Thermal fusion undergarment - worth it?

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

MoistNeoprene

Registered
Messages
27
Reaction score
16
Location
Boston
# of dives
25 - 49
Just got a fusion tech drysuit and am looking at undergarments for cold water diving (eg, Boston winter)

Is the whites/aqualung thermal fusion undergarment all it claims to be?
 
Just got a fusion tech drysuit and am looking at undergarments for cold water diving (eg, Boston winter)

Is the whites/aqualung thermal fusion undergarment all it claims to be?

Absolutely. I wear mine over Smart Wool base layer. I’ve gone down to 41F on the Great Lakes and I’ve been fine. Dives at that temp were short due to depth (100-128ft), but I was good.

I got mine used for $300 from another SB’er. I’ve see other used ones here. I’d highly suggest that route to save a bit of $$, as they’re $450 new the last time I looked.
 
Gonna agree with everyone else and say yes. Also agree with @Marie13 and suggest getting a nice moisture wicking base layer to go underneath for perspiration purposes. And also, Shhh... please don't tell anyone, but I have been resistant from forever to Pee Valves and when worse has come to worst, I have actually peed in my drysuit on occasion and I cannot believe that I am here and living to tell about it. My thermal fusion (6 years old, by the way) works like a moisture wicking diaper and washes and dries like a charm! and smells Bounty fresh :wink:
Ok-- too much information-- let's just stick with yes and you can't go wrong. If I had to switch to something else, it would be the 4th Element Arctic and only because I might enjoy a 2 piece undergarment instead of a 1 piece.
 
I am going to dissent. I have one and find that it is over kill unless you really,really need the warmth. It is really expensive for what it is. It is a comfortable under-suit but there are less expensive ways to get similar comfort/warmth in an under-suit. My understanding as well is the more one washes and drys the suit the more matted and compressed the polar fleece material becomes and the less thermal capacity the suit offers. My suggestion is to buy something less expensive. This past winter I often used as a base layer some under armor polypro type bottoms and top as a wicking base layer, for my thermal layer I wore fleece long john pants I picket up from walmarts hunting section years ago, and a polar fleece pullover on top. For really cold days I switch my top base layer to an under armor waffle type base layer. I only use my fusion thermal on those days that both air and water temp are ridiculously cold.

-Z
 
Warmest I've tried. I wore mine in Silfra and was toasty warm. It's downright hot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zef
Yes, when you need the warmth it delivers. Had mine in 36 degree water and was not cold, even keeping it on for the boat ride back in (this was for an Oyster dive, so no real chance to change on the boat). Bonus is that unlike Thinsulate undies, it's machine washable. Downside is that the dual-layer construction will cause you to find socks and other small things if you wash/dry it with them. Second the above mentions about a base layer - I use UnderArmour Cold Gear.
 
Is there any reason I couldn't wear this under suit with a different brand rear entry dry suit? I have an O'three Ri 2-100 suit, currently wearing xerotherm base layer plus some other merino wool stuff plus BZ200 but am still chilly, I'm a skeleton and feel the cold. Thank you,
 
The curved front zip is melting my brain. Wondering if it's made specifically for the Whites/Aqualung fusion suits.
 
The curved front zip is melting my brain. Wondering if it's made specifically for the Whites/Aqualung fusion suits.

It was designed for use with the the fusion suits but it does not have to be. The curved zipper will not interfere with anything and I find it makes it easy to don/doff. There is a panel on the left shoulder and chest that align with the inflator and dump valves of the fussion and were meant to facilitate profusion of air into and out of the undergarment..it makes for good ad copy but not sure it really does anything morenthan any other undergarment.

If you are searching for warmth then the thermal fusion is a good choice.

-Z
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

Back
Top Bottom