Posted by tleemay on April 17, 2000 at 10:08:57:
In Reply to: Drysuit underwear posted by Rob on April 14, 2000 at 14:21:18:
As others have pointed out, avoid cotton anything
under a dry suit shell. What you want is a
single or two piece system that's actually designed
for wearing under a wetsuit. Polartech ski wear is
made from the right material, but is not cut for
a drysuit's neck and wrist seals. You want to
achieve maximum exposure protection without
excessive bulkiness - which adds extra air space
to the suit - which adds additional buoyancy.
You want a suit that wicks away sweat away from
your body to the outter layer of the undie. The
dryer you keep your skin, the warmer you will be.
This is the number one reason not to use cotton
inside a drysuit. Cotten get's wet and stays wet.
a material like Thinsulate or higher grade
Polartech with move the moisture to the outside lining
of the suit, against the shell and away from your skin.
I have three different dry suit undie systems I
have acquired over the last 2 years for use in
cold water, and a fourth I use in warmer situations.
For bare minimal protection, I use a Parkway
Polartech 1 piece with a nylon shell. This is
the bare minimum in thermal protection, it's was
also the cheapest at less than $75. It also traps
the least amount of air inbetween the diver and the
shell.
Of the three other undie suits...
One is a DUI C4 single piece. It was expensive,
but cut very well, Polartech lining with nylon
taffeda shell. Fairly lightweight, but not the
warmest. It's my least favorite undie for diving
off SoCal. It also maintains more air than I
prefer in my drysuit - it's the bulkiest.
My second choice is my Andies Undies set. It't
the same weight as the DUI, but is lined with
Thinsulate covered on the outside with polartech
fleece. It is warmer than DUI, but not cut as
well in the cuffs - they are too long and require
me to somewhat scrunch them up the forearm to unsure
good seal to skin contact.
My first choice is the Mobby's product they call
the Exposure Suit. This is my favorite - cuffs
and neck cut just right - no bunching in the ankles
like the DUI and Andies can do after the end of a dive
- Thinsulate with nylon taffeda shell cover -
better zippers and ankle strapping that are not noticed. Very warm,
almost too warm at times when diving above 55*.
The Mobby's undie actually is more comfortable.
The added buoyancy is minimal, but much less
than a two piece or a multi-layer system. And when
not wearing a drysuit, or preparing to get into
one, you look like you are wearing a real full
length deck suit that breaks the wind from your
body, not some colorful long-johns with the fleece
or polartech exposed.
Of undie systems I have yet to experience, but hear good
things about... Diving Concepts has an undie that's
suposed to be great, light and warm, and not too
pricey. It's a fairly new product though, so it's
durability isn't a proven fact yet.
And since no one brought it up yet, please avoid
cotton socks. Use those $10 pair TILO polypropoline/
nylon thick socks, they work the same way as
Thinsulate does - wicking away the moisture from
your feet while still maintaining a warm airspace
between your foot and the boot. Cotton socks get,
and stay, wet. This make your feet get , and stay,
cold.