Do Weezle suits get less efficient with age?

[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.

So wondering if anyone knows...

Do Weezle suits lose thermal efficiency with age or use? My Extreme is about 6 years old and done a lot of dives.
Previously i was fine even in 5-6c wearing it and just a thin top, usually nothing.

Recently though even in 11c today with a northern face base layer, thermal vest, fleece top AND the weezle i was frozen, ditto 3 pairs of socks under the weezle booties.

No suit leaks or anything as im not using my ND teabag and borrowing a suit.

Is it just me getting old or do suits get less efficient?

(i do dive fairly squeezed which probably doesn't help).

Failing that, can anyone suggest something to wear under the Weezle to try to stay warm, i assume Arctics are too bulky but anything similar ? Its a bit frustrating to be unable to do the dives i used to be happy with purely out of intense cold.

[chrisch]

Any lofting insulation will "wear out" over time. The ability to loft decreases as the material is compressed. A sleeping bag generally has a life of about five years. The Weezle would be about the same at a guess, but I don't use one so 'tis a guess....

Chrismas is nearly here Richard............

Chris

[Dick Barwell]

Noting the general wear and tear a weeezle gets its not surprising it gets less fluffy and efficient after 4-5 yrs use.You could put something underneath but it justs gets bulky and holds more air which can cause all manner of subsequent probs
Time to bag something for xmas methinks?...........
db

[String]

xmas has already been bought- seaskin drysuit

So that doesnt leave me with undersuit money.

I wouldn't know what to get anyway - ive only ever used a weezle but as im getting consistently freezing would be reluctant to spend on one again but having never tried any alternatives couldnt say if they were better or not.

Not once in my life have i ever dived and been what people describe as "toasty". Borderline comfortable a lot of the time yes, warm after 45-50 mins? no.

Edit:- I dont suppose a low heat tumble dryer will help fluff the suit out a bit again?

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by String

.....

Edit:- I dont suppose a low heat tumble dryer will help fluff the suit out a bit again?

Again a guess as I don't know what lofting material is used. Hollofill will re-loft after machine washing. However, it still looses the lofting ability after a while.

I use a thinsulate suit and add more layers as needed. I have found the sub-zero stuff to work well and it can be bought cheaply as seconds off off their website via ebay and PayPal (it looks a bit dodgy at first but its Kosher) (Thanks to Woz for the tip BTW)

To keep warm you need more layers to trap more air (how lofting works) and to stop the air circulating.

The missus (who feels the cold a lot more than me) has had a lot of success with cheap fleece as a base layer (6 euro from decathlon). Ladies tights help too although you look like a sort of transvestite Max Wall.

Failing all that you could just piss yourself

Chrsi

[aquaholic]

I think the thermal capacity of the weezle suits depends a bit on how you wash them. Do not tumble dry them.. you are likely to melt the pertex outer fabric!

Extract from their web page:

Washing Your Weezle

Keep your Weezle free from salt and talc by regular washing, following the guidelines sewn into the inner side seam.

Use a front loader washing machine or hand wash to extend the life of your Weezle. A non-biological soap such as Charlie's Soap accessories and no conditioner is ideal with a quick, cold wash & short spin. Hang the suit on a hanger to dry and it likes to be stored for long periods like this too.
We made the Weezle wicking so made it washable too; regular washing keeps the fibres free from salt & sweat & enables them to work at their peak of efficiency and you will find, people will still talk to you too!
Zip Care

Zips will work better and last longer with the help of a LITTLE silicon applied to the ‘slider’.


My suit is quite old now and still keep me warm, but I also run a fair bit of air in my suit.

I do use a top loader washer, and to stop the material being chewed by the machine I invert the suit and stick it into a pillow case.

Sometimes it helps washing the suit without any powder to allow any build up of residue to be removed from the fibres...

[String]

Just shoved the thing in the washing machine (it smelt bad anyway) with some of the pertex stuff from camping shop.

Hopefully it'll resurrect it at least partly.

[endoman]

Originally Posted by String

Just shoved the thing in the washing machine (it smelt bad anyway) with some of the pertex stuff from camping shop.

Hopefully it'll resurrect it at least partly.

As Seaskin will have your dimensions, then when the time comes I would look at one of their undersuits.

[Dick Barwell]

I have moved on to Artics stuff now but still wear a rather tatty polo neck jumper (wool) to keep the cold out........well it is a piece of history ? (ie it stinks and clears the after dive coco wagon quickly!)
db

[String]

Originally Posted by endoman

As Seaskin will have your dimensions, then when the time comes I would look at one of their undersuits.

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?