Drysuit fit...

[Lou]

tried out the new drysuit on saturday.  On the plus side it was dry - totally.  Well, at 5m anyway!

My question relates to fit.  When I tried it on I, complete with the same undersuit, I did all the "moves" suggested by Otter to assess fit for a membrane suit.  These were
a) can you squat down - yes
b) do all the wrinkles disappear on your leg if you go down on one knee - yes
c) does it just start to tug when you stretch up all the way with hands above head - yes
d) does the back just start to tug when you touch your toes - well, I can almost touch my toes..

Now, despite all this seeming fine, and the suit looking fine according to the saleman (ahem...) I thought it felt a bit restrictive.  I noticed putting my fins on and off was alot harder than when in my semi dry.  Is this to be expected?  The undersuit itself restrict one a bit, so i suppose that adding a membrane on top is only going to worsen things.  I just didn't really think about what to expect beyond the fit excercise....

Any insights gratefully recieved as always!

lou

[Tim Ingmire]

Lou, thank God.  I thought it was only me.

I tell ya, getting those fins on in a dry suit is a bl00dy chore.  In a wet suit I'm suppleness personified (kinda) but in my nice snug com. neoprene dry suit everything is all huff and puff.

Good to see that yours is dry.  As was mentioned to me yesterday " The best drysuit is a dry Drysuit!".

[Frog]

It's not just me then!  Putting fins on is a pain in the proverbials.  I find doing it in the water (shore dives only for this bit) about knee deep is much easier.  Climbing steep stairs is a problem too - I thought I was just getting fatter!  They who post funnies will regret it!!!  :whack:

[Gavin Yates]

Lou,

I've gotta say that the only problem with drysuits is they do give you the appearance of Frankenstein's Monster cos' of their constrive qualities.

My tip for getting fins on, do what Frog said on shore dives. The water supports your weight so finning is easier.

On boat cross your leg over the other one. Limits distance from hand to fin.

Finally, that's what you have a buddy for.

[Dr Stevil]

Crossing one leg over the other works for standing in shallow water too, I always get a bit uptight when trainees  do that "leg out to the side Charleston style thing".
Yes Drysuits _are_ a tad restrictive, but if this membrane is your first drysuit, you wanna try an 8mm neoprene drysuit - ye godz...!.
Stick with it, you'll adapt to the feeling (eventually ;)   ).

PS I usually tell people there's no such thing as a totally dry-suit, comfortable and moist is as much as I hope for, especially on a sunny day doing that walk around Abbs harbour, one tends to perspire a little

(Edited by Steve W at 2:58 pm on Oct. 21, 2002)

[Lou]

Aaah, seem like they are all coming out the closet now!  Glad it ain't just me.  

Frog....I appreciate the climbing steep steps thing.  It is definitely something in the lack of leg bending ability that is a common factor.

This was my first drysuit outing and there was I, at the bottom of the ladder at Horsea, sweating and swearing, trying to get my fins off after 1/2 hr of trying to sink with what I thought was plenty of weight, only to realise upon exiting that the bl**dy tanks we had hired were aluminium!!

So....170b x 10l to eventually get a stressful 10 min, 5m dive!  Why do we do it again???

Cheers all

Lou

[Fi]

Hi Lou,

I have the Otter Hammerhead.  Great suit (even a little bit of "stretch" in it).  I bought it off the peg so to speak, rather than waiting for a MTM one (a bit impatient).  Anyway, the suit is fine - only real problem is the boots which are a size too big and have been known to "pop off" mid-dive.  PaulC will know how this feels!  I am going to return them and they will put right size on at last - woo hoo!

Anyway, back to my point.... I find the Otter undersuit really restrictive.  Mine is black with red fleecy lining.  I am told that their new one - a blue one?? it much better.  With mine, it is too tall for me so I get loads of pretty stiff fabric bunched up at the bottom of my legs and at my wrists.  This makes the suit seem much tighter and therefore reduce my mobility.

As Gav says re: fins... that's what you have a buddy for - or at least that what I have a buddy for!!! eh no Gav? :Kissy:

I have tried on Gav's Weezle Extreme and it is REALLY cozy!  (Have you found it yet Gav??? - I rather like it!).  It's also nice and squishy so movement and flexibility is not problem.

However, I splashed my cash at the Dive Show and bought one of their Fourth Elements X-o-therms (?sp?).  I'm told it should keep me warm - I've yet to try it, so don't really know yet.  I tried it on and it was very comfortable (just like fleece leggings and top). The guy promised me that I could wear it for a dive, and if I wasn't warm enough I could send it back and get my money back.  So I assume he's fairly confident.  That said, I may be a hardy Scot, but when it comes to feeling the cold I'm a bit of a Soft Southern B****rd!! Hee hee hee. :wink:

Anyway, enjoy your new suit.

Fi

[Driftwood]

Sounds like a good excuse to hook up and go playing eh Fi, Gav??

[MATTBIN]

Oh peeps, I had just about come to the conclusion the boy and I needed ry bags, evenmanaged to convince the financial controller AND now this comes to light. Bugger it mid dive we are in the car wack the A/c on and drink coffee. Save myself £700 into the bargain, watch this space as all the above changes after Weds. (Stoney semi wets)
Matt
PS Lou you still up for it.

(Edited by MATTBIN at 5:33 pm on Oct. 21, 2002)

[MATTBIN]

(Edited by MATTBIN at 5:33 pm on Oct. 21, 2002)