Drysuit for Monterey Bay

[reefugee]

Hello,

My fiancee and I are recently certified divers. So far, we have only dove at Breakwater in a farmer john 7mm wetsuit. For the most part, the two piece 7mm wetsuit hasn't been bad at all. However, we are now looking at drysuits. I am undecided between a Bare XCD2 Tech, Bare Trilam HD Tech, and the DUI CLX450. I am leaning towards the Bare Trilam HD Tech because it's $500 less expensive than the DUI CLX450. I was wondering what type of undergarment most people ware with their drysuit. For $1500, I can get the Bare Trilam HD, cuff ring, T100 undergarment, gloves and hood.

Any other recommendation for drysuit? I notice that most people diving at breakwater are wearing DUI drysuits over other drysuits.

Thanks
Minh

 

[Ben_ca]

With drysuits you get what you pay for...

My first drysuit was a BARE Nex Gen and compared to my TLS 350 (Current DS) it's like going from jeans to pajamas... Anyway take your time and shop around... take a course then rent a couple to get a feel for what you like... see ya around the Breakwater

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

It seems like a lot of folks are wearing the Diving Concepts stretch underwear.

And the hot tip in hoods is the Otter Bay hood.

 

[ae3753]

I have a T100 undergarment... in my closet. It was not enough warmth for me under my CLX450.

Otter Bay hood is great.

 

[reefugee]

Don - What type of undergarment are you using? I wonder if the T200 is warm enough.

Ben - thanks for the response. I noticed that your comparing the Nex Gen (back entry) to a TLS350 (front entry). I don't think that's a fair comparison. How would a Bare front entry (Trilam HD) compare to a DUI front entry (TLX450)? I think the thing I am most concerned about is the DUI Zip Seal vs the Bare Cuff Ring system. I did notice that most people who dive DS at Breakwater are in DUI drysuits.

The package that I am looking at is a complete package. It comes with undergarment , gloves, hood, and boots.

 

[Ben_ca]

Mihn,
It wasn't really the entry that was the issue with the Nexgen vs TLS it was more the cut. It seems like the TLS was less restricting.

 

[ae3753]

I have a Mobby's Comfort Shell undergarment. It works okay, though I think that I just get cold easily. Was able to do 103 minute dive last weekend, and the most I could do in the T100 was 45 minutes.

A lot of people do dive DUI suits, and I have a love/hate relationship with mine. I like that the CLX is rugged and it drys quickly, but for about 6 months, I was constantly patching holes in it. My wife's CLX, while custom fit, is really baggy in the legs and is impossible to self doff.

I've been jealously eyeing a friend's Diving Concept 2mm compressed neoprene suit. But since I never dove it, I can't really comment besides I really like the fit of the suit.

 

[rhlee]

As another datapoint...

I dive a TLS350 in monterey with 300-weight DUI polartec undergarments. I wear a fleece vest over it too, and it is fine for me in Monterey. I ditch the vest in "warmer water" such as san diego/channel islands in the summer. If I was doing longer deco/techie dives, I might want something warmer (not sure), but this works for me for 60-minute dives in Monterey/Carmel.

I would also probably get a thicker hood before upgrading my undies. I'm currently using a 3-mil hood and those otter-bay hoods look awfully toasty.

I would recommend against the TLS back-entry model. I have no experience with other manufacturers, but I used a TLSse before (same stock size as my current suit) and found that it fit much worse than mine does. I think it is just cut differently and in odder proportions. Not worth the cost savings IMHO.

 

[reefugee]

I never thought about asking about the hood thickness.

Ben - the Trilam HD Tech has Bares ATR (Automatic Torso Recoil). IT gives the suit a little flexibility between the top and the bottom. Do you know how the seals compare. I noticed that DUI uses the cone seal - whereas the Bare uses the bottle type.

I am planning on heading out to Monterey on September 9th & 10th. Hopefully I will see someone wearing a Bare drysuit and be able to ask more questions.

Thanks again for the responses so far.

Minh

 

[Ben_ca]

See ya around the Breakwater