Wool undergarments

[Puttzer]

Anyone using wool as an undergarment?

I read that it appears to be warm even when wet. Perfect for my DUI wet suit, I mean dry suit.

Richard

[Sludge]

I've reached a point where I avoid all natural fibers, whenever possible. I won't even wear cotton socks any more. Man-made is where it's at.

That said, I've owned just about all there is. DUI Thinsulate 200 and 400 - supposed to be "just as warm wet as dry" - maybe, maybe not. My problem with Thinsulate is the washing. If you don't get EVERY bit of soap out of it, it loses warmth.

Weezel Extreme - nice suit, but expensive for what it is. I use mine during the summer when it's 95° and 95% humidity when suiting up, as it's not quite as stifling.

But the suit I like the best is my Dive Rite Polartec jumpsuit. For years I had their older model ("polar fleece," but not real Polartec), and this newer model is MUCH better. With the older model, I had to add another layer for the 68° panhandle springs. But this one is fine alone. And believe me, it's the best "still warm even when wet" I've ever used.

[Rich]

If I want to be really toasty, I use my Santi Light Jumpsuit undergarment, after all it came with my suit, plus it's really adept at keeping you warm when wet. I've also been hearing really good things about the 200g and 400g from some northern divers who purchased them recently......

However a much cheaper option that I've been using for years is the military ECWCS (Extreme cold weather clothing system) polypro undergarments, and they work just great. They don't keep you that warm when you get wet, but I'm just using them in the springs so it's not that big of a deal if I get a tad chilly! I'm pretty sure they're available from Bass Pro Shops for around $20 for the top and another $20 for the bottoms. Hope this helps.....

Safe diving.

Rich

[Webmaster]

Anyone using wool as an undergarment?

I read that it appears to be warm even when wet. Perfect for my DUI wet suit, I mean dry suit.

Richard

Wool does keep some heat retention properties when wet, but it still does not perform nearly as well as modern synthetics.

Wool also has the drawbacks of being heavy and bulky, especially when wet. Not to mention stinky.

Just get some 200g-300g synthetic fleece from Campmor or somewhere and you'll be fine (and not out big $$). Unless you're the kind of person that gets cold when a light breeze blows, then you might want to look for some thinsulate or just layer some lighter weight thermals underneath.

Marbry

[RN]

I wear wool undergarments. I occasionally get a leak through my left wrist seal if I'm moving my hand a lot and end up getting wet to the shoulder. I usually don't know it until after the dive when I'm wringing out the left sleeve. It keeps me warm enough in the panhandle springs even wet. I've tried some of the synthetic stuff in the past, but they were 1-piece jumpsuits that didn't give me the flexibility I need, even on land without the drysuit on.

[cavemark]

I agree with RN. I use the red duofold union suits I bought for hunting. Wool layer outside and cotton inside. I have a semi-dry drysuit (at least until I get the cone wrist seals replaced with the other kind) and my left side gets wet somtimes all the way down to my waist. Every time I get out of the water I think "wow, maybe this time I didn't get wet."

I wear wool undergarments. I occasionally get a leak through my left wrist seal if I'm moving my hand a lot and end up getting wet to the shoulder. I usually don't know it until after the dive when I'm wringing out the left sleeve. It keeps me warm enough in the panhandle springs even wet. I've tried some of the synthetic stuff in the past, but they were 1-piece jumpsuits that didn't give me the flexibility I need, even on land without the drysuit on.