newbies - what thickness kit should i get

[mccmarc]

hey up every one

am thinking of buying some kit such as boots gloces maybe a hood

was wondering what thickness do you all reckon i should get

there seams a lot of different thickness out there 5mm 3 mm

what do we all think would be best for both or either inland and/or the sea

and of what makes people have felt works for them

cheers mac

[Mark Griffith]

3mm gloves and hood for summer,and 5mm for winter.Gloves last about a season may be 2,but most makes seem ok.
hth
cheers
Mark

[Sparky750]

I bought myself some 3mm and 5mm gloves i've never needed any really up to now but i've worn the 3mm as they seem easier to do things with. I bought a 5mm hood just what i was advised by lads in my club they said 5mm gloves for when it gets really cold but 3mm will be fine for most of the year. I've not got enough experience yet though to give sound advice a whole 9 dives

[yazzyfooty]

I used 3mm gloves when i dived in December/January the rest of the time I haven't bothered with them. I have now got myself 3mm 3 fingered mitts I hope I get on better using them then gloves.
I have both 3mm and 5mm hoods..........when I wear a hood I prefer to use the 3mm.

[Ricky2703]

I use 5mm gloves and hood all year round.

[Buoyant Babe]

Can't grumble with my Scubapro 5mm superstretch gloves. Have used them all this year, summer and winter. Very flexible and not at all 'sausage fingered'. Use the same 5mm hood all year too, but may change it to a Scubapro 5mm flexi one soon.

[frosty the snowman]

I guess the answer is it depends how much you feel the cold. I've never noticed any difference between a 3 or 5mm hood in terms of warmth but I find the thinner one more comfortable. I do notice it a bit with gloves but still prefer the improved dexterity of 3mm ones.

[louigi]

I'll go along with frosty on that one the only time ive had cold hands was with a pair of 5mm gloves that wern't titainium lined up till then and indeed again now 3mm titiainium have served me well. Oh I dive all year round and thats the kit I use.

[Woz]

Decathlon 2mm summer gloves (the grey and black ones) are cheap and appear to be virtually indestructible. Their neo ones with the blue palms and fingers and black dots are pretty tough too.

Some well known makes that start with an H and end in ydrotech are bloody rubbish and last about 10 dives before the fingertips wear through. Even the kevlar versions. We were chatting about this in the pub last week.

For winter diving 3 finger ninja gloves are v.warm (so I'm told) or you can make yourself a pair of dry gloves (if you are a drysuit diver) for about a tenner. I use Poseidon 5mm gloves and they are pretty good- they have worn well but the seams are starting to go where you pull them on. However if you keep a bottle of diluted washing up liquid handy they go on easy peasy or dip them in the water first.

Middle of winter in a semidry in Stoney - cold hands and feet will be the last thing on your mind as the hypothermia sets in.

[Dick Barwell]

Hi
I use 3mm gloves (scubapro superstretch) and they are nice and feely feely whilst holding off the worst of the 'bite' Lasted about 25 dives in various conditions and the tips are just beginning to go but a bargain at £15.TRied 5mm gloves but feely factor goes right down with banana fingers Same with 3 finger gloves
IMHO 5mm hood keeps you warm as the highest rate of heat loss is through the head (especially with no hair) and you don't need the same flexibility as gloves.Got a cheap BEAVER one at the mo' which is wearing well.
They all wear out in the end anyway so its all down to your choice and preference
db