Mares Isotherm Review

[sailor025]

It's been about 20 years since I had to dive in a wet suit. When I decided to get one, I used this group's input to make a decision. I bought the Mares Isotherm. Here's what I think:

I like the suit. I payed $479 and so I'd better like it. I could have saved money on the internet but I wanted to give my LDS some business.

I was in 70-71 degree water. I went to 92 feet and was never cold. My dive buddy got cold in his Scuba Max 5 mil.

I got wet. Not real wet but water got in. My dive buddy got water entering his neck area even though he had a hood.

I don't like the back zipper. It means I can't get my suit on without someone helping me. That's a nuisance.

I had a little air in my suit when I initially got in the water. Some of the water that got in was from letting the air out of my suit.

I was very comfortable.

Since I haven't been in another wetsuit in 20 years I can't give you much of a comparison. I would buy another Mares Isotherm in a heartbeat.

Sailor

[Boogie711]

I usually burp mine, if I can. Get in up to my chest and as I'm floating there, crack the neck seal. That helps a lot. Also cuts down on the weight you need, although not by a lot.

[CALI68]

Yea, I was very torn about getting the Mares or the Henderson Gold Semi Dry. I got the Henderson and I am very happy with it. The Mares is an awesome suit and very cool looking as well but I went with the Henderson for three reasons:

1) The Zipper. Although you can't really put the Henderson on properly without some help...you sure can take it off by yourself and that is VERY cool! The zipper on the Mares is really nice..a dry zipper I beleive and much better than the one on my Henderson but the placement makes it impossible to use it on your own.

2) Attached Hood. The attached hood on the Henderson is awesome! It has the face seal and everything. It really integrates the whole suit and I believe adds to the overall warmth of the suit. 20 dives in Monterey with it and I still havent got cold.

3) Gold Core...still the King when it come to Wet or Semi-Dry Suits...in my opinion.

I am interested to see if anyone has any feedback on the Bare Semi Dry...that also looks like a very nice suit.

By the way the "burping" idea mentioned is key!

[sailor025]

How much weight do you add for your mares isotherm? Or the Henderson Gold? I way overweighted yesterday and had trouble reaching neutral buoyancy

Sailor

[Boogie711]

In fact, I probably take weight off, since I feel my Isotherm is warmer than a Farmer John.

I'm 6'4", 220 lbs or so... when I dive a SS backplate and SS heavy STA (12 lbs) with an E7-100 single tank, I dive with 4 pounds on my belt. Maybe 6... I'd have to check... in any event, it's rather minimal.

[mattengstrom]

And I like it a lot, and I'd agree with the points made so far.

The zipper is a full-blown drysuit zipper. It will NOT leak. It does run across the back or your shoulders, so you will need help donning and doffing the suit.

Any water that gets in the suit will come in through the neck, wrist, or ankle seals. These seals are the smoothskin neoprene variety, not latex. Water seepage can be minimized by "rolling" the seals inward so that the smoothskin is against your own skin. This helps a lot, and I've come out of the water completely dry on occassion if I've done this.

It is a very warm suit, especially if you stay shallow. Some people around here even use them for ice diving. It's a 6.5mm neoprene suit though, so depth compression will cut down on the insulating factor as you go down farther.

I got mine on ebay for $250. The sizing is a little bit weird though. I'm 6'1" 170 lbs. and tried on a friend's size large, which is what I expected that I would need. It was WAY too big. The medium fits me really well.

[ajmataz]

mattengstrom once bubbled...
I got mine on ebay for $250. The sizing is a little bit weird though. I'm 6'1" 170 lbs. and tried on a friend's size large, which is what I expected that I would need. It was WAY too big. The medium fits me really well.

Which medium size did you buy? I'm 5'9" 170 lbs and the M/3 was WAY too small for me in the upper torso. My shoulders are pretty wide but nothing extreme. I'm going to have to go with the M/L4.

[h2omammal]

...this is a great semidry. It's rear entry with a real cross-shoulder drysuit zipper -- absolutely zero leakage.

Seals are awesome. In cold months, I wear a snug fitting t-shirt underneath. It is always dry after a dive.

Upper body stays dry. I get some water in the lower legs if I don't trip down my leg hair.Use only the booties, hood and gloves made for it and you can't go wrong.

For measurement puposes, I bought a size large. and had to have the lower back taken in a couple of inches for a better fit. The legs are just a tad long, but managable. I'm 5'10, 185 lbs.

[Nitrox Junkie]

Hello all

I really hope someone here can help me out. I have a Size Medium Isotherm semi Dry Womens I am selling and need to find out what size of lady can use the suit labeled Medium; 9-10 height ect. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Jeff "Great lakes diver"

[crpntr133]

I have been thinking about trying a "leash" on the zipper of my Mares. Something that could be taken off before the dive.

I have about ten dives on mine and love it. I had it down to 48 degrees @ 80' and was nice and toasty. We didn't stay there long but it was for sure that I was warm. I will be diving Bonne Terre mine in January so that will be the true test.

Who sells the gloves and boots? I haven't seen them anyplace. My LDS had a hard time ordering my suit so I hate to ask for another favor.