DUI vs. BARE drysuits, best reviews?

[BORG]

I will take the DS course at my LDS after the 1st of the year and rent a suit after that. These folks rent DUI trilams from what I understand.
Later on when and I know I will fall in love with the DUI suit, what is the best route to go in getting a DUI suit. Buy one off of Ebay or bite the bullet and get an entry level DUI suit. I like the cut of the DUI suits compared to the BARE Nex-Gen's garbage bag look.
Any advice from DUI and BARE Nex-Gen users would be helpful?

THANKS!

 

[Blackwood]

Biting the bullet = custom fit.

Bite the bullet.

 

[evil_xander]

You're comparing two different things. Look at the equivalent suits of different vendors, I don't think DUI has anyhing of an entry level suit like the Nexgen, especially pricewise.

If you're going for a custom fit, you really have nothing to discuss here.

 

[RJP]

I will take the DS course at my LDS after the 1st of the year and rent a suit after that. These folks rent DUI trilams from what I understand.
Later on when and I know I will fall in love with the DUI suit, what is the best route to go in getting a DUI suit.

If the rental fits you well, ask your LDS to sell it to you at a discount off the price of a brand new one.

Ask the LDS if they'll credit rental payments towards purchase of a new suit.

Plenty of ways to skin a trilaminate cat.

 

[tangfish]

You can bargain hunt and get a nice used DUI, but if you want it to fit perfectly I suggest you get a signature series, unless you're extremely lucky and fit right into a stock size. I likely won't ever dive a different brand of suit after owning a DUI.

Here's my review on the CF200x.

Good luck with the search. I'm also a fan of getting a less expensive starter suit till you know exactly what you want!

 

[BORG]

I will probably go with a stock suit if I can tell that a rental stock size will fit me OK. The DUIs cost enough as it is and if I can go stock I will.

 

[Blackwood]

I will probably go with a stock suit if I can tell that a rental stock size will fit me OK. The DUIs cost enough as it is and if I can go stock I will.

Make sure you go through the motions.

And that's not a figure of speech.

At the very least, try this while in the shop: Range of Motion

 

[robway034]

I own a DUI even though I get Key-person pricing on BARE (all of my wetsuits are BARE and I have no plans of ever switching to any other in the future). So why go with the DUI? Simple; DUI offers COLORS! I am sick of looking like a wanna-be Green Beret or SEAL clad in Black on Black with Black trim! Other than that, I purchased a DUI because I can afford it. If money where an issue, I'd go with the BARE every time. To be honest, from what I read, you are falling victim to what almost all of did when we first got into the sport. Its like "information/equipment manufacturer over-load"!!!! DUI offers a great product but you will pay a premium for the name recognition.

 

[Poogweese]

I will take the DS course at my LDS after the 1st of the year and rent a suit after that. These folks rent DUI trilams from what I understand.
Later on when and I know I will fall in love with the DUI suit, what is the best route to go in getting a DUI suit. Buy one off of Ebay or bite the bullet and get an entry level DUI suit. I like the cut of the DUI suits compared to the BARE Nex-Gen's garbage bag look.
Any advice from DUI and BARE Nex-Gen users would be helpful?

THANKS!

Hi, hopefully you can try a few on before you decide...FWIW, I have the Viking Pro, DUI CF 200, Diving Concepts crushed neoprene, and a Bare ATR HD. Out of all of them I'd say I like the new Bare ATR HD best because its well made, comfortable, fairly priced, and front entry. (I use my Viking thermals and booties) I also like the fact that the suit inflator whip is a regular LP inflator connection, not a "special" sort of fitting. The other thing I notice regarding my Bare suit is that it's not as "form fitting" and a little baggier than my past drysuits, I don't mind this and I have not had any problems with trapped air. Have fun on your suit search!

Poog

 

[Pook-60]

Howdy

I took the route of attending DUI Dog Days out in Virginia, got a real good understanding of what model would best fit my diving desires AND my "off the rack" body...then totally lucked out on EBay picking up a "no-kidding" new TLS350 for less than $900. No...I don't usually have that kind of luck.

Biggest lesson...learning from the Scubaboarders on this forum what to look for in a dry suit ("fit", not brand was the most prominant lesson). Many thanks to each of them.

Dane