DUI CLx450 drysuit feedback please.

[Herbie]

:?: If anyone out there would care to share their opinions of this suit , I am considering acquiring one . Thanks and take care.

[MikeH]

What do you plan on using it for? Strictly cave, cave and wreck, all types of diving, etc?? I have one, and have had it for about 3 years now. It's a great all around suit. The suit is very durable, and very abrasion resistant(which is great when in tight, grabby portions of caves, and inside wrecks). It is very heavy out of the water when wet, though not as heavy as a neoprene suit. It also has a fair amount more drag than a trilam or form fitting neoprene due to the cordura outer shell and the fact that it won't be form fitting...so there will be 'wrinkles' that will add drag...though this drag is not very noticeable except when scootering. I've never had a problem with it having too much drag when swimming...in fact, it's not very noticeable - if at all.

The reason I got the CLx was because I wanted one suit that was good for all types of diving, and little to no buoyancy change with depth. That left the CLx450 and the CF200. I couldn't justify spending the extra $500 or so on the CF, so I went with the CLx. I do, however, recommend turbo soles with any drysuit for most people...since you can use your normal fins with those, and with rock boots, if you wear a size 11 or larger you won't likely be able to wear jet fins. I wear a set of Turtle fins with my drysuit/rock boots.

[caveswimmer]

I too have owned a 450 for about 3 years. I agree that this suit has way too much drag. It's heavy, and it takes a looooong time to dry. I'm disappointed I bought it. I probably should have saved some money and gone with the 350.

I recommend attending one of the DUI demonstrations where they allow you to dive with the suit of your choice. There's one at Manatee Springs on November 13 & 14.

[MikeH]

I too have owned a 450 for about 3 years. I agree that this suit has way too much drag. It's heavy, and it takes a looooong time to dry. I'm disappointed I bought it. I probably should have saved some money and gone with the 350.

In my case, the CLx was cheaper than the TLS....but only because I found a killer deal when I was overseas for a suit that had been in stock for "too long". I had been looking at drysuits..and had decided on either a CLx or CF...and happened upon a dirt cheap CLx. My next drysuit will be either a compressed/crushed neoprene or a a shell suit like the TLS350 or DR905. Though, before I would ever buy a DR905, they need to make one in front zip...I dive solo sometimes, so I need a suit I can close AND visually check the zipper.

Mike

[jpdiver]

If you want it for caves, I would recommend the TLS. It is lighter and more comfortable with less drag. If you are in very cold water, the CF200 is much warmer.

[scoth]

I tried both a 450 and a 350. I went with the 350 for many reasons.
I dive mostly cave, but do deep wrecks 5-6 times per year. I have
went back to my 5 mil wet suit for the wrecks and use the 350 for
all cave diving. I get cold easy, use good undergarments and life is great!
Scot H.

[Me]

I've had a 450 since summer 2001 and am perfectly happy with it. I dive caves, quarries and the lakes with it and find the drag minimal in comparison to the warmth and superior integrity of the suit. When the day comes for me to purchase a new suit, I think I'd go with the CF200 for the additional warmth it would provide. I get cold very easily. I don't think it takes that long for the suit to dry in my opinion. Yes the CF200 feet stay damp a bit longer, but the rest of the suit dries quickly when hung in a well ventilated dry area.

[WJH]

I have dived all 3 models, and own the CLX 450. I find the differences in the water to be very minimal. Out of water, the TLS 350 does dry alot faster, is much lighter, and packs in a smaller space.

I agonized over which model to buy initially, and will be torn again when/if my 450 wears out--that's how close they are. The deciding factor for me was that most of my cave diving cronies were diving the 450. Must be a reason, however small.

Don't worry too much, you'll love whichever of the 3 you buy.

WJH

[JDR]

I agree with most of the other posts. I dove a Clx 450 in Alaska for a while and for about 75 cave dives. I also dove a TLS. If you are only gonna be cave diving then the TLS may be the better choice. If you want a durable suit that is much stronger and damage-resistant, then the CLX may be your suit.

[DeWayne]

I agree with most of the other posts. I dove a Clx 450 in Alaska for a while and for about 75 cave dives. I also dove a TLS. If you are only gonna be cave diving then the TLS may be the better choice. If you want a durable suit that is much stronger and damage-resistant, then the CLX may be your suit.

Any comments on the durability vs suppleness of the TLS with the tuff duck option?

[JDR]

I couldn't comment on the tuff duck as I'm not sure what it is. I know that the Clx was very tough. I was diving it with Barb Lander in Alaska mostly. She laughed about the suit having kevlar threading, but her neoprene suit (otter) got pretty scratched up and my suit was fine. I had a scrape on the leg from exiting a wreck, but it was only superficial. Sliding in during shore dives (clams, sharp rock, etc...) never damaged the ClX suit at all. Some of the other guys used the 50/50 suit, which also seemed to work well. The crushed neoprene suits were not as nice IMHO.
The ClX suit didn't work as well for me in caves, so I bought a cheap neoprene suit. It's butt ugly and leaks a little around the wrists, but it's really tough and expendable. I would hate to damage the $2600 suit, but the $200 suit can do whatever it needs to. The problem with the neoprene suit is that it's rear entry. I hate rear entry, especially when I'm alone.
If someone were to use either a ClX or TlS suit, I would definately recommend having it custom cut for caves. The ClX suit was sized for use in water that was around the freezing point. That leaves a lot of extra material when cave diving in Florida.
The TlS suit dries much quicker than any other suit that I've used. I even tried a Viking for about a week. Those suits simply are not meant to be used while diving OC.