7mm wetsuit help

[Primo]

Hi all,

have finally decided to buy my own wet-suit (semi dry).

I was debating between the O'NEILL SECTOR 7mm or the FOURTH ELEMENT PROTEUS 7mm.

I already own a fourth element 5mm short john. Combined with the 5mm short john underneath I will get enough thermal protection to keep me diving in the UK from late feb - early dec as I dont feel the cold too much.

Your advice and help would be great.

[Paul S]

Well, I think the Forth Element guys have got their heads screwed on, but I don't really know much about their wet suits vs anybody else's.

I would say that if you've got enough room for a 5mm suit underneath the 7mm then you've got too much room in there. Keeping warm in a wet suit is all about not letting the water that's by your body get away. If it does it get's replaced with new cold water, and that's when you get really cold. The trick is not having big gaps, which means the suit must be snug, which means no 5mm underneath.

It goes on top in my experience.

Edit: Ok, I've just gone and had a look. Forth Element design it to go underneath. Fair enough - I'll eat some pie.

[R.Burgess]

I'd only choose a wet suit I could put on and take off without assitance. http://www.fourthelement.com/resources/wetsuit_donning_guide.pdf
So I wouldn't buy a suit with a back zip. I'm also looking for a winter wetsuit I'm thinking of trying a Picasso.

[Phil_Harris]

Hiya

In my humble opinion there are both a very good Suit. But you have to think of the Temp's you will be diving in. In 7mm enough for around your top half? I a 7mm Long John Bottoms and 7mm Top, and i don't feel the cold at all. Even as recent as last weekend of Chesil beach, i was all warm and toasty :-)

Le me know what you go for?


Phil

[AllynCarter]

Don't see why you'd need assistance with that. I manage quite easily with a back zip on my wet suit. Now a back-zipped dry suit is a different matter, but that's one of the many reasons we have a buddy system.

I'd only choose a wet suit I could put on and take off without assitance. http://www.fourthelement.com/resources/wetsuit_donning_guide.pdf
So I wouldn't buy a suit with a back zip. I'm also looking for a winter wetsuit I'm thinking of trying a Picasso.

[AllynCarter]

My problem with a wet suit at this time of year is not the comfort during a dive, but between dives.

Hiya

In my humble opinion there are both a very good Suit. But you have to think of the Temp's you will be diving in. In 7mm enough for around your top half? I a 7mm Long John Bottoms and 7mm Top, and i don't feel the cold at all. Even as recent as last weekend of Chesil beach, i was all warm and toasty :-)

Le me know what you go for?


Phil

[Primo]

Thanks for all the adviceit has helped. Definately think a dry suit is the way forward.

[Tony Dwyer]

Don't see why you'd need assistance with that. I manage quite easily with a back zip on my wet suit. Now a back-zipped dry suit is a different matter, but that's one of the many reasons we have a buddy system.

We don't all have the same shape or bendyness. :)

I can manage the back zip on both my 3mm suits fairly easily, but the thicker semi-wet suit defeats me. For some reason I can't get my arms round so far. :(

I remember being more bendy 30 years ago.

[ChristianG]

\I remember being more bendy 30 years ago.
Although I'm not in the least religious, far from it - Amen. :rolleyes:

[R.Burgess]

Don't see why you'd need assistance with that. I manage quite easily with a back zip on my wet suit. Now a back-zipped dry suit is a different matter, but that's one of the many reasons we have a buddy system.
Obviously I sometimes dive alone.

[R.Burgess]

Don't see why you'd need assistance with that. I manage quite easily with a back zip on my wet suit. Now a back-zipped dry suit is a different matter, but that's one of the many reasons we have a buddy system.
Opening back zipped dry suits is quite easy, use a double snap from the arms of the back hatch. Closing is a lot more difficult but its the same principle but if you snag the zip in your undersuit you can break the zip. A back zip on a wet suit may be manageable but why bother getting one when suits without zips are often warmer. I prefer self reliance and self reliant procedures, these procedures start with me putting on my kit without assistance, but thats just my point of view, some disagree with it. Smooth skin open cell suits have some disadvatages, some say their warmer and some use them in arctic conditions. I've find a wetsuit more comfortable than a drysuit, in time it stretches and moulds itself to your shape and there's less drag in the water.