Review: Whites Fusion Drysuit - say goodbye to cave cut

[cool_hardware52]

Let me add that my booth at DEMA was directly across the isle from the Whites booth. They were mobbed all show.

Tobin

[rickydazla]

We mobbed them, tried on a couple of suits, nabbed a couple of t-shirts and have organised for Al to come to our store with a bunch of suits and some Ocean Reef masks on the 28th November. Anyone in the area is most welcome to come along... >flyer<

Rick

[Rico867]

Thanks Tyler. I see the closest dealer to me is in Panama City, which is about an hour and a half. If I am down there to do some diving, I'll stop in and see if they have one of these suits in stock. It would be interesting to see one in person.

Hey Perrone, I think you will find the suit interesting but not suitable for cave diving. How the skin works it's literally velcro around the chest area and around the back. As for pockets, forget about it. I dive a USIA Techniflex and I have to admit it's the best drysuit whether it costs $1000 or $2000. The wrist and neck seals are covered and it's so durable. Too many good things to list about it.

[PerroneFord]

Yea I know. I have a techniflex also. Amazing suit.

[Steve_Dives]

Any plans for the trailer to pass through Ohio?

[mike_s]

Any plans for the trailer to pass through Ohio?

Check out this thread on where the trailer is headed.

Whites Dealer Truck Load Sales!!

However, they don't keep it up to date all the time.


But post #38 says it will be in North Carolina until after mid january.

[fdog]

As promised, here's the 20 dive update. It's worth pointing out that I am (literally) world-renowned for the anal way I take care of my equipment, so take that into account when you evaluate wear and tear.

The suit has no leaks, and when looked at from the inside, still appears new. From the exterior, surprisingly, the only wear marks are:

A small patch of pilling in the lycra at the small of the back, from the bottom of the backplate:





And, a small amount of pilling in between the butt cheeks, presumably from the scooter crotch strap.





Despite crawling around on concrete, the knees, elbows, etc. have no marks on them. The shoulders are in great shape, I especially looked for wear where the BP shoulder straps cross over the zipper, and found none.

I end up with wet wrist cuffs on my undies after virtually every dive; however this happens to me with any drysuit without dry gloves. Angular, skinny wrists.

The suit has had it's share of snags and rubs, consistent with easy (not climbing over barnacles) walk-in shore diving and scootering in close proximity to rocks and stuff underwater. It has not been inside or around a snaggy old wreck.

The suit zipper slides easily and hasn't leaked. The Si-Tech valves have been, well, Si-Tech valves, just another reliable day at the office. I've found that I have to fly with the exhaust closed down quite a bit more than I am used to with prior suits. I have to say I've fallen in love with the zipper placement, it is amazingly easy to get into and out of.

Something I really liked at first was the push-on inflator fitting. Now that the newness has worn off I'm kind of meh. I still like it, although I could care less, and would be just as happy with a regular fitting with one of Tobin's hose hats.

The lowest temp has been 49 degrees F. In this I used the Whites Mk1 underlayer and the Whites Mk3 garment, and was very warm after 55 minutes of scootering, which means practically no body movement, which ordinarily leads to darn cold. My right (scooter) hand has been a bit cold, I am wearing 5mm wet gloves.

Janet has placed Si Tech Squeezes-On dry glove rings on her suit and seems inordinately pleased with them. I was all poised to do the same, but, was forced to step in to help teach a huge class of OW students (150!) for a friend that is now in the hospital. This has neccesitated 8 hours a day in a 74 degree pool. After enduring one frozen day in a 3mm, I have switched to the Fusion, with DuoFold undies and occasionally the Mk1. Perfect, I am not too hot, and still warm at the end of the day. However, the warm/cold mixed use has me holding off on the rings for now.

I find that I am surprised by the way the suit has held up. I was expecting the double-fabric layer to hold up well, but so far it's been better than expected. Every time I've snagged it or really rubbed against something, I end up looking the suit over fairly carefully after the dive, and start questioning my recollection, because you can't see the point of snag. And, last night I was turning it inside out to evaporate the condensation, and it struck me how laughabally easy it was compared to the CF200.

As for the pocket issue, the factory loaned me one of the hybrid outer skins, the ones with sections of lycra and 1mm neoprene. The loaner they gave me is some truly butt-ugly material let me tell you! This supported surrogate pockets surprisingly well, and I sense a copy of this as an additional outer skin in my future. (in a different color than the "pizza puke" I have now)

So, I guess the summary so far for me is:

• No glaring issues
• Warmer than expected
• More durable than expected
• More versatile than expected

Of course, this is only a short look at the suit. I will keep you posted.


All the best, James

[PinkPADIgal]

James,

I am getting similar reports from everyone I have sold a Fusion to. They love the suit, keeps them surprisingly warm (in 49 degree waters of Puget Sound) and it continues to be my best selling drysuit.

It was nice meeting you at DEMA, BTW too!

[Kingmob3]

Has any one taken this around any wrecks yet?
Allen

[Kendall Raine]

What happens in the event it leaks? If you get a puncture somewhere, does the outer lycra tend to force the gas out of the suit? Like bondage wings. That could be an issue on a long hang. Any thoughts or experience with this?