New Freediving Wetsuit

[clavinr]

I am shopping for a new wetsuit and would like some suggestions.

Mainly freedive in MA and RI Water temp 55-68

I would like to use it for SCUBA also.

Camo, attached hood.

Not too expensive.

Thank you!

[Spear One]

I got one of those Henderson 7/5 Hyper Stretch Titanium suits with a 7/5 hood and it is unbelievably comfortable and warm. I used a light 1.5 mil jumpsuit under it in 65 degree water and was quite toasty. I use it on scuba, don't know much about it for freediving use. Only dove it a few times but I would highly recommend it. Durability? Have not had it long enough to tell.

[richhermes]

The Hyperstretch pills real easy, so if you plan on diving in some hostile environment, you may want to keep that in mind.

The Aqua Suede that Henderson just came out with is only on the torso part of the suit, so your arms and legs still have the hyperstretch material

[clavinr]

I bought a lizzard Kelp pattern 5 mil wetsuit. I can't believ how comfortable it is. Nice suit. Thank you for the input.

[uluabusta]

Howzit,
I use an Omer, Picasso and Xcel. They are all comfortable but the Xcel has knee pads and a shooting pad but does not not have an attached hood although they sell matching camo ones. The Picasso has the best shooting pad but no knee pads and keeps tearing at the seams and I keep patching it with cut up pieces of my old wetsuits. The Omer is reinforced in the seat, knees (padded) and elbows (padded), has a chest shooting pad and has lasted over a year without having to do any repairs. So for the few extra dollars I would recommend an Omer suit. Aloha, dive safe.

[Prodigal Son]

I'm curious: Does anyone find that the camo pattern really make a difference in hunting success? I was planning to get a Picasso camo suit, but now I have second thoughts after reading uluabusta's post. I looked at the Omer suits, but I can only afford their New Team Competition suit, which is all black.

[RabiSpear]

Hey Man,
I dive with an Excel wetsuit from bluewaterhunter.com Does it work? Who knows? I have killed a ton of stuff in it, though. I think the theory is sound and if you are diving in a wetsuit, why not try to gain every advantage you can. The Excel is surf-style and one-piece. With respects to Ulua, the two-piece OMER is a pain in the ass. My cousin won one and never uses it. We both use the Excels. For $160, you can't go wrong.

[Prodigal Son]

RabiDeath, I've seen those camo Xcel suits, but I think they only come in 2-3 mm. That's way too thin for CA waters. Does your cousin think the Omer suit is a pain because you have to lubricate it to get it on without tearing the neoprene?

[Bob3]

Take a look at the Scuba Max "HGX7MF". It's a 7mm 1-piece hooded suit, super stretch with that metallic glide skin stuff inside the torso. Has the "semi-dry" gaskets in sleeves & legs, also a front zip shoulder to shoulder entry. Gussetted ankle zippers.
http://www.escubamax.com [crap, website is down]
I'm guessing about $180 at a discounter.
We use the .5mm & 3mm jumpsuits for commercial harvesting.
Decent suits for the dollar, some are 3 years old & still hanging in there.
No camo though.

[kamikaze1228]

Originally posted by clavinr
I bought a lizzard Kelp pattern 5 mil wetsuit. I can't believ how comfortable it is. Nice suit. Thank you for the input.


Did you get the one piece or the two piece? If the one piece how easy is it to get in and out of?

[IB Boyd]

Anybody tried out a lizzard one peice in five mil? Looks like everybody is getting the 2 peice, I think the one peice is a bit les inexpesive. I cant decide between that and a picasso. The water is gettin cold out here in SD, my surf suit isnt hacking it anymore. The lizzard 5 mil one peice looks durable. Is it warm?

[OceanEd]

Prodigal Son:

I have used a cammo thinskin in the southern Bahamas for 11 years while freediving and I do think it makes some difference. The most telling factor is still your skill and then your equipment, but why not get all the "edge" you can.

[bootspearo]

I wear a 3mil picasso camo suit and love it it is a closed cell wetsuit and very warm. I have been wearing it for over a year now and have had no problems witht the seams. Iam probably due for a new loading pad though. But I do wish they would put some knee pads and elbow pads on it, especially here in hawaii we have to do alot of laying on the bottom waiting for the fishies to come in. All in all I think it is a great suit, I bought mine for about 220 from Hanna Pa'a here on Oahu. They also have a online store. Laters Bootspearo

[speario]

i was going to get a wetsuit for freediving and i was advised o get the cressi sub , i think it is nice too .

[clavinr]

I got the two piece...need the extra thickness around the torso. No zipper, attached hood, beavertail. Not any harder to get into than my old parkways farmerjohn. I was surprised.