theatis
Contributor
OK, the thread title is a bit facetious; i'm looking for any and all drysuit tips from experienced users.
I just bought an O'Neill 7000X. What i would ultimately prefer is a shell suit but this was a very good price and the differential between that and even the cheapest shell suit was too great at the moment.
The suit fits me well which is amazing considering the trouble i've had so far; the only suits that fit me well are the Short versions that Bare makes (ML Short). But the O'Neill medium is just right including the boots.
I have MANY questions and i'll try to cover them all. Please excuse questions that seem too obvious as i don't have a manual for the suit.
1) What accessories will i need for the suit? Wax is a must, right? Any specific recommendations such as brands and tips for usage? I'm assuming the suit is to be hung upside down to dry, right? What type of hanger do i need for that or is a hanger unnecessary? Do i need an additional hanger for storage or should it stored folded?
2) The suit tried to strangle me when i first put it on! The seals are way too tight both wrist and neck. I'm assuming i need to trim them and that will help with the tightness. Is there any specific guideline for this? Can one go too far in trimming? I'm just scared i'll ruin the suit if i don't know what i'm doing.
3) What type of maintainance is required/advisable? Pre-dive, post-dive? Do i need to wash the inside of the suit? I use a combo of Woolite and Listerine when washing my wetsuits (Dettol when i'm in Europe which is a magic liquid), should i keep doing that?
4) Is drysuit training absolutely necessary or something that one can pick up with practice?
5) Will the ability to dive year round change my life? Can you tell i'm excited?
Thanks.
I just bought an O'Neill 7000X. What i would ultimately prefer is a shell suit but this was a very good price and the differential between that and even the cheapest shell suit was too great at the moment.
The suit fits me well which is amazing considering the trouble i've had so far; the only suits that fit me well are the Short versions that Bare makes (ML Short). But the O'Neill medium is just right including the boots.
I have MANY questions and i'll try to cover them all. Please excuse questions that seem too obvious as i don't have a manual for the suit.
1) What accessories will i need for the suit? Wax is a must, right? Any specific recommendations such as brands and tips for usage? I'm assuming the suit is to be hung upside down to dry, right? What type of hanger do i need for that or is a hanger unnecessary? Do i need an additional hanger for storage or should it stored folded?
2) The suit tried to strangle me when i first put it on! The seals are way too tight both wrist and neck. I'm assuming i need to trim them and that will help with the tightness. Is there any specific guideline for this? Can one go too far in trimming? I'm just scared i'll ruin the suit if i don't know what i'm doing.
3) What type of maintainance is required/advisable? Pre-dive, post-dive? Do i need to wash the inside of the suit? I use a combo of Woolite and Listerine when washing my wetsuits (Dettol when i'm in Europe which is a magic liquid), should i keep doing that?
4) Is drysuit training absolutely necessary or something that one can pick up with practice?
5) Will the ability to dive year round change my life? Can you tell i'm excited?
Thanks.