What kind of Dry Suit

PSJunior · May 29th, 2008, 12:24 PM

Ok i know this is going to open a can of worms...but meh...here goes.
After three years diving in the balmy Qld waters, I've returned to Victoria and am in need of a dry suit.
There are a million and three articles online after a google search...but please, can someone who KNOWS (ie someone who has used both), let me know the benefits, disadvantages, pros and cons of a compressed neo VS a shell/trilaminate suit.
I've done my research, found "book" pros and cons but really wanna know from those that dive them which is best.
Obviously $$$ is an issue (it always is) but this is something i need to know before i spend the hard earned cash.
So...to you all out there, be BRUTALLY honest

i respect your opinions and will take it all into account.
Thanks in advance.

See ya all in the blue room
Ben

GLOC · May 29th, 2008, 12:31 PM

You could try a search on here and Yorkshire Divers for "neo vs trilaminate" and see what that returns; I know you will get lots of answers

digital_steve · May 29th, 2008, 04:19 PM

What size are you?
I've got a paragon/pinnacle evolution 2 dry suit i'm selling in australia if you're interested
only selling due to fit... i.e it doesn't (waist shrunk... or i got fatter... whatever).
It's a trilam suit. Rugged.

For what it's worth, i prefer trilam/shell suit. I like matching layers for temperature and found neoprene drysuits 'puffy'.

ssimps · May 29th, 2008, 05:08 PM

I quite like my trilaminate suit, strangely it makes for easy travelling - my suit and undersuit weigh less than a thick 7mm wetsuit and its warmer - took mine to Lanzarote where it was 20 degrees - too cold for me for a wetsuit, because the material is totally non insulating under water it is easy to achieve the right temp, try doing that with neoprene suit - they are much heavier and much warmer making them less useful in warmer waters and for travelling. I love the flexibility of membrane suits!

ssimps · May 29th, 2008, 05:12 PM

Because I can travel with my drysuit I also use the same undersuit all the time, maybe add a power strech top and bottoms if its really cold - that stuff is awesome! Which means I am always diving the same rig, makes it very easy to dive anywhere as I don't change anything - my weighting reamins the same so I am a lot more comfortable whether I am abroad, in the UK sea or god forbid in a quarry.

My 2 cents

Naram Sim · May 29th, 2008, 07:06 PM

Do search around, this is a topic that randomly pops out.
That said, my opinions:
- crushed neoprene 2-3 mm thick (Forget non-crushed neoprene or thicker suits unless in very special condition like artic diving)
Pro: more robust and rugged. Can withstand small abrasions. If well chosen or adapted is a little more streamlined (no creases). Provides (little) thermal protection which is useful in cold waters.
Against: more difficult to repair, less mobility, very heavy when wet, much longer time to get dry, a little more hot when used in summer or in warm climates. If the neoprene is not of very good quality (DUI ...) or is thicker then 3 mm it can compress when at depth, affecting buoyancy.

- trilaminate
Pro: amazing mobility and lightness. Very easy to repair. Thermal protection depends only to undersuit, so flexible in every climate/water temp (I use the same suit in the Red Sea, with just a thin polipropilene undersuit or in ice dives with 3 °C with heavy undersuit). Gets dry quickly and weights nothing traveling
Against: you need to be careful in wrecks or restrictions.

Bottom line: I had both, and the neoprene one was a CF200, a very good neoprene drysuit. But I prefer trilaminate for mobility and flexibility in usage.

HTH

10ATA · May 30th, 2008, 01:39 AM

I dive a TLS350 (trilam) suit while my buddy uses a CF200 (crushed neoprene) suit. From the various discussions (some heated) we have come to pretty much the same conclusion(s) as mentioned in the post by Naram Sim. In fact my buddy is considering shelling out for a TLS350.

10ATA · May 30th, 2008, 01:46 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by ssimps)

Because I can travel with my drysuit I also use the same undersuit all the time, maybe add a power strech top and bottoms if its really cold - that stuff is awesome! Which means I am always diving the same rig, makes it very easy to dive anywhere as I don't change anything - my weighting reamins the same so I am a lot more comfortable whether I am abroad, in the UK sea or god forbid in a quarry.

My 2 cents

What is this "Power Strech" that you refer to.

I am going to dive the Michael Luminitof in the fridged waters of New ZEaland this October. The under garment I use will not be warm enough and I was considering a thicker undergarment, which would change my weighting requirements, not to mention being much more bulk to try and pack.

Any sugestions to get arround this would be appreciated.

davetheshoeman · May 30th, 2008, 02:58 AM

I've been waiting for at least 5 weeks to get my DUI450 custom back from DUI due to the zip failing within a year. The zip is supposed to have a 1 year warrantee but they voided it saying I damaged it due to abuse. And now it still hasn't arrived. Sloppy customer service! Great suit but I wouldn't recommend DUI. A friend has a Paragon and has been very happy with it.

martyqdc · June 1st, 2008, 11:04 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by davetheshoeman)

I've been waiting for at least 5 weeks to get my DUI450 custom back from DUI due to the zip failing within a year. The zip is supposed to have a 1 year warrantee but they voided it saying I damaged it due to abuse. And now it still hasn't arrived. Sloppy customer service! Great suit but I wouldn't recommend DUI. A friend has a Paragon and has been very happy with it.

HI there ben yes i have a Paragon Evo 2, i have had no problems with it.Good value and i can safely say you will not have the problems my mate dave is having wth his suit, as jane runs a tight ship at Oceanic..

May 29th, 2008, 12:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
PSJunior(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1	What kind of Dry Suit Ok i know this is going to open a can of worms...but meh...here goes. After three years diving in the balmy Qld waters, I've returned to Victoria and am in need of a dry suit. There are a million and three articles online after a google search...but please, can someone who KNOWS (ie someone who has used both), let me know the benefits, disadvantages, pros and cons of a compressed neo VS a shell/trilaminate suit. I've done my research, found "book" pros and cons but really wanna know from those that dive them which is best. Obviously $$$ is an issue (it always is) but this is something i need to know before i spend the hard earned cash. So...to you all out there, be BRUTALLY honest i respect your opinions and will take it all into account. Thanks in advance. See ya all in the blue room Ben

May 29th, 2008, 12:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,954	You could try a search on here and Yorkshire Divers for "neo vs trilaminate" and see what that returns; I know you will get lots of answers __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

May 29th, 2008, 05:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
ssimps(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Newcastle Posts: 41	Tri-lam for me... I quite like my trilaminate suit, strangely it makes for easy travelling - my suit and undersuit weigh less than a thick 7mm wetsuit and its warmer - took mine to Lanzarote where it was 20 degrees - too cold for me for a wetsuit, because the material is totally non insulating under water it is easy to achieve the right temp, try doing that with neoprene suit - they are much heavier and much warmer making them less useful in warmer waters and for travelling. I love the flexibility of membrane suits! __________________ Stu Don't let it end with a bend!

May 29th, 2008, 05:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
ssimps(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Newcastle Posts: 41	Oh and another thing... Because I can travel with my drysuit I also use the same undersuit all the time, maybe add a power strech top and bottoms if its really cold - that stuff is awesome! Which means I am always diving the same rig, makes it very easy to dive anywhere as I don't change anything - my weighting reamins the same so I am a lot more comfortable whether I am abroad, in the UK sea or god forbid in a quarry. My 2 cents __________________ Stu Don't let it end with a bend!

May 30th, 2008, 02:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
davetheshoeman(Offline) New Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Port Philip Bay Australia Posts: 91	DUI's bad customer service I've been waiting for at least 5 weeks to get my DUI450 custom back from DUI due to the zip failing within a year. The zip is supposed to have a 1 year warrantee but they voided it saying I damaged it due to abuse. And now it still hasn't arrived. Sloppy customer service! Great suit but I wouldn't recommend DUI. A friend has a Paragon and has been very happy with it.

May 29th, 2008, 04:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
digital_steve(Offline) New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 128	What size are you? I've got a paragon/pinnacle evolution 2 dry suit i'm selling in australia if you're interested only selling due to fit... i.e it doesn't (waist shrunk... or i got fatter... whatever). It's a trilam suit. Rugged. For what it's worth, i prefer trilam/shell suit. I like matching layers for temperature and found neoprene drysuits 'puffy'.

May 29th, 2008, 07:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Naram Sim (Online) New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 23	Do search around, this is a topic that randomly pops out. That said, my opinions: - crushed neoprene 2-3 mm thick (Forget non-crushed neoprene or thicker suits unless in very special condition like artic diving) Pro: more robust and rugged. Can withstand small abrasions. If well chosen or adapted is a little more streamlined (no creases). Provides (little) thermal protection which is useful in cold waters. Against: more difficult to repair, less mobility, very heavy when wet, much longer time to get dry, a little more hot when used in summer or in warm climates. If the neoprene is not of very good quality (DUI ...) or is thicker then 3 mm it can compress when at depth, affecting buoyancy. - trilaminate Pro: amazing mobility and lightness. Very easy to repair. Thermal protection depends only to undersuit, so flexible in every climate/water temp (I use the same suit in the Red Sea, with just a thin polipropilene undersuit or in ice dives with 3 °C with heavy undersuit). Gets dry quickly and weights nothing traveling Against: you need to be careful in wrecks or restrictions. Bottom line: I had both, and the neoprene one was a CF200, a very good neoprene drysuit. But I prefer trilaminate for mobility and flexibility in usage. HTH

May 30th, 2008, 01:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
10ATA(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16	I dive a TLS350 (trilam) suit while my buddy uses a CF200 (crushed neoprene) suit. From the various discussions (some heated) we have come to pretty much the same conclusion(s) as mentioned in the post by Naram Sim. In fact my buddy is considering shelling out for a TLS350.

May 30th, 2008, 01:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
10ATA(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16	Quote: (Originally Posted by ssimps) Because I can travel with my drysuit I also use the same undersuit all the time, maybe add a power strech top and bottoms if its really cold - that stuff is awesome! Which means I am always diving the same rig, makes it very easy to dive anywhere as I don't change anything - my weighting reamins the same so I am a lot more comfortable whether I am abroad, in the UK sea or god forbid in a quarry. My 2 cents What is this "Power Strech" that you refer to. I am going to dive the Michael Luminitof in the fridged waters of New ZEaland this October. The under garment I use will not be warm enough and I was considering a thicker undergarment, which would change my weighting requirements, not to mention being much more bulk to try and pack. Any sugestions to get arround this would be appreciated.

June 1st, 2008, 11:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
martyqdc (Online) New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Queenscliff ,Victoria,Australia Posts: 97	Quote: (Originally Posted by davetheshoeman) I've been waiting for at least 5 weeks to get my DUI450 custom back from DUI due to the zip failing within a year. The zip is supposed to have a 1 year warrantee but they voided it saying I damaged it due to abuse. And now it still hasn't arrived. Sloppy customer service! Great suit but I wouldn't recommend DUI. A friend has a Paragon and has been very happy with it. HI there ben yes i have a Paragon Evo 2, i have had no problems with it.Good value and i can safely say you will not have the problems my mate dave is having wth his suit, as jane runs a tight ship at Oceanic..