Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 185,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard (and make this large box go away) you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

  • Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts.
  • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
  • Post your own photos or view from well over 100,000 user submitted images.
  • Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
  • Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 33


  1. #11
    Frequent Poster


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Cheetah223's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    321
    Photos
    1
    Noboundaries makes a great point. I took a gamble with a sizing chart and made out just fine, but I made sure to call and double check with them if I ordered it and it didn't fit that I could exchange it for the right size (even if that takes five shots...I just pay a bunch of pointless return shipping charges.)

  2. #12
    Frequent Poster


    diverfish
     

    Xaryo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    montreal Québec
    Posts
    268
    Dives
    200 - 499
    Photos
    2
    The more I read about wet suit, the more I'm asking that question: Why Farmer John/Jane?

    It's not handy. You absolutely have to wear the 2 pieces. Can't just go with one piece, 'cause you'll have either the arms or the legs uncovered.

    A full suit and a hooded vest is way more practical. The water is warm and cozy, go with the suit. The water get a little chilly bellow 60 had the hooded vest.

  3. #13
    ScubaBoard Enthusiast


    Has not set a "status"
     

    ItsBruce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Marina Del Rey, California
    Posts
    2,276
    I used farmer Johns until one piece suits became popular. The one piece suit is lighter and seems just as warm. Because it is one piece, it does not let cold water in as easily as a farmer John. I cannot imagine diving in SoCal with less than 7mm. I sometimes use a hood, but more often use a hooded vest with the 7mm.

  4. #14
    ScubaBoard Enthusiast


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Northern California
    Posts
    2,199
    Dives
    100 - 199
    Quote Originally Posted by Xaryo View Post
    The more I read about wet suit, the more I'm asking that question: Why Farmer John/Jane?

    It's not handy. You absolutely have to wear the 2 pieces. Can't just go with one piece, 'cause you'll have either the arms or the legs uncovered.

    A full suit and a hooded vest is way more practical. The water is warm and cozy, go with the suit. The water get a little chilly bellow 60 had the hooded vest.
    Primarily cost. The Henderson Farmer John is a couple of hundred dollars less than the AquaLung SolaFX. If you are going to buy a wetsuit and believe a drysuit might be in the future, there's no point in spending any more money than necessary on the wetsuit.

    Richard

  5. #15
    Dive Bum Wannabe
    Go Red - Support SB!

    is Ready to Dive
     

    spectrum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    The Atlantic Northeast (Maine)
    Posts
    9,464
    Dives
    500 - 999
    Photos
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by Xaryo View Post
    A full suit and a hooded vest is way more practical. The water is warm and cozy, go with the suit. The water get a little chilly bellow 60 had the hooded vest.
    I too am partial to a full suit layered with an appropriate vest.

    More on wetsuits

    More on making the most of diving wet when things cool down.

    Pete
    My ever growing collection of assorted ramblings on scuba topics can be read here.

    No sequence of classes will make a good diver out of you, if you aren't actively diving and practicing in the meantime.
    TSandM

  6. #16
    NA


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Beaumont CA
    Posts
    2,248
    Dives
    I'm a Fish!
    Photos
    40
    Spend the money for a custom suit! You will never go back! 36 measurements and it fits right and it is comfortable down to the low 50s because it fits! People don't come in one size and wetsuits don't either!

  7. #17
    Divemaster
    Badge


    Has not set a "status"
     

    J.R.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Central Illinois
    Posts
    880
    Photos
    7
    Henderson 5-4-3 wetsuit
    3 mm vest
    5 mm hood
    Pinnicle gloves
    5 mm boots

    I'm guessing that putting a skin under it might even help out a bit more...

    I've done 45 deg. water with it (45 min dive)...

    But then... I sit deer stands in the middle of winter too.... ... and I just changed over to drysuit this year...

    I find the vest over the wetsuit thing works pretty well... personally I hate 7 mil's... but then, I'd rather be cold than constricted...

  8. #18
    Frequent Poster


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Jandee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Waterford,Wi, about 25 miles from the Milwaukee Harbor
    Posts
    91
    Dives
    500 - 999
    Wisconsin water is alway cold. Before I had my dry suit we would take a turkey fryer out to the dive site, heat up the water, soak the wet suit, gloves, and hood in hot water and put everything on before it cooled off. Just before we got in the water we would pour more hot water inside the suit and gloves. Everything was nice and toasty at first and there wasn't that shock of having 50 degree water flood into the suit.

  9. #19
    Sr. Moderator


    Just dive.
     

    Teamcasa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Near Pasadena, CA
    Dives
    500 - 999
    Photos
    204
    Quote Originally Posted by kouhoutek View Post
    Anyone have experience doing this? How does 3mm suit + 3mm shorty compare to a regular 5mm?

    Any other cold water wet suit strategies? I'm not looking to get into a dry suit just yet.
    To your basic question, yes it will make you warmer and should be OK in the short term.

    However, as others have said, I would suggest getting a full, 7mm and be done with it.
    Dave

    To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.

  10. #20
    ScubaBoard Contributor


    Has not set a "status"
     

    paradicio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    San Dimas, CA
    Posts
    577
    Dives
    200 - 499
    Photos
    7
    I've used my Henderson Hyperstretch 5/7 in 54 degree water and have been just fine. PapaBear is right in that having the right suit for the conditions you are diving in is very important. If you are miserable with cold while diving then diving isn't going to be much fun. Make the investment in a suit that is going to fit the conditions you are diving in.

    That said, I've just invested in a Mares Polarfit drysuit. I don't get cold while diving, but the cold between diving gets me singing the California Rasins theme song...
    “Sharks are critically important members of the marine food chain.
    If we destroy them for short-term gain, we risk the biggest long-term loss imaginable:
    complete destruction of the ecosystem and, ultimately, of ourselves”.
    -Peter Benchley, Author of Jaws.


    http://www.pacificpixels.com/

Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  






Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0