~7mm Wetsuit best options?

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Seawhores

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Location
Los Angeles
# of dives
25 - 49
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
I just purchased a Henderson "Aqualock" 7mm. suit.
Love It.
Check out their sizing charts.
 
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.
 
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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
 
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...
 
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.
 
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.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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