Which Pee Valve!!

[ashgreendiver]

Not sure if the right forum, but .... Dry suit not being used for a few weeks, so time to fit a pee valve ready for the new season. Question is which one. Suit is an O3 MSF (the 'uncompressed type') - O3 valve is unbalanced, balanced seems like a better idea. Nacker's is a good price, but what about Agir Brokk or even (wash my mouth out) Halcyon.

Also - are these as easy to fit yourself as they seem (to the dry suit - not just before it's being used).

Cheers

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by ashgreendiver

Not sure if the right forum, but .... Dry suit not being used for a few weeks, so time to fit a pee valve ready for the new season. Question is which one. Suit is an O3 MSF (the 'uncompressed type') - O3 valve is unbalanced, balanced seems like a better idea. Nacker's is a good price, but what about Agir Brokk or even (wash my mouth out) Halcyon.

Also - are these as easy to fit yourself as they seem (to the dry suit - not just before it's being used).

Cheers

There's a huge big thread on this topic somewhere, but I've found that balanced is worth every penny. However, the choice of catheter is the real issue; Rochester Wide Bands, and trim the end by 8-10mm. I've never had a problem since I happened upon the magic formula.

[Bardo]

I've owned suits fitted with both the O'three unbalanced and a Halcyon balanced p-valves and I have to say that the Halcyon one was definately easier to pee through. As MarkP said above, Rochester Wide Band catheters are definately the ones to go for too - unlike certain other brands, they do actually stay on when things get cold and damp...

[NotDeadYet]

I've got one of the Nacker's pee valves on my old suit and an O'Three on my new one, much prefer the O'Three valve. The bolt on the O'Three is much easier to open, it's a big fat knob (no pun intended). The Nacker's one is just a small(ish) brass hex bolt which has been drilled out and is a bit hard to get a grip on if your hands are cold. Also it's brass so it doesn't take much piss to turn it green. Bit of vinegar removes it but it's a pretty obvious flaw in the material choice.

Both are unbalanced, never had any problem with either.

Cheers,

Stuart

[The Duck]

I use the O'Three one - always worked well.

[Darren A]

Originally Posted by MarkP

There's a huge big thread on this topic somewhere.

Everything you always wanted to know about Pee-valves but were too afraid to ask...

If nothing else, there are some posts in there that'll make you giggle

[StevenSeagull]

I got the balanced one from nackers and it works like a dream. Really easy to self fit, just takes a moment to sumon courage to put hole punch to drysuit (i'm told a soldering iron works aswell)

I got a lifetimes supply of free catheters from charter-healthcare.co.uk
Just put in a request on t' net and they keep sending boxes of samples. Seem durable enough but usually add abit of plaster securing tape stuff (not to aggresive stick factor!) for extra under water swamping confidence

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

I've got one of the Nacker's pee valves on my old suit and an O'Three on my new one, much prefer the O'Three valve. The bolt on the O'Three is much easier to open, it's a big fat knob (no pun intended). The Nacker's one is just a small(ish) brass hex bolt which has been drilled out and is a bit hard to get a grip on if your hands are cold. Also it's brass so it doesn't take much piss to turn it green. Bit of vinegar removes it but it's a pretty obvious flaw in the material choice.

Both are unbalanced, never had any problem with either.

You could try one of the new 'chunky' balanced Halcyon pee-valves - that's what I'm going to get fitted to my new suit...

[IanDennis]

Has anybody tried the Agir valve- looks like a cheaper alternative to the Halcyon ?

Dry Suit Acc

[Twinsetmad]

Originally Posted by Bardo

You could try one of the new 'chunky' balanced Halcyon pee-valves - that's what I'm going to get fitted to my new suit...

I have one of these and am really pleased with it...it was easy to fit and so far has been superb....and it doesn't leak. I had an Othree unbalanced on my old suit, but the Halcyon one is easier to use and a bit safer IMO.....