jhupka
Contributor
Ok so here is USIA's Techni-flex that I test-dove:
1. Material wise, it is made of similar kind of stretch-fabric used in Santi.
2. USIA has better valves than Santi IMHO. USIA comes with Sitech valves and Santi comes with Apeks valves. I was test diving my share of suits with a very thick 7 mm glove because we were assuming ice conditions. The USIA valve was easier to rotate with those gloves than Apeks. It also vented faster so in the valves department USIA would be my suit of choice. Santi were made in Europe so it made no economic sense to import American valves.
3. Santi has a plastic-like zipper and USIA has a steel zipper. I do not know which suit wins this one. Santi has succeeded in creating a zipper that needs less waxing and less post dive care but my concern would be what if someone drops a tank on it while you are on an Alaskan liveaboard miles away from civilization? By the end of the day it is plastic vs steel, so who would win this round? Your call.
4. There was one area where USIA would beat Santi for me and that is fitting. On my body, a stock sized USIA fits better than a stock Santi and this ends the game.
5. I am still not satisfied with USIA fitting and would prefer a custom made suit. My waist is 35 and my chest is 47 so there really is no "Stock-size" out there from any brand that is cut to accommodate a 12 inch difference in waist and chest. Stock sizes are either too tight on me in the chest area or too loose and baggy on the waist. Thus I would be looking for a manufacturer who would talk to me over the phone (human voice) understand my physical dimensions and realize that a "Stock size" is not what I am looking for and then cut the suit to those measurements. USIA offers this kind of personalized attention. Santi sells stock sizes.
In the end I would rather dive with a well fitted suit that is brandless than a branded suit that does not fit.
End note: I now dive with a custom made 3mm Neoprene suit which is far stretchier than both Santi and USIA (cuz its neoprene). It is far warmer than Santi and USIA (cuz its neoprene). It is built closer to my body (cuz it is neoprene) and it weight the same as my 3mm wetsuit (cuz it is neoprene)
1) I suppose you can say my aunt and uncle are similar too, both being human
2)Glad the research was properly done because you have your choice of si-tech or apeks valves and pretty much flip a coin
3) Santi dry suit new plastic zipper test - YouTube last time I saw somebody do that to a brass zipper…..well lets just say it didn't' seal again unlike the tizip
4) fitting is subjective thats why they do full MTM to fit the odd ball Americans that eat to much or lift to many weights.
5) being from the US did you try calling OceanEdge Outfitters, LLC (908) 359-5468 and speaking to them directly? Or look at the size chart? SANTI Size Chart To just say Santi sells stock size, well thats not true DRYSUITS right side is all MTM pricing (not much more than stock) and it is personally tailored to YOUR measurements not just piece meal like ok lets use a large bottom and xl top piece like some manufactures do.
Three issues with neoprene suits; HEAVY weight, long drying time, and its got built in insulation (can't take it to warm water) that also compresses the deeper you go.
