Posted by Sven G on November 02, 2003 at 22:00:12:
In Reply to: skins - do they add any warmth? posted by Jeff in landlocked #$%^*(@!$ arizona on November 02, 2003 at 20:24:37:
Jeff,
A skin will add very minimal warmth when worn by itself by slightly reducing thermal loss due to water exchange over the skin (just like hair is designed to do), but not enough to make it worth while if you move even as much as during a shiver. Under a tight fitting wetsuit there won't be much of a change as the suit constricts the flow except for what enters and exits at the sleeves and ankles (and leaky zipper ?). Your carbs will be burned to warm the water between you and the 7 mm plus whatever escapes and gets replaced.
For added warmth we've been using 0.5 mm suits under 1 and 2 piece 7 mm suits and that _does_ increase the warmth, but unless there is fabric lining both inside and outside the 0.5 you've lost the glide-on advantage :-)
BTW, our 0.5 neoprene suits do have fabric both inside and outside and do work as dive skins.
A side note; not sure why 0.5 mm would make that much of a difference unless it is either because it creates a better fit by filling in space or possibly because it sets up a 2-stage thermal gradient: Skin-0.5 mm + 0.5 mm to 7 mm. I certainly don't know the answer to that question.
The idea of a detergent on the skin for the duration of X dives during the day may not be too appealing to those with any kind of skin condition.
As with everything, it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
-Sven