Why are drysuits so expensive?
There’s a reason they’re expensive. It’s because they’re designed so that if you have a suit failure, they will stay lightweight and warm when soaked. Unlike cheap suits, a $2000 suit is meant to last many years. Often 10+ years. On top of that, when you walk into a room with an expensive suit, everyone can feel you’re wearing an expensive garment. This also means you’ll get more compliments, command more respect, and make an impact.
Do you wear a swimsuit under a drysuit?
Yes, it’s common to wear a swimsuit or some form of base layer under a drysuit. The purpose of wearing a swimsuit or base layer is to provide a barrier between your skin and the drysuit, which can help with comfort, moisture management, and preventing the drysuit from sticking to your skin. A dry suit keeps you warm by keeping you dry. They keep out moisture, which helps them feel warmer than a wetsuit. Because of this protection from the water, you can actually wear normal clothes underneath them. This lets you layer up well in colder weather.Yes, it is. Many people choose to wear nothing under their wetsuit. Wetsuits are designed to fit snugly against your body, and the fewer layers underneath, the better the insulating effect. For some, this is the most comfortable option, especially during short sessions or in warm conditions.This is a practice known as going commando. Because of the wetsuit’s tight fit, wearing anything under it can feel unpleasant at times. Wearing nothing between your wetsuit and your skin reduces the quantity of water that can enter. You’ll be warmer if you decide to go nude beneath your wetsuit.Even though dry suits seal out water, it is possible to get wet from your perspiration or a leak; so as with other outdoor sports, the best types of clothing to wear under a dry suit are clothes made from materials that insulate even when wet. This includes polypropylene, pile fleece, wool, etc.This makes drysuits ideal for diving in cold water environments where a wetsuit would be insufficient to keep you comfortable. Drysuits are primarily used in water temperatures below 15°C (59°F), though they are also valuable in warmer waters where multiple dives over several days could cause cumulative cold exposure.
Why don’t surfers wear dry suits?
Surfers typically prefer wetsuits over drysuits because they offer more flexibility and mobility, allowing the surfer to move more freely on the board. Below 50°F (10°C) and Lower: Drysuits are highly recommended for prolonged exposure to water temperatures in this range. These are considered very cold conditions, and without proper insulation, the risk of hypothermia increases significantly.Nowadays, most drysuits will be fully breathable to allow the moisture out of the suit as you sweat on the inside. If this moisture wasn’t able to escape, it would leave you feeling damp and cold on the inside, which would defeat the point of the drysuit.A 5mm neoprene thickness is ideal for water temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, offering warmth and a fair amount of flexibility for activities like surfing or diving. In warmer waters above 15°C, it may feel too warm, and a thinner wetsuit (3mm or 2mm) is a better choice.Bottom line, it’s easy to get cold even when you wear a drysuit. But with a little attention to what you wear underneath, every dive can be like a tropical vacation. It’s your passion. Enjoy it to the fullest!
What temperature is a dry suit good for?
The first choice when deciding on which exposure protection best fits your needs is to determine what water temperatures you plan to dive in. If they will be below 16 degrees Centigrade (60°F) a drysuit will almost certainly be best choice. Above that temperature a wetsuit would normally provide the best solution. What material do you want? The two most common types of drysuit are membrane and neoprene suits. Membrane suits are easier for traveling and allow for more layering, while neoprene is warmer and more durable. Membrane suits: Membrane drysuits are made using laminated layers to keep you dry.Which Drysuit Seals Are For You? For most surface watersports we’d recommend having Neoprene Neck & Wrists and this is what we fit as standard to most of our Drysuits, then maybe change to latex if you are going to spend lots of time capsizing and or hitting the water at speed.Wetsuit: Best for activities like swimming, surfing, and triathlons in moderate to cold water temperatures. Wetsuits allow a thin layer of water to enter, which your body warms to provide insulation. Drysuit: Ideal for diving, kayaking, or paddleboarding in extremely cold waters.Drysuits can be considerably more expensive than wetsuits due to the precision and materials required to make them waterproof. The zippers used for drysuits were originally created by NASA to keep air inside an astronaut’s suit.
What is best to wear under a drysuit?
Even though dry suits seal out water, it is possible to get wet from your perspiration or a leak; so as with other outdoor sports, the best types of clothing to wear under a dry suit are clothes made from materials that insulate even when wet. This includes polypropylene, pile fleece, wool, etc. Keeps You Warm in Cold Water The most significant advantage of a dry suit is its ability to insulate you from cold water temperatures, crucial for preventing hypothermia during long dives in cold environments.What do I wear under a dry suit? Since dry suits don’t provide much inherent insulation (with the exception of some SCUBA diving suits), you’ll need to wear some clothes under them to stay warm.
How tight should a drysuit be?
A drysuit should fit snugly, but it shouldn’t be excessively tight. The goal is to have a comfortable and effective fit that minimizes excess air movement inside the suit while allowing you to move freely. The lifespan of a drysuit can vary widely depending on several factors, including the quality of the suit, the materials used, how well it’s maintained, how frequently it’s used, and the conditions in which it’s used. On average, a well-maintained drysuit can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years or more.Suit Jackets – The average life expectancy for a suit jacket comes in around two to three years of regular use. Denim – While worn denim may look great, stitching and hems falling out are inevitable over time. Two to three years of regular use will often wear denim out.Of course, a quality drysuit can also last you 10 years or even much longer—if you treat it right. Take care of your drysuit is when you’re using it.Drysuits are expensive and should last for many years – take the time to get the fit you want. Height and weight are typically the most important markers for size. While the suit may not offer a perfect fit out of the box, your height/weight will give you the best size to start with.