New wetsuit or thermal rash vest?!?

[bex80]

Afternoon everyone

I’m off to Tobago in May (woo hoo!) but in a dilemma over my current wetsuit. I have a Scubapro Profile 5mm full suit which I brought & wore in Egypt last year. It’s really easy to get on & off and has great seals around my wrists and ankles but it’s rather big around the neck & shoulders (or I’m about 2 inches too short ) so ended up chilly by the end of the week.

Do you think it would be better to sell the old suit and get a new one? If so, whereabouts a good place to try on loads of different brands? Also, any ideas on how much should I sell the old suit for? OR would buying a thermal rash vest, or something similar, reduce the flushing and keep me warm?

I would prefer not to sell the suit as it’s almost new but the Tobago trip is 5 dives a day so I don’t want to miss dives and ruin the holiday because I’m too cold.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks all
Bex

[CatB]

Personally I bought myself a thermal rash vest when I was on holiday to keep me warm when wearing ill fitting hire suits and I love it now. I can't remember what brand mine is but it has a well fitting neck and fleecy lining and is nice and warm.

You could wearing it under your own suit on diving holidays and if you are going somewhere where you might not be able to take your own kit (a sneaky dive on a holiday with family of friends for example) it's small to pack and means you won't freeze in the hire suit.

[bex80]

Originally Posted by CatB

Personally I bought myself a thermal rash vest when I was on holiday to keep me warm when wearing ill fitting hire suits and I love it now. I can't remember what brand mine is but it has a well fitting neck and fleecy lining and is nice and warm.

You could wearing it under your own suit on diving holidays and if you are going somewhere where you might not be able to take your own kit (a sneaky dive on a holiday with family of friends for example) it's small to pack and means you won't freeze in the hire suit.

Thanks Cat, perhaps my first port of call should be to find a good fitting thermal rash vest, I'll have a search on the net now.


Bex

[Arfie]

I bought a sleeveless rash vest with built in hood and wear it under my wetsuit in the UK.

I am OK on dives but if I fidget I can get a flush of 6C water which buggers me up. With the rash vest on the built in hood gives me extra insulation on the head and there is hardly any flushing at all and when it happens, there is enough time for the bodyheat to warm the water up before it gets directly onto my bare skin.

So I'd go for the rash vest

Arfie

[bex80]

Originally Posted by Arfie

I bought a sleeveless rash vest with built in hood and wear it under my wetsuit in the UK.

I am OK on dives but if I fidget I can get a flush of 6C water which buggers me up. With the rash vest on the built in hood gives me extra insulation on the head and there is hardly any flushing at all and when it happens, there is enough time for the bodyheat to warm the water up before it gets directly onto my bare skin.

So I'd go for the rash vest

Arfie

thanks Arfie! Definitely sounds like the rash vest will solve my chilly flushes. A thin hood too might be in order too, along with some funny looks on the boat but hey - I'll be warm

Bex

[Treerat]

If you are near a Decathalon store they sell them at around £20. I've gone a slightly differnt route and bought a thin (1 or2mm) shorty from them that I wear under my wetsuit - toastie.

Andy