Do Weezle suits get less efficient with age?

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by String

I thought these were simply "thinner weezles" ? If so, getting cold in one now its probably not worth buying another.

Would a 400g thinsulate be an idea?

Personally i found the Thinulats from Santi and DUI to be excellent i couldn't get on with Weasels because I don't like air in my suit.

HOWEVER thinsulates take FOR EVER to dry out so be warned that they are rubbish for multi day trips. When I washed my 400g DUI it took four goes in an industrial dryer at the laundrette and it ended up hot but still damp

I now take my Xotherm Arctic with me on trips in case i flood the suit and cant re use the under suit. I am thinking of a Weasel as an alternative but seeing as i only kept my old Weasel Extreme for two months (Thats how rubbish I thought it was) I am not overly keen to get another for anything but summer diving.

ATB


Mark

[jackdiver]

Originally Posted by String

I thought these were simply "thinner weezles" ? If so, getting cold in one now its probably not worth buying another.

No, the Seaskin undersuits are thinsulate.

I have the 100g one to use under my Seaskin ultra, however I now use O3 PBB instead as its more versatile than a one piece suit, and less bulky too.

[sexydivebuddy]

Originally Posted by String

I've been getting cold a lot lately on dives, something i didn't used to do. Even in relatively warm water im getting chilled.
Is it just me getting old or do suits get less efficient?
Its a bit frustrating to be unable to do the dives i used to be happy with purely out of intense cold.

informative post!
too think i'd been blaming "thinning blood due to old age" for why i was getting colder at this time of the year, than previous years!
i honestly thought that weazle-type undersuits lasted forever (well, almost) if looked after (washed frequently)!
live and learn!

[PeeBee]

You could try this stuff NIKWAX :: Easier, Safer, Drier
I have used Nikwax stuff for years as it's brilliant for waterproofing gear but this wash is intended to revitalise the loft in things like sleeping bags and would probably work on your undersuit... might smell nicer too

[DecoWarrior]

i think the weasel suits tend to loose insulation all in one, seems lkike they are ok then one day you notice you are cold, of course they work on the princile of traping air so if you dont have as much air in your suit the colder you feel, i prefer the dui style ones here as i think you need less air to keep you warm,

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

HOWEVER thinsulates take FOR EVER to dry out so be warned that they are rubbish for multi day trips. When I washed my 400g DUI it took four goes in an industrial dryer at the laundrette and it ended up hot but still damp

[JUST CHECKING YOUR NOT BEING REALLY THICK MODE ON]
You did turn it inside out, didn't you? Someone in the club whined that his thinsulate took ages to dry out until I turned it inside out for him. Bone dry after a short time. Well, overnight anyway.

[String]

My Weezle was maintained i thought fairly well, washed every few months (!) with the proper stuff recommended for keeping the wicking and so on but it is now about 5-6 years old.

Was considering a thinsulate but the fact these take ages to try wouldn't be great for me - even if the suit doesn't leak things like rain and so on tend to make it damp plus the fact they don't like being washed are making me lean more towards trying an Extreme+. My only concern with that is possibly needing even more lead than now (12kg sea even now) and lack of flexibility regarding reaching valves etc.

Im led to believe the Extreme is a 200g equivalent and the Extreme+ a 400g equivalent so if thats the case possibly a brand new + will keep me warm for some time.

The plan is when i finally get my seaskin suit (hopefully this week as was quoted 5-6 weeks and its 5.5 weeks now) to ebay my old drysuit and use the proceeds to fund a new undersuit so i just need to decide what to actually go for.