Cold water wetsuit - Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum

johnhermes · 10-07-2002, 08:20 PM

What are your opinions on a cold water wetsuit. Not one of those 3/2's, but more like a 7mil. I had one a few years ago, but sold it. It was so hard to swim in it I decided that I was not going to dive in cold water. But now, the newer ones seem awfully flexible and stretchy.

Grande · 10-08-2002, 09:46 AM

I still have my old non-stretchy fullsuit, but will be getting a new stretchy one soon. I do have a newer rip curl springsuit that is made out of the new stretchy stuff and i can tell you it makes a HUGE difference. it even seems like they are warmer than a comparable thickness non-stretchy one . i havent done any cold water diving yet, do you really need a 7mil? i have surfed in 55* water and it was cold but manageable in a 3/2 with booties. how cold is the water bottom temp. in winter? seems like it would be around 60* most of the year.

f94gator · 10-08-2002, 10:07 AM

Maybe we just can’t take cold water, but a few years ago we went diving in a 3 mil suit in 65 degree water. We blew through our tanks very quickly and were very uncomfortable most of the time. I can’t imagine diving in 55 degree water without one hell of a wetsuit. When you’re submerged the whole time, the water does wonders for sucking the body heat away from you. That might be why you were able to surf with that suit but probably couldn’t dive.

Everybody’s different, though. You might be able to handle it. All I know is I certainly couldn’t!

Grande · 10-08-2002, 10:27 AM

wow that sucks, i guess i need a new suit then because i get cold pretty easy and definitely plan on winter diving. what mil suit would you suggest? seems like a 5mil would do it. i can see how anything thicker would make it not worth it.

Steel Shootin' · 10-08-2002, 10:35 AM

From what I've heard, the Henderson Gold Core is hard to beat. My wife has the 3/2 Henderson, and it's very nice. The 7/5 I believe is rated for 45-60F, so should get you through the winter here in good shape. I am bouncing this around, as well.

f94gator · 10-08-2002, 11:58 AM

I rarely ever dive in cold water, so I don’t know. I can tell you that we went with a guy who had a 5 mil suit and he had no problems. 3 mil wouldn’t have been bad for 1 dive, but it gets to you after a while. After checking out several spots, up and down, up and down, midway through the 2nd tank it was really getting to us.

GROUPER55 · 10-08-2002, 02:00 PM

I bought a cheap ass 7 mil one piece semi-dry w/hood from the Tackleshack a couple of years ago, and it is kick ass. The damn thing only cost me 125 bucks on sale. Then again, its probably hard to sell fat **** suits, that or maybe they felt bad for me

rusty · 10-08-2002, 03:26 PM

A hood makes a big difference...probably as much as an extra 2mil on the rest of your suit. Definately worth a try.

rusty

dabulltrouble · 10-14-2002, 06:16 PM

thats a roger on that hood.i quit diving in the winter about 3 yrs ago.when i did dive in the winter i couldnt believe how much warmer i,de be with a hood on...dave

Steel Shootin' · 10-14-2002, 06:38 PM

I am reconsidering the gold core in favor of the hyperstretch. The GC is fine on my wife's 3mi, but I've heard it's pretty restrictive after some usage in the 7mil. I have yet to find one negative thing said about the hyperstretch, and is supposed to be much easier to don and doff.

201proguide · 10-14-2002, 08:34 PM

this topic came up on one of my trips to the local dive shop here in b-town. the manager there said that in the winter he uses and 5 mil wetsuit and a hood. thats all you need. he does tec and cave diving, and he's an instructor, so im pretty sure he knows what he is talking about. thats going to be one of my next purchases, after i buy my new spearfishing specialties speargun!

Steel Shootin' · 10-14-2002, 08:53 PM

201PG: That's a good point as well. I was just talking to a guy that does a lot of winter diving who has always used a Body Glove 5m w/ hood for Winter hunting. So going up to a 7 may not even be necessary.

Stone · 10-27-2002, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scott
I am reconsidering the gold core in favor of the hyperstretch. The GC is fine on my wife's 3mi, but I've heard it's pretty restrictive after some usage in the 7mil. I have yet to find one negative thing said about the hyperstretch, and is supposed to be much easier to don and doff.

Sorry to restart an old thread, but . . .

I have a 7/5 mil Goldcore and a 3 mil Hyperstretch. I think a good fitting Goldcore is marginally warmer than the Hyperstrech because the slick lining acts like the wrist and ankle seals on a drysuit (very little water transfer. . . my arms and legs are nearly dry when I peal the Goldcore off). Also, I think the Goldcore compresses less at depth. Between dives, the inside dries very quickly.

Hyperstreches are 10 times easier to put on, easier to move around in, and (fit wise) are more forgiving if you don't have an off-the-rack body. The outside of the Hyperstrech scuffs much easier than the Goldcore, but that's pretty much a cosmetic thing.

Depending on a person's priorities, either one could come out on top (but probably not by much).

Steel Shootin' · 10-27-2002, 10:24 AM

Stone, the only thing I can add is that I have talked to no fewer than 5 or 6 people who get frequent usage out of their goldcores, and they have said the same thing: The Gold Core seems like the greatest thing in the world the first twenty dives or so, but then it become a problem. It progressivly becomes harder and harder to put on. Have you had a lot of use out of yours, and have you noticed an increase in difficulty putting it on?

Stone · 10-27-2002, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scott
Have you had a lot of use out of yours, and have you noticed an increase in difficulty putting it on?

Scott,

I only have about 20 dives on the Goldcore.

This will be my first winter diving from my own boat, so I'll have the opportunity to put many more dives on the suit this season. I hope it doesn't get any harder to put on. I'm already spoiled with the 3 mil Hyperstretch.


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10-07-2002, 08:20 PM	#1
johnhermes Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa, Florida Age: 44 Posts: 369	Cold water wetsuit What are your opinions on a cold water wetsuit. Not one of those 3/2's, but more like a 7mil. I had one a few years ago, but sold it. It was so hard to swim in it I decided that I was not going to dive in cold water. But now, the newer ones seem awfully flexible and stretchy.

10-08-2002, 10:35 AM	#5
Steel Shootin' Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,836	From what I've heard, the Henderson Gold Core is hard to beat. My wife has the 3/2 Henderson, and it's very nice. The 7/5 I believe is rated for 45-60F, so should get you through the winter here in good shape. I am bouncing this around, as well. __________________ Notice: If you see me participate in the "longest thread ever" thread, please rush to my location and beat the living hell out of me.

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10-08-2002, 09:46 AM	#2
Grande Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: sarasota Age: 40 Posts: 227	I still have my old non-stretchy fullsuit, but will be getting a new stretchy one soon. I do have a newer rip curl springsuit that is made out of the new stretchy stuff and i can tell you it makes a HUGE difference. it even seems like they are warmer than a comparable thickness non-stretchy one . i havent done any cold water diving yet, do you really need a 7mil? i have surfed in 55* water and it was cold but manageable in a 3/2 with booties. how cold is the water bottom temp. in winter? seems like it would be around 60* most of the year.

10-08-2002, 10:07 AM	#3
f94gator Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa - one of the Brothers Hermes Age: 40 Posts: 5,337	Maybe we just can’t take cold water, but a few years ago we went diving in a 3 mil suit in 65 degree water. We blew through our tanks very quickly and were very uncomfortable most of the time. I can’t imagine diving in 55 degree water without one hell of a wetsuit. When you’re submerged the whole time, the water does wonders for sucking the body heat away from you. That might be why you were able to surf with that suit but probably couldn’t dive. Everybody’s different, though. You might be able to handle it. All I know is I certainly couldn’t!

10-08-2002, 10:27 AM	#4
Grande Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: sarasota Age: 40 Posts: 227	wow that sucks, i guess i need a new suit then because i get cold pretty easy and definitely plan on winter diving. what mil suit would you suggest? seems like a 5mil would do it. i can see how anything thicker would make it not worth it.

10-08-2002, 11:58 AM	#6
f94gator Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa - one of the Brothers Hermes Age: 40 Posts: 5,337	I rarely ever dive in cold water, so I don’t know. I can tell you that we went with a guy who had a 5 mil suit and he had no problems. 3 mil wouldn’t have been bad for 1 dive, but it gets to you after a while. After checking out several spots, up and down, up and down, midway through the 2nd tank it was really getting to us.

10-08-2002, 02:00 PM	#7
GROUPER55 AF Spearo Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Age: 37 Posts: 388	I bought a cheap ass 7 mil one piece semi-dry w/hood from the Tackleshack a couple of years ago, and it is kick ass. The damn thing only cost me 125 bucks on sale. Then again, its probably hard to sell fat **** suits, that or maybe they felt bad for me

10-08-2002, 03:26 PM	#8
rusty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: SF bay area Age: 51 Posts: 227	A hood makes a big difference...probably as much as an extra 2mil on the rest of your suit. Definately worth a try. rusty

10-14-2002, 06:16 PM	#9
dabulltrouble Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: homosassa and chuluota fl. Posts: 211	thats a roger on that hood.i quit diving in the winter about 3 yrs ago.when i did dive in the winter i couldnt believe how much warmer i,de be with a hood on...dave

10-14-2002, 06:38 PM	#10
Steel Shootin' Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,836	I am reconsidering the gold core in favor of the hyperstretch. The GC is fine on my wife's 3mi, but I've heard it's pretty restrictive after some usage in the 7mil. I have yet to find one negative thing said about the hyperstretch, and is supposed to be much easier to don and doff.

10-14-2002, 08:34 PM	#11
201proguide Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bradenton, Fl/Jax Beach, Fl Posts: 466	this topic came up on one of my trips to the local dive shop here in b-town. the manager there said that in the winter he uses and 5 mil wetsuit and a hood. thats all you need. he does tec and cave diving, and he's an instructor, so im pretty sure he knows what he is talking about. thats going to be one of my next purchases, after i buy my new spearfishing specialties speargun!

10-14-2002, 08:53 PM	#12
Steel Shootin' Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,836	201PG: That's a good point as well. I was just talking to a guy that does a lot of winter diving who has always used a Body Glove 5m w/ hood for Winter hunting. So going up to a 7 may not even be necessary.

10-27-2002, 10:24 AM	#14
Steel Shootin' Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,836	Stone, the only thing I can add is that I have talked to no fewer than 5 or 6 people who get frequent usage out of their goldcores, and they have said the same thing: The Gold Core seems like the greatest thing in the world the first twenty dives or so, but then it become a problem. It progressivly becomes harder and harder to put on. Have you had a lot of use out of yours, and have you noticed an increase in difficulty putting it on?