Cold and unhappy...

[Dive Right In Scuba]

I was just thinking about hands when the poster above chimed in.
Here's another idea - probably won't help but ...
See if anyone has any neoprene gloves they don't want.
Cut off the gloves at the point they go over your wrists.
Put the flat part over your wrists - should be a bit warmer.

These are one of our best sellers, you would be amazed at how warm this in addition to a good dryglove helps:
4th Element Xerotherm Wrist Warmer | Dive Right In Scuba - Plainfield, IL

 

[buddhasummer]

The most important question, and maybe I missed it...

What are you wearing on your hands and feet? Keeping them warm is just as important as the core

The UTD dry gloves I got from you I'm wearing a silk liner and then some merino gloves. I just changed out the Med showas to large so can add another pair of smart wool gloves over the merinos. On my feet I'm wearing a pair of medium weight merinos and thick wool socks over those. My feet are the only things that aren't cold. Cheers.

---------- Post added February 24th, 2014 at 08:21 PM ----------

These are one of our best sellers, you would be amazed at how warm this in addition to a good dryglove helps:
4th Element Xerotherm Wrist Warmer | Dive Right In Scuba - Plainfield, IL

i might order these off you but I have very skinny wrists and the smallest size these come in is medium?

---------- Post added February 24th, 2014 at 08:22 PM ----------

Buddha,
Just a word on the BZ400. Contrary to what you might have heard it's not bulky once you've had about 10 dives or so in it. For bulk I'd argue that the Halo is more bulky.

It is true that you'll need more weight (in your case I'd guess about 3kg) to sink it but that will come down over time. If you can get to try it, it might be worth a shout rather than faffing with base layers.

Cheers, I've narrowed it down to either the Whites Thermal Fusion or MTM BZ400 Both will cost me almost the same.

 

[kmurray719]

I get cold in the Halo. The TF is much warmer, and requires less weights.

In addition to eating more food, start lifting weights to rise your metabolism.

Also, try not to fire up your heated vest before you start to get cold.

I've had the exact opposite experience--much warmer in the Halo, and less weight. Part of that may be that since the Halo comes in women's sizes it fits me much better than the TF.

 

[buddhasummer]

I've had the exact opposite experience--much warmer in the Halo, and less weight. Part of that may be that since the Halo comes in women's sizes it fits me much better than the TF.

Being that most equipment reviews are subjective it's hard to make a definitive choice based on them. Some people say the WTF is the warmest, some say the BZ400 and some the Halo 3D.

I wish I could try before I buy as this is the last purchase I can afford, a baby on the way, I can't get it wrong.

Buy the the way you have the same first name initial and surname as my friends wife.

 

[Imla]

Have you seen Storkers thread about keeping warm in a drysuit??

It is a very good read, and will help. Personally, I have no trouble diving 34-40F water in my trilam suit for 50-70 mins. I wear 1-2 thin layers of Merino wool. One of them ALWAYS being a mesh layer. On top of that I wear a Bare fleece undersuit, and if really cold, the fleece vest. At around 40F, I am happy in 5mm 5 finger wetgloves. When around 34F I bring out the drygloves. No less than 7mm tight (but not too tight) hood, and make sure your wristseals arent constricting.

I also noticed that you travel in your undergarments. Keep normal clothes on, and don't overdress. Your body will adjust body temp, and will spend some time to get "the furnace" going when you hit the water.

 

[buddhasummer]

Have you seen Storkers thread about keeping warm in a drysuit??

It is a very good read, and will help. Personally, I have no trouble diving 34-40F water in my trilam suit for 50-70 mins. I wear 1-2 thin layers of Merino wool. One of them ALWAYS being a mesh layer. On top of that I wear a Bare fleece undersuit, and if really cold, the fleece vest. At around 40F, I am happy in 5mm 5 finger wetgloves. When around 34F I bring out the drygloves. No less than 7mm tight (but not too tight) hood, and make sure your wristseals arent constricting.

I also noticed that you travel in your undergarments. Keep normal clothes on, and don't overdress. Your body will adjust body temp, and will spend some time to get "the furnace" going when you hit the water.

Thanks for advice. Ill checkout Storkers thread.

 

[kmurray719]

Buy the the way you have the same first name initial and surname as my friends wife.

I'm not married so there's no question of whether I am her

 

[buddhasummer]

I'm not married so there's no question of whether I am her

And English doesn't appear to be your second language either so agree you cannot be her

---------- Post added February 26th, 2014 at 09:37 PM ----------

Ok, plan for the weekend:

Sleep more than 5 hours night before.
Eat breakfast.
Drink a hot chocolate.
Bought some new merino base layers, will wear two tops and bottoms.
Bought some wrist warmers.
Changed medium showas to large so can wear merino liners with smart wool gloves.
Zip suit up at last minute.
Won't turn heated vest on until later in the dive.
Will put more air in the suit.

If that doesn't work I'll buy either a MTM BZ400 or the $100 more expensive Whites Thermal Fusion.

Thanks all for the advice and links it's been very helpful.

 

[buddhasummer]

Suit leaked badly, turns out thermovalve is not compatible with Sitech valve hole, smaller diameter.

 

[Doppler]

Sorry you're having so many challenges.

I'll go back to my original recommendations for thermal protection

A word or two about underwear? | Doppler's Tech Diving Blog

Thermal Undersuit | Diving Undersuits | Point Below Base | Layering | Baselayer