Is there such a thing...?

[BettyBloop]

...As an off the peg wetsuit for, ahem, the more rounded person?

Let me explain. My better half and I are going on holiday in Feb - although he doesn't know it yet - a 50th birthday surprise if I can keep it a secret!

We are going to use the dive shop's gear but as my partner has recently given up smoking, he is now twice the man he was a year ago and is very touchy on the subject. To save him from the 'fitting' embarrassment at the shop I'd love to get him a cheap wetsuit that will do for the holiday.

I've trawled lots and lots of sites but the size charts are not encouraging. He is 5'8" tall and lets just say he has more waist than chest. I would like to get him a full length 3mm suit for diving in Mexico. I don't want to spend too much as he's due to lose some of the blubber (or so he keeps promising) and a fitting session is not an option as the whole package is a surprise which will be blown if I take him shopping for a 3mm!! Gul sizing (Large Short) is probably the closest I've seen to encapsulate his guts but I'm pretty sure the chest part would be very lose as his chest is working its way south. (I'm not painting a very nice picture here am I? )

Arrrrgh, what can I do? The made to measures are too expensive. Any suggestions gratefully received, except the 'trade him in for a slimmer model' variety

xx

[Pigpen]

As you'd imagine with any type of clothing, there is no substitute for trying things on. There can be massive differences in each manufacturers sizes.

One option is the newer 'super elastic' neoprene. Trouble is they tend to be pretty expensive. May be worth having a look here. They do a 3mm for £50 and also do a medium/wide fitting, which may work.

[principia]

smear him in goose fat and wrap him in clingfilm.

J.

[PeeBee]

I was having this conversation yesterday with the guy who owns my local LDS and the Ralphtech rep who was also in the shop. Apparently the Ralphtech suits are very stretchy and will accomodate certain shapes very well Try giving Gary at slough scuba a call on 01628 666833, he has the range in stock and won't sell you something that he can't recommend. His prices are below RRP and he's not too far from you.

[ratcliffe]

There are a load of off the peg wetsuits, just as there are drysuits. As a wetsuit works by letting some water in, the fit is not quite as important as perhaps with a drysuit, but does need to be a decent fit. As mentioned by others, the best way is to try them on. Maybe when you hand over your present voucher to him, would be to say "I've also arranged to go for a wetsuit fitting" then he can try them on in the comfort of a shop's changing room, and not on site whilst on holiday ?

[Helen F H]

I would go for Beaver - they had an off the peg size to fit me, and i am a very funny size/shape indeed (possibly the female equivalent to your hubby).

[BettyBloop]

Thanks for your advice, there's a few good uns there!

Pigpen, I hadn't seen the Lomo suits before so am grateful for that link as the suggested size could certainly be a contender, more so than the Gul I previously thought about.

Peebee, I will research the brand and give Gary a call for some advice!! Thanks.

Ratcliffe, your idea in an ideal world would be the best solution, but time between his actual birthday and check-in at the airport could be measured in hours rather than days so I'm just going to have to take a chance on luck. If it all goes the way of the pear then I guess he'll just have to squeeze into the shop's gear (they probably would have something as Cancun caters well for the American market ) Oops, did I say that out loud?

[celeronmanuk]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

I was having this conversation yesterday with the guy who owns my local LDS and the Ralphtech rep who was also in the shop. Apparently the Ralphtech suits are very stretchy and will accomodate certain shapes very well Try giving Gary at slough scuba a call on 01628 666833, he has the range in stock and won't sell you something that he can't recommend. His prices are below RRP and he's not too far from you.

This is true, they are very stretchy and easy to get on and off, in fact probably the easiest I've come across. However, they will fall apart! I can almost gaurantee that after a weeks diving some of the stitching will be coming undone and it won't look at all "new". If you buy with this in mind and get a good price and are happy to patch it up occasionally then I'd consider them. Maybe because they are so stretchy it stresses the stitching?

If ralftech could sort the stitching out, they may be onto something.... maybe...

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by celeronmanuk

This is true, they are very stretchy and easy to get on and off, in fact probably the easiest I've come across. However, they will fall apart! I can almost gaurantee that after a weeks diving some of the stitching will be coming undone and it won't look at all "new". If you buy with this in mind and get a good price and are happy to patch it up occasionally then I'd consider them. Maybe because they are so stretchy it stresses the stitching?

If ralftech could sort the stitching out, they may be onto something.... maybe...

I'll second this - I loved my Ralf Tech suit but nearly all the stitching unravelled eventually, and all the zip tabs broke off, making it very difficult to actually do the suit up!

I haven't replaced it with another Ralph Tech, I went for an O'Neill 7mm and am very pleased with it.

Betty - you might want to check out O'Neill for your chap. The sizings were a bit 'unusual' in terms of height/chest size/waist size ratios, so there might be one that's just right for him

[ShinyD]

Originally Posted by BettyBloop

Thanks for your advice, there's a few good uns there!

Pigpen, I hadn't seen the Lomo suits before so am grateful for that link as the suggested size could certainly be a contender, more so than the Gul I previously thought about.

As Lomo manufacture their own it would be worth arming yourself with your husbands measurements and giving them a ring. Speak directly to the manufacturer rather than a reseller. Gul should be the same