My first drysuit

[Scotttyd]

I am looking at purchasing my first drysuit. The diving will be coastal NC diving and local quarry diving (temps in mid to low 50's). The suits I have been looking at are
DUI TLS
Pinnacle Evolution
Pinnacle Freedom

I am not looking to spend an arm and a leg, so I want to get good value for my money.
I want something tough to stand up to the possible abbrasion from the rusty wrecks.

Any opinions from those who have bought these suits?

[BouzoukiJoe]

Hi Scott,

It looks like you've been bitten pretty hard by the diving bug

I dive the TLS350 and find that it's a nice suit for NC diving. Same could probably be said for most trilams, including the Pinnacles. You'll be diving temps from upper 40s to mid 80s. Not sure where your wet-to-dry cutoff is.

The DUI CLX450 is probably the creme de la creme, but unless you plan heavy wreck penetration the TLS is more than adequate.

Other options available locally are Dive Rite, Diving Concepts, and Whites. I don't think there are any Bare dealers around, though you could always order from Scuba Toys.

[Scotttyd]

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

Hi Scott,

It looks like you've been bitten pretty hard by the diving bug

I dive the TLS350 and find that it's a nice suit for NC diving. Same could probably be said for most trilams, including the Pinnacles. You'll be diving temps from upper 40s to mid 80s. Not sure where your wet-to-dry cutoff is.

The DUI CLX450 is probably the creme de la creme, but unless you plan heavy wreck penetration the TLS is more than adequate.

Other options available locally are Dive Rite, Diving Concepts, and Whites. I don't think there are any Bare dealers around, though you could always order from Scuba Toys.

Joe, is the only difference between the TLS350 and TLSSE the front entry? Doc was giving me a quote on the three suits. There is a bare dealer but it is in mooresville, a little to far to dive!!!

Wet to dry cutoff? well I dove the quarry in 55 degree water wet, but that was a tad cold. I am comfortable with a wet suit is 75, and tolerate it colder, but I might be one to turn into a cold water wimp if I start diving dry and move the cutoff higher.

[snagel]

I have the Pinnicle Evo. Love it. I've heard it is comparable material wise to the DUI 450, but haven't dove it. I have dove in a DUI 350. Very comfortable, but I would say not as durable as the Pinnicle Evo. In short, the 350 in my opinion is a lot thinner material than the Evo. This is a give and take. I wanted something a little more durable than the 350.

Snagel

[Scotttyd]

Originally Posted by snagel

I have the Pinnicle Evo. Love it. I've heard it is comparable material wise to the DUI 450, but haven't dove it. I have dove in a DUI 350. Very comfortable, but I would say not as durable as the Pinnicle Evo. In short, the 350 in my opinion is a lot thinner material than the Evo. This is a give and take. I wanted something a little more durable than the 350.

Snagel

Can you get the Evo without the attached boots, and just he neoprene sock? I have heard complaints about the boots trapping water?

[imasinker]

Scottyd

Congrats on going dry! I went dry right after my open water and haven't looked back since. I looked around at different suits and gave up on Whites after hearing so many bad reports on the customer service from many white drysuit owners. I looked at the Pinnacle Evo 2 and was really impressed to the point I almost bought one. I then saw a few divers from my club using the new Bare ATR HD Trilam suit. Alot like the Evo 2 without the crotch strap. I found the evo was a bit more bulky since I am 6'2 180. The Bare ATR HD stock size was a perfect fit just like a custom fit suit would feel. Go with what your likes are, but i will say go a bit more in price and you'll be happier with knowing you have a suit that will grow with your diving. Bilam are thin and in my opinion not as forgiving on a new drysuit user as a sturdy trilam would be. The trilam does dry out alot faster than a neoprene suit and is quite more flexable / comfortable. You will need a bit more insulation, but It isin't as bad as some have said it would be. Yes a Trilam suit is more money but again you wont feel the need trade up to a better suit down the road. I dive The great lakes here in Canada the coldest being 42 at 90 feet and I was warm and dry the whole time. Trust me when I say you won't miss donning a soggy wetsuit on a second dive. I don't know anyone diving with a DUI suit so i cannot comment on them, but in my opinion go with the Evo 2 or a Bare Trilam if you can. Good luck, happy shopping and SAFE diving!

Rob

[ntburchf]

I have this one
FLX50/50

Can’t decide between the ruggedness of the
CF200 and the lightweight, flexible TLS350?
You don’t have to. With the hybrid FLX50/50,
you get the best of both worlds.

FLX50/50 Drysuits by DUI - Diving Unlimited International

It's a pretty tough suit. Takes a little longer to dry in the legs then the 100% triliams but I like the durabilty of that CF200 material on the lower portion

[fireflock]

Originally Posted by Scotttyd

Can you get the Evo without the attached boots, and just he neoprene sock? I have heard complaints about the boots trapping water?

Yes

more letters because the board says I need them.

[68raggtop]

I bought a demo Whites Catalyst this year. It was a few years old, but the shop put a new neck seal in for me. i have not used a DUI, but I took a class with 2 instructors that had what I think were TLS350 suits. I liked feel of the DUI, and the ease they had donning. Bottom line, I like mine for what I paid for it and will use it until I can afford the cost of a new DUI. At least I am diving dry while I am saving for it. I think the DUI is great if you can afford it, and are sure you WILL dive it for a long time. One of the reasons I went the demo route was I wanted to make sure I KEEP diving in the cold. It had been many years of warm water only diving for me, and I wasn't sure I would be motivated enough to dive this much in the cold water. But I have to say, I'm lovin' it!

[RoyN]

Originally Posted by Scotttyd

Can you get the Evo without the attached boots, and just he neoprene sock? I have heard complaints about the boots trapping water?

Yes, you can certainly get the neoprene socks. Just make sure the store you're buying from knows what you want and the option too.