Description
This article is from the Scuba Diving
FAQ, by njs@scifi.maid.com (Nick Simicich) with numerous
contributions by others.
10 What type of options are available with drysuits and what are thepros and cons of each?
There are a number of other items to consider when purchasing a
drysuit beyond the material of the suit itself.
Boots: Most drysuits today come with attached boots. This avoids the
problem of additional seals at the ankles which also make your feet
colder and another place to leak. Some suits have latex or other
sock-like boots. With these drysuits, you wear wetsuit boots over for
abrasion protection and additional thermal protection. Pros are you
can generally wear the same size fins, if your boots wear out, wetsuit
boots are much cheaper and easy to replace. Cons are they can be less
warm than attached boots worn with thermal undergarments.
Wrist and neck seals: Seals primarily are either latex or neoprene.
Latex is more flexible, is easy to don, but requires more care. Latex
seals are less durable and need to be replaced at least every 2 years.
However, latex seals are easy to repair and relatively easy to
replace. Neoprene seals are more rugged, but most people find them
harder to don and more uncomfortable to wear. Neoprene seals also tend
to leak more than latex seals, but they are warmer than latex seals.
Other items to consider: Suspenders will be very useful to keep the
crotch of the suit from sagging. They will be helpful while swimming
or walking out of the water and are especially useful when you remove
the top part of your dry suit. Since one of the most expensive parts
of a suit to repair can be the waterproof zipper, a protection zipper
is very useful. In the case of latex seals, a warm collar is a nice
option as is an attached hood.
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Tags
sport, scuba, diving, snorkeling, dive travel, underwater activities. safety, equipment, certification
