Dry suit Brand question

[LowDrag]

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.

[diveconjeff]

...I am looking at buying a dry suit for my wife and me.....

As the owner of a Hollis FX100, I have one tip to offer. You can choose to take it or leave it. I would strongly suggest buying "two" dry suits rather than one. I know it is stretchy, but still very difficult to seal two heads in one neck opening...

I had most recently owned an "economy" suit that left Steve Gamble (dry suit repair guru) laughing at me and shaking his head. I have also owned a number of higher end suits as well.

I do not have a lot of hours in it yet, but it is as good a dry suit as I have owned, with it being my sixth. The suit itself is really tough. Equally important for me is the flexibility I gain because the material stretches. As I am a bit barrel chested, suits typically either bind on me when I reach around my torso or have so much extra room its ridiculous. Not this one.

Nothing bad to say about it yet.

BTW, I would have just loved this suit and the rock boots when I dove the Barview Jetty out in Tillamook, or when diving the wrecks up in BC. You have some great diving out there !!!

[LowDrag]

As the owner of a Hollis FX100, I have one tip to offer. You can choose to take it or leave it. I would strongly suggest buying "two" dry suits rather than one. I know it is stretchy, but still very difficult to seal two heads in one neck opening...

Dude!!! You're killin' me man!!! I about fell off the couch when I read that. Good call, I will take your tip and get two of whichever suit we decide on...Thanks!!!

Nothing bad to say about it yet.

Good to know, thanks...

BTW, I would have just loved this suit and the rock boots when I dove the Barview Jetty out in Tillamook, or when diving the wrecks up in BC. You have some great diving out there !!!

Thanks. I have only got one dive in out at Barview Jetty, (a dry suit would have been good - 54° F). We were on the inside of the south jetty last July. It got pretty dark at about 33' and I did not have a light with me so I stayed up above that depth. It was my first try at spear fishing...I got four and lost three...

[WJH]

If the choice is Hollis or USIA, go Hollis. DUI is still the gold standard, though, for drysuits.
WJH

[jj1987]

If the choice is Hollis or USIA, go Hollis. DUI is still the gold standard, though, for drysuits.
WJH

+1, DUI FLX Extreme is the suit I recommend to everyone. I've owned a Dive Rite 905, TLS350, and a cheapy suit-- FLX Extreme is the best of the bunch.

[LowDrag]

+1, DUI FLX Extreme is the suit I recommend to everyone. I've owned a Dive Rite 905, TLS350, and a cheapy suit-- FLX Extreme is the best of the bunch.

I will check that out...thanks.

[WJH]

+1, DUI FLX Extreme is the suit I recommend to everyone. I've owned a Dive Rite 905, TLS350, and a cheapy suit-- FLX Extreme is the best of the bunch.

Yea, the FLX Extreme is my new suit, after retiring my 1700-dive CLX-450 last year. But Hollis puts out some great products, too! If you can do without the ZIP seals, which I would not like to do.

[diveconjeff]

COLOR="blue"]Thanks. I have only got one dive in out at Barview Jetty, (a dry suit would have been good - 54° F). We were on the inside of the south jetty last July. It got pretty dark at about 33' and I did not have a light with me so I stayed up above that depth. It was my first try at spear fishing...I got four and lost three...[/COLOR]

Spent many late afternoons cooking up dungeness carb and lingcod right on the jetty as the sun dropped into the pacific. Serious beer add material!

[LowDrag]

Excellent info...thanks everyone for giving me your opinions on the different suits. I will put all this info to good use while I am researching my future purchase.

Spent many late afternoons cooking up dungeness carb and lingcod right on the jetty as the sun dropped into the pacific. Serious beer add material!

That definitely sounds like good times. Last July I had the smoker going to do pulled pork. After dinner we threw on some oysters we bought and smoked them until the shells popped. That was first time trying them like that and I must say it was not too bad. I used to live in Englewood on the Gulf almost directly across from you and south a bit, that is where I learned to eat oysters on the half shell. mmmm good!!!

[divingabe]

I have had 2 cf200 the first was rock solid but the second has been nothing but a disappointment but the reason for this post is to widen your search I purchased an Othree suit 4yrs ago and I have been nothing but amazed at its quality and ruggedness. Their off the peg made to fit gives you a well fitted suit that is a pleasure to swim with. If you are curious they have recently made a deal with Silent Diving as their North American distributor.
Gabe