted by TDave) Did you encounter any specific issues I should take into consideration? Not much. I would think the measuring instructions would have changed in the two years since I first ordered one and measured myself, but my first attempt at getting measured by a friend ended up for whatever reason in the suit being much too big for me. Marcin Kaluza gave outstanding service, re-measured me, and got it sorted out, but I suppose what we all learned is to really measure accurately, and don't 'give it a bit extra' in any of the lengths. __________________ "I thought I had a great idea today, but it never really took off. In fact, it didn't even get on the runway. I guess you could say it exploded in the hangar." - Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

June 29th, 2007, 04:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,203	Andy I am sure we would get a greater appreciation for the suit if you modelled it for us __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member

June 29th, 2007, 05:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gav(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 108	Sounds interesting, do you have contact details/website address please?

June 29th, 2007, 05:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,203	I don't know some people need everything doing for them :tongue: Santi __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member

June 29th, 2007, 05:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sterny(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The limpid tropical lagoons of Ealing, West London Posts: 550	Those of us in the UK can contact Marcin Kaluza, of this parish, if they prefer a local contact who can help with measurements etc. __________________ "I thought I had a great idea today, but it never really took off. In fact, it didn't even get on the runway. I guess you could say it exploded in the hangar." - Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

June 29th, 2007, 05:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Gav(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 108	Thanks Fi

June 29th, 2007, 07:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
*Bob Cooper*(Offline) Moderator - "Don't stop me now!" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South East London, UK Posts: 680	I got measured for one of these at the London dive show "by accident". I was looking for a replacement for various DUI 400g undersuits for a while. Anyway, the undersuit was deliverd a few months ago and I used it for the first time last week on a short cave dive. First impression is that it is a little too big in the chest (seems to be a common theme). Apart from that, I'm very pleased with it. It remains to be seen whether it will be as warm as a DUI 400 but looking at it, I reckon it will be. Bob