Dry suit Brand question

[FW]

I would also have a look at these guys;

http://www.seaskin.co.uk/

I sure like the price! Do you know anyone that has one?

Seems like I already know someone with one. I dove with her in France, and she really likes the suit. I don't see any US dealers, but I may get one anyway.

[speleodiver]

I would seriously consider the type of diving you are doing. I have dove just about every suit out there that looked like it can handle what I can dish it. Personally I dive 6mm neoprene suits. Usually Bare but currently a prototype O-three. This suit has been great over 150 dives on it it tight sidemount stuff that has wrecked DUI, 905, and every other trilam suit. It has held up. My Bare D7 and D6 both have well over 500 dives each and have held up well. I busted the Zipper on my D7 trying to unzip it after crossing a 54 degree river to climb a hill to find the source of a water fall. I was going to repair it but as a dealer it was cheaper to buy a new one.

I was a DUI dealer and after their crappy customer service and a serious issue with the president over a suit. I am done with that!! Never dove a DUI that didn't leak or get shredded with my type diving.

Anyway, the O-three is more expensive compared to the Bare. I think around 1800 once you do the currency conversion. The Bare is around 500 less out the door. Depending on accessories.

If you swim in flow just keep in mind a bag suit is like a sail on your back. Neoprene especially thick is streamlined and can be wore without undergarments down to 65 degrees without getting cold. Beyond that it is just light garment.

[LowDrag]

Great info from everyone. Thanks so much for giving me your insight on different suits.

[OFG-1]

I sure like the price! Do you know anyone that has one?

Gamble has seen a few and said they weren't bad.

[Sludge]

their crappy customer service and a serious issue with the president over a suit

My experience has been the opposite. I've owned five DUI suits (and just bought a used one for Lynn) and have been happy, with one minor issue. I got a new TLS-350 in 2009, and it seems they had a problem with the trilaminate material. Seems you would get "unexplained moisture" because the butyl rubber was defective. Faith Ortins called our shop and asked me to send my suit in, because it was built during the time period they had problems.

It tested bad, so they destroyed the suit and made me a new one, but here's the clincher: she asked me if I wanted one identical to it, or did I want to make any changes. I ending up choosing a different color scheme and went with the "Classic Zipper" (which I highly recommend) over the "Quick Zip."

DUI's customer service has been great to me.

[jj1987]

If you swim in flow just keep in mind a bag suit is like a sail on your back. Neoprene especially thick is streamlined and can be wore without undergarments down to 65 degrees without getting cold. Beyond that it is just light garment.

I agree to a point-- the downside being that unlike a trilam suit where you have undergarments made for keeping warm when wet, when you flood your suit, you have no exposure protection. Depending on the variety of diving one does, this may or may not be an issue at all.

[Jont]

Hey all...I am looking at buying a dry suit for my wife and me. I have been looking at the Hollis BioDry FX100. I have been reading different forums threads over the last few months and it seems as if cave diver really like Hollis gear.

What I am wondering is if anyone can give me a review on the BioDry FX100. Good, Bad or otherwise.

I am also looking at the USIA line up as well.

Thanks in advance.

Your price range will determine what you end up with, in the 3000+ range the DUI CF200 or SANTI ELITE are the best money can buy, DUI's cf200 material is more flexible (at just 1mm), stretchy and durable then anyone else's bar none but they are having some issues since they abandon blind stitching some years back. The Santi is a little stretchy and durable and very light with a cool new zipper.

in the 2000-3000 price range the new BARE CDX or something like that a Pinnacle crushed suit is good and if you want the dry suit that swims better then any on the planet the WHITES Fusion Bullet is the best in the world but it comes at a huge price and thats durability

The economy price range of between 1000-2000 has a huge number of suits that will get the job done at the right price, Hollis, Dive Rite, URSUIT, OTTER, etc....

The El Cheapo's avoid,

Of course the way to get the most for the least cash is to buy used, if you have a common size this is your vest option on a budget.

[Sludge]

On the other hand...

Nine years ago I bought a used TLS-350 (but with fewer than ten dives on it) for $500. Last month I bought a FLX-50/50 in very good condition for $250.

As my favorite teacher used to say every day, "You just have to keep your eyes open."

[Kevin Carlisle]

I agree to a point-- the downside being that unlike a trilam suit where you have undergarments made for keeping warm when wet, when you flood your suit, you have no exposure protection. Depending on the variety of diving one does, this may or may not be an issue at all.

I did deco at Indian in a flooded neoprene suit and stayed warmer than I would have been in a bag suit.

[syntaxerrorsix]

I did deco at Indian in a flooded neoprene suit and stayed warmer than I would have been in a bag suit.

Depends on the undergarment. Thinsulate remains warm even when wet.