~7mm Wetsuit best options?

[Seawhores]

Me: hair under 6', 230lbs, 37" waist, 47" jacket size and 18" neck and 7.75" head. I'm built like a truck but no huge belly so I'm a bit on the fence between sizes for different manufacturers. I've been in a few XLs that seem ok but tight on neck and some 2XLs are a bit too long.

Use will be diving CA coast, lots of lobster and channel island dives. I run on the warmer side to begin with but want a suit that will keep me good to go for 2+ dives a day in low 50s temp wise.

Fit & quality are top 2 needs. So far looking at O'neil J-type and Xcel hydroflex. Both fit pretty well but not perfect though would probably get better with some time.

 

[VsubT]

I’m pretty close to your size, and Akona suits work well for me. I’ve got a 7mm and 3mm, both 3XL. Neck is good for 19”,no problem. They seem to have more stretch than other brands, but have held up well over 3-4 years of use.

With that said, I’d dive my drysuit with light or medium undergarments in the conditions you’re describing. Especially for 3 or more dives in a day.

Lance

 

[NorCalDM]

I currently dive the Xcel hydrofex and it is very comfortable mine is the hood attached shoulder zip. I also have two older O’Neal 7mm hood attached shoulder zip that are comfortable as well but they don’t make that suit anymore and I didn’t like the J-type so went with the Xcel and I’m very happy with it. Look on their website they have a very good sizing chart that worked well for me.

 

[Flycaster]

I just purchased a Henderson "Aqualock" 7mm. suit.
Love It.
Check out their sizing charts.

 

[Trailboss123]

Bare Reactive- Can't go wrong! Bare 7mm Reactive Men's Full Suit

 

[Scuba-74]

Previous model of Bare Velocity 7mm is on sale for $199.95 on LeisurePro.

I'm 6', 215 lb, 17.5" neck, size XL fits nicely, and it will definitely keep you warm in 50+ water. Bought it this fall and did a few dives both in a cold lake and North Atlantic. I'll admit that price was one of the major factors, but I'm happy with fit and comfort. Too early to comment on quality I guess, this is my first Bare.

 

[scbaNE2179]

Henderson Aqualock fan here. Have this suit in 3 and 7mm.

Pros:

• It's a US-based company so it fits standard US sizes accurately.
• 7mm kept me warm at 48-65f; 3mm at 77-83f

Cons: The only negative feedback is this suit is hella pricey and one of the more $$$ on the market

 

[Seawhores]

Henderson Aqualock fan here. Have this suit in 3 and 7mm.

Pros:

• It's a US-based company so it fits standard US sizes accurately.
• 7mm kept me warm at 48-65f; 3mm at 77-83f

Cons: The only negative feedback is this suit is hella pricey and one of the more $$$ on the market

I've heard these are not remotely "semi-dry" from a few people, specifically that the zipper seems to let in a LOT of water. I'm fine with being a tad wet but with the chest placement it seems problamatic...

 

[scbaNE2179]

I've heard these are not remotely "semi-dry" from a few people, specifically that the zipper seems to let in a LOT of water. I'm fine with being a tad wet but with the chest placement it seems problamatic...

The Aqualock series are not semi-dry suits. The 7mm version does have wrist and ankle seals with zippers but from what I know, they are not semi-dry suits. This is misleading because due to the look of the wrist and ankle seals, people ask me all the time if it's a semi-dry. Most certainly not-it just traps and keeps the warmed water that much more efficiently against your body.

Also, none of the Aqualock suits have chest zippers-they are all traditional vertical back-zip. I think you may be referring to the non-Aqualock Henderson Thermoprene Semi-Dry suit, which is a true semi-dry that has a chest zip. I once tried a chest-zip suit and immediately hated it-it literally feels like you're diving with a stiff coat hanger.

 

[Seawhores]

Yup my bad, Aqualocks are back zippers. I think the person I was talking to was under the impression it was supposed to be semi dry due to cuff seals which he said were pretty good actually.