It may be starting to warm up in some of the country's southern states but it is still prime drysuit season for most of us. If you haven't taken the big leap into investing in a drysuit and are still trying to tough out the winter in your thick wetsuit, we have one question for you: WHY???
Yes, wetsuits are less expensive than drysuits but they also are harder to get on (especially those super thick ones) and need to be replaced much more frequently. In the eyes of experienced divers, wetsuits are a disposable commodity; you go through them like a pair of tennis shoes. Whereas, a drysuit is a long term investment, more like buying a car. So, if you're ready to take that leap of faith and treat your cold body to the warmth and comfort of a drysuit, we've put together some tips on making the buying process as easy as possible.
4 Tips to buying the perfect drysuit:
Tip #1: Choose the right material
Most drysuits are made out of two types of materials: either "crushed" or compressed neoprene or bi/tri-laminate (which basically means two or three layers of different, less cumbersome materials).
Laminated Material Drysuits - These suits, called bilaminate or trilaminate, allow the drysuit to be thinner and less cumbersome. Some divers like this, as the suit is lighter and easier to move around in; however, the suit provides no thermal protection what-so-ever, so you need to be sure to buy the correct undergaments for the temperature of your dive. These materials also do not soak up any water during the dive, therefore, they dry very quickly after diving.
Neoprene Drysuits - These suits still have somewhat of the feel of a wetsuit and may be a good transitional suit for someone going from wet to dry; however, these suit do fit tighter, therefore not offering as much room to fit thicker undergarments in. They do provide a bit of thermal protection though, as the neoprene material is much thicker than laminate materials. Because of this thickness, neoprene drysuits do take many more hours to dry out than laminate drysuits.
Tip #2: Choose the right seals
Your seals can be the most important part of your drysuit. Seals that are too tight will pinch your skin and can cause "drysuit hickies," and seals that are too loose will let water in, defeating the purpose of having a drysuit. Depending on the brand of your drysuit, you will be choosing between neoprene, latex, or silicone seals. They all have their pros and cons.
- Neoprene Seals - Neoprene is the most durable out of all of the seal options, not tearing easily; however, it will stretch out over time. Also, due to its thickness, some divers find it challenging to pull a neoprene seal over their head.
- Latex Seals - Latex seals offer you a customized fit as you will trim the seals when you are first fitted into the suit so the seals fit your neck and wrists perfectly. Latex is also much more flexible and stretchy and can be easier to get into, however, it is also much more fragile and can rip easily.
- Silicone Seals - Silicone is the newest seal material to hit the drysuit scene. It is the most flexible and well fitting of the three materials, plus a bit more resistant to tears than latex; however, silicone does wear out the quickest. A big bonus, though, is that it still offers divers with a latex allergy a better fitting option than neoprene seals.
Tip #3: Choose the right foot-option
The last big option to choose from when buying a drysuit is what type of footing do you want your suit to have? There are two to choose from: built-in boots or built-in socks.
- Boots - If you know you will always be diving in areas where you will need to walk over tough terrain with your drysuit on, buying a suit with boots already built into it makes sense for you. These do make the suit more cumbersome for packing and storing.
- Socks - Having "booties" or socks at the end of your drysuit may make it a bit more comfortable for wearing longer-term and also allows the suit to be packed away easier. There is an option to buy what are called "rock boots" to wear over your drysuit socks, giving you the chance to wear boots when needed.
Tip #4: Choose the right accessories
The last thing to consiter when choosing the perfect drysuit is what kind of accessories are you looking for? The best way to answer this is to look at the kind of diving you like to do and will be using it for. Do you need a lot of pockets or not? Are you ice diving and need dry gloves? Will you be doing long, extended dives and may want to install a pee-valve (yes, that IS a thing)? Do you like having color in your suit? Some brands make amazingly colored drysuits!
As long as you take a systematic approach to buying a drysuit and have these four tips answered in your mind before you go into a store to shop for one, the buying experience will not be overwhelming. The most important thing, however, is to go to a knowledgable dealer who has training in proper drysuit fitting. Our highly trained staff here at Underseas Scuba Center can help you find the perfect drysuit. Come on in and try one!
