Harvey's vs. Aquaflite/hooded vest vs hooded jacket

[jgiddings]

I am going to buy a warmer wetsuit and am looking at both Harvey's and Aquaflite. I don't think I will need a custom suit but if I do, I will go with Aquaflite. Besides the custom options how do these brands compare? I will be trying on Harvey's soon, since I know that fit is the most improtant factor, but after that, who is better?

The options I am considering are either buy a Harvey's full jumpsuit with a hooded sleeveless vest or an Aquaflite full jumpsuit with a hooded sleeveless jacket. Any real difference having the hood on a jacket as comapred to a vest? I assume that if I put the hooded vest under a full jumpsuit, more water will get in compared to a hooded jacket over a full jumpsuit.

They both will cost me about the same $

[TexasMike]

First, Welcome to our little corner of the internet! We're glad you're hear and look forward to your participation. Be sure to tell us more about yourself in the "Intro's and Greets" section.

Second, While not a direct answer to your question, I'll let you know what I've done. I have a Xcel 5/4/3 full wetsuit that serves me well to water temps in the low 60's. When I want more thermal protection, I put on a hooded/sleeveless vest UNDER my full suit. The hood really helps to retain heat lost through my cranium, and the seal formed by neck areas of the vest and suit do a good job at keeping water transfer to a minimum. I've been in waters to the 50's and was okay as long as I didn't linger there for a long time. And a buddy has a similar setup and has dove in the 40's (BJ is a little more insane than I am).

Did that help any?

[simonk999]

I purchased the fullsuit/sleeveless hooded vest combo from aquaflite, and ended up cutting off the hood, the reason being, it was extremely difficult to remove, because it hinges from the back, so the neck has to get past your chin, unlike removing a separate hood, where it's generally pulled up from the back. It may be that this is exacerbated by the limited stretchiness of 6.5mm neoprene, but for me, a separate hood is much better.

-Simon

[kelpmermaid]

I have a full suit with a hooded vest from Aquaflite. I agree that there is a definite learning curve when it come to hooded jacket removal, but on the scale of difficulty, it is not as bad as learning to remove a drysuit with a latex neckseal...I am very satisfied with my suit, but it is a lot of neoprene across the torso. I have thought about getting a separate hooded vest to go under the one piece, but have not really looked that hard.

[jgiddings]

Thanks everyone for your replies, they are very helpful. I am trying to decide the best combo for me for where I dive or plan to dive.

I currently have a 2.5mil titanium full suit and have only dived in tropical (warm 79-83 degrees) waters with no problem getting cold, even after repeated dives. I am going to the Galapagos in June and will need a thicker suit. A lot of divers recommend at least a 5mil suit with a hood or hooded vest will be needed there since the waters are around 65-75 degrees.

I live in the Northeast and would like to dive up here as well (40-65 degrees max). For that, I will need either a much warmer wetsuit or a drysuit. However, I don't have the $ for a drysuit right now.

So I am thinking of a 5mil fullsuit where I can add some more mil (maybe 3mil?) in a jacket or hooded vest. I also want the option of combining the jacket or hooded vest with my current 2.5mil for waters colder than tropical but warmer than the Northeast. I'm afraid of getting a suit combo that will either be too warm for the Galapagos or one that would be too cold for the Northeast. Warmer is probably better, but that would mean a lot more weight to get me down. Any advice?

[Ari]

So I dive with a full 3mm and add a Harvey's 3mm hooded vest for colder dives.

naturaly, it's not going to be sufficient for really cold diving, but it is working for me down to 15-16 Celcius.

Ari