I wish I could actually see and touch this stuff before having to order! I have a trilam suit and am considering upgrading from fleece to a light loft undergarment. I see Dive Rite has the Primaloft suit, and then there is Weezle. I am also considering buying insulated outdoor clothing for a DIY solution. Water temps around here I think average 55 F with lows in the 40s. I'd like to have a working range up to 65 F or so for Southern California diving. I tend to get cold easier than others. I already have midweight undies and 100g fleece pants and shirt. I have the Pinnacle Temperate fleece (about 300g or so) that I have so far only used for 65-ish F water. I could feel the cold of teh water, but I didn't feel like I was getting chilled.
- Is the Dive Rite closer to the Weezle compact than the Extreme?
- The Dive Rite is about $370. The Weezle Extreme is about $290. I would probably go for the two-piece Weezle which is about the same cost as the Dive Rite jumpsuit.
- A DIY solution would cost somewhere in between the two (with a wicking layer as well).
If go DIY, here is what I am thinking:
I am considering separate synthetic insulated pants and jacket for use as a DS undergarment so I can reuse them with skiing and on the motorcycle as middle layers. I don't think I would use a jumpsuit for these uses just because I may only want to use only the top or the bottom. I also like the idea of being able to shed the top layer on a surface interval while leaving the DS on as pants.
I know a jumpsuit is more convenient for getting in to for a dive, and I understand that going with separates can result in the top and bottom coming separated at the waist, resulting in a cold spot during the dive. I did a little experimenting with fleece tops and bottoms and as long as I tucked some of my top layers in to the bottom layers then I was OK. If I go the synthetic insulated top and bottom route, it would essentially be a two-piece Weezle that doesn't zip together. I figure I would need to rig some straps or something to help keep the two pieces together.
- Is the Dive Rite closer to the Weezle compact than the Extreme?
- The Dive Rite is about $370. The Weezle Extreme is about $290. I would probably go for the two-piece Weezle which is about the same cost as the Dive Rite jumpsuit.
- A DIY solution would cost somewhere in between the two (with a wicking layer as well).
If go DIY, here is what I am thinking:
I am considering separate synthetic insulated pants and jacket for use as a DS undergarment so I can reuse them with skiing and on the motorcycle as middle layers. I don't think I would use a jumpsuit for these uses just because I may only want to use only the top or the bottom. I also like the idea of being able to shed the top layer on a surface interval while leaving the DS on as pants.
I know a jumpsuit is more convenient for getting in to for a dive, and I understand that going with separates can result in the top and bottom coming separated at the waist, resulting in a cold spot during the dive. I did a little experimenting with fleece tops and bottoms and as long as I tucked some of my top layers in to the bottom layers then I was OK. If I go the synthetic insulated top and bottom route, it would essentially be a two-piece Weezle that doesn't zip together. I figure I would need to rig some straps or something to help keep the two pieces together.
