Neck and Wrist seals

[RonC]

Most manufacturers offer a choice of Latex or Neoprene. Why would you choose one or the other ? Thanks for your opinions, Ron

[cummings66]

Neoprene is warmer on the neck, latex is colder. Latex IMO makes a better seal though. neoprene might be tougher as well.

I use Latex on my drysuits and like it.

[CompuDude]

Seal is the most important thing, and latex seals better than neoprene, generally speaking. Neoprene is tougher and easier to repair, and some feel it is more comfortable. But seals with neoprene are generally a good bit finickier than latex.

For those who get cold REALLY easily, or dive exceptionally cold waters, I can see the attraction of neoprene (also for anyone with latex allergies), but latex seals tend to outsell neoprene by a large margin.

[skdvr]

As the others have said as a general rule the latex will seal better. That said though usually when a latex seal goes bad it is the end of your diving for at least that day. Unless you have zip seals and happen to have an extra seal on hand. Neoprene seals rarely go completely bad. They may start to slowly leak over time but very rarely completely blow out. I too have hear people say that the neoprene seals are more comfortable. I personally did not think so. I have only dove neoprene seals a few times and really did not care for them. I felt like they had to be much tighter than latex seals to get a good leak free seal. They certainly are warmer. If I was doing a LOT of ice diving or in water real close to ice temps then I may want a neoprene neck seal, but even for the water in the mid 40's that is real common around me the latex seal is still plenty warm for me.

So for me, my choice is latex....

Phil

[MR.BLUE]

I've grown to prefer latex.....easy fit and easier repair....but you can feel the cold through it.

[cummings66]

One other thing I've noticed with neoprene seals is that you have less freedom of movement. It's a bit harder to turn your head IMO.

[RoyN]

Latex for me. Although I get rash and itchy red spots but I rather have freedom.

[Charles R]

Latex, If you get cold where a hood with a longer neck that will go over the latex. wirsts are easy where dry gloves.

[texdiveguy]

I have not really noticed the lesser degree of freedom of neck movement in a neo neck seal....both are good though. For me neo is warmer....tougher and more comfy.....the only times I have broken the seal are 'twice' in my early dry suit days when I bent my neck to far downward to look through my legs backward at the diver on my fins, like you might in a wet suit.

[brandon]

I prefer neoprene neck and latex wrist seals for many of the reasons stated above: neoprene is warmer and imho, less prone to leaking. It'll take a heck of a beating too...

I just always make sure to fold mine back over on itself so that the smooth side is against my skin, then reach underneath the suit and check the seal to make sure that there's no wrinkles and that the inflator flap isn't caught in my neck seal.

My hood also seals pretty well against the neoprene neck and I seem to get hardly any water transfer.

-B