[Dominic]

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For some daft reason, I've volunteered to be a casualty in some rescue training. In Horsea. In January.

So, it'll be cold. 2-3 degrees, probably. And I won't even be swimming around a bit to help keep warm.

I suspect that that's beyond the capabilities of my Weezle - I'd need the Plus for those conditions. But I don't want to buy another undersuit for such limited use.

So, are there any people out there who've successfully added to the warmth of their weezle undersuit? I'm considering 4th Element and Chillcheater base layers, but they're not terribly cheap either. Will standard wicking base layers from outdoors shops work? What about a fleece worn over the Weezle? etc etc.

Any other ideas for keeping warm gratefully received - I already have 3-finger mitts, a thick hood, and two Thermos flasks that'll be making the journey with me

 

[Spike Jackson]

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I use the xerotherm base layer under my otter thinsulate undersuit for extra warmth and have been very impressed with it, both in terms of extra warmth and the wicking properties. Not cheap though! I don't see why a cheaper base layer will not do the same job.

 

[Mark Chase]

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I have one of the cheep wicking base layours which I got from Millits for about £35.00. Its OK but no where nere as good as the Fourth Element kit I got last year.

Its £90.00 but well worth it IMHO

Mark Chase

 

[KimH]

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<font color='#000080'>I got the Chillcheater Transpire fleece to use as a base layer with the Weezle and it is excellent. In fact it is so good that I rarely have to use the Weezle, the chillcheater is warm enough on its own and is much less constricting.  I only use both if it's freezing or playing casualty so a good investment IMHO.
M&S had something similar last year branded as "ski wear" if I remember correctly but I don't know how good it was and it wasn't that much cheaper.

 

[Andy Phillips]

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Hi,

I've got a Weezle Extreme.

I used a long sleeved tee shirt thing and a pair of seat pants, and a thin pair of socks under the thick ones and was as warm as toast (well nearly) in Stoney with the water at 2 degs. This was with an Oceanic Aerdura. The only time I got really cold was helping on a rescue course, and even then it was my feet that got cold.

A good trick is to use several gallons of Atrixo hand cream 'before' you put your golves on. It can make a huge difference to your poor little handy pandies

I see no need to spend heaps of cash.

Andrew

 

[Dominic]

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Cheers Kim - was hoping somebody would have tried the Transpire - it seems to be the same thing as the Xerotherm, but at half the price. Will probably grab one at the dive show.

Already have the Chillcheater wetsuit stuff

 

[jasondrake]

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I use one of those chemical hand warmer pouches, about £2. Stick it under my hood on the back of my neck. Wonderful.

 

[MATTBIN]

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Dom
might be worth asking Daz as I believe he does the same as you are planning i.e. being the victim and I believe he has a weezle u/s.

Matt

 

[Dominic]

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Cheers Matt - I'll see what he's got to say..

 

[KimH]

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<font color='#000080'>Dom,

I used to have the chillcheater wet suit stuff as well - short john and T shirt - another good buy and gives loads of options - whoever the b'tard is who nicked them off the boat in Egypt I hope they keep them equally warm - NOT.

A good tip in case you don't already know is the petrol station plastic gloves as a base layer under wet gloves.  They are brilliant and free.

 

[Dominic]

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I suspect I'll be wearing the CC hood when I'm acting the casualty... My only hope is that I don't become so hypothermic I becoma an ACTUAL casualty

Those plastic gloves are superb - I even went so far as to buy a box of them to make sure I never, ever run out.

Here's a giggle for you tho - I have a friend who had terrible trouble getting her gloves on, she was famed for it. I gave her a few of the plastic ones and she experienced the delights of easy glove-donning. An instant convert, she decided to buy herself some ASAP.
I later hear that the only disposable gloves she could find in the shops were latex - so she gave them a try.
They didn't work.
Laughed until my sides ached, I did... And I'd always believed her hair was only DYED blonde

 

[daz]

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OK I'll chip in....

I use either a weezle compact (Yep really) or a 200g fleece undersuit (Basically salopettes and long sleeve top over the top).

I always wear a base layer underneath, which is a Xerotherm (BTW:- The new Xerotherm arctic should be released just in time for the dive show !!).

I actually seem warmer with the fleece undersuit and xerotherm than the weezle but then the weezle always gets compressed on my back by the weight of the twins so that might be why.

Finally I find the best way to stay warm is to just keep swimming in circles or doing helicopter turns until they find me and then act unconscious.

HTH
Daz

BTW :- You might remember I was playing around with a heated undersuit, well it worked really well but it is now mid project as I have stripped the heat pads out of the suit (Sold the suit for the same price I paid for it!).  The heat pads will be sewn onto a T shirt when I get chance.  Should be ideal for playing victim.