Question about Dry Suits

phylo · Jun 24, 2005

I have noticed that almost all of the pics I see of DIR folks diving in dry suits that they are wearing Tri-Lam suits? I was wondering what the DIR take on this is.. Are there reasons that a tri-lam is prefered over a crushed/compressed neoprene suit?

Thanks
Phil

RTodd · Jun 24, 2005

phylo:
I have noticed that almost all of the pics I see of DIR folks diving in dry suits that they are wearing Tri-Lam suits? I was wondering what the DIR take on this is.. Are there reasons that a tri-lam is prefered over a crushed/compressed neoprene suit?

Thanks
Phil

The main in water reasons are greater mobility and more comfort than anything else out there. It has the added bonus of being the fastest drying as well.

markfm · Jun 24, 2005

Interesting -- mobility/comfort seems a plus for the crushed/compressed neoprene approach, as well as general toughness.
End of the day, I guess what matters is if it works for the individual.

mania · Jun 24, 2005

Well, one of the reasons which is rather reasonable for me is when diving either caves or wrecks - neopren ones are easier to rend that tri-lam ones.
Mania

RTodd · Jun 24, 2005

markfm:
Interesting -- mobility/comfort seems a plus for the crushed/compressed neoprene approach, as well as general toughness.
End of the day, I guess what matters is if it works for the individual.

No, the best crushed neoprene is not even close to the mobility of a good trilam.

CALI68 · Jun 24, 2005

markfm:
End of the day, I guess what matters is if it works for the individual.

Please read the rules of posting in the DIR forum.

What matters is what's DIR. DIR gear is all about standardization NOT what works for this guy and that guy. The DUI TLS 350 Cave Cut, or a TLS350 with a nice close fit is the preferred suit.

There's a bunch of stuff in the DIR gear configuration that may not work for the individual right away (bolt snaps, butt dump, continuous webbing) but with training and practice the diver will eventually see the benefits and adapt to the gear as apposed to finding an easy and sub par alternative that works for him or her.

Soggy · Jun 24, 2005

CALI68:
The DUI TLS 350 Cave Cut, or a TLS350 with a nice close fit is the preferred suit.

Actually, it is *a* preferred suit, not *the* preferred suit. Several other manufacturers make suits that conform to the DIR standards....the key things are front zipper, trilam material, GOOD FIT, and flexibility. If your suit fits those requirements, it is DIR. If it doesn't, it isn't.

My opinion is that the TLS350 is not suited for certain types of diving, as the shell material is very prone to rips and tears. Of the many people I know with TLS350s, I only know of one of them who hasn't ripped it in the water somehow.

RTodd · Jun 24, 2005

Soggy:
Actually, it is *a* preferred suit, not *the* preferred suit. Several other manufacturers make suits that conform to the DIR standards....the key things are front zipper, trilam material, GOOD FIT, and flexibility. If your suit fits those requirements, it is DIR. If it doesn't, it isn't.

My opinion is that the TLS350 is not suited for certain types of diving, as the shell material is very prone to rips and tears. Of the many people I know with TLS350s, I only know of one of them who hasn't ripped it in the water somehow.

Actually "the" was correct. It is politically correct to say that other trilams that meet these requirements are acceptable. But, no one has made one as good as the DUI yet. Of course, even the DUI ones now require some retro modifications to get it back to the quality of the older suits.

CALI68 · Jun 24, 2005

Soggy:
Actually, it is *a* preferred suit, not *the* preferred suit. Several other manufacturers make suits that conform to the DIR standards....the key things are front zipper, trilam material, GOOD FIT, and flexibility. If your suit fits those requirements, it is DIR. If it doesn't, it isn't.

My opinion is that the TLS350 is not suited for certain types of diving, as the shell material is very prone to rips and tears. Of the many people I know with TLS350s, I only know of one of them who hasn't ripped it in the water somehow.

That's not what I was told by my instructors. For all considerations the TLS350 was THE suit.

Soggy · Jun 24, 2005

You might want to talk to AG, Mike Kane, Tom Rutledge, Dan Mackay and a number of other GUE instructors who might disagree with you.

RTodd:
Actually "the" was correct. It is politically correct to say that other trilams that meet these requirements are acceptable. But, no one has made one as good as the DUI yet. Of course, even the DUI ones now require some retro modifications to get it back to the quality of the older suits.

Question about Dry Suits

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