How often do you wash your undersuit?

[Tassie Diver]

I dive dry, with a DR 905 suit. I have two undersuits, one is a 300gsm polartech and the other is a dual layer (2 x 300) 600gsm polartech. I usually wear both

A while ago someone mentioned excessive washing of undersuits reduces their loft (insulation) and I know from experience that eventually polartech starts to be "less warm", once it's been washed a hundred or so times...

So here's the big question...

How often do you wash your undersuit/s?

[Tassie Diver]

To answer my own question... I wash mine "as required". If they're starting to get on the nose a bit, in the wash they go. Also, if I know I won't be in the water for the next several weeks, they'll get a wash then.

[jugglematt]

mmmm i gues it depends on how funky they get

if your wearing something under your undersuit like a t shirt and boxers or if its under suit on skin , and if your sweating before entry to the water . also are you a pongy (BO) sort of person or not ?

i use a neoprene suit and wear thermal underwear under my suit , if i get a weekends diving(4-6dives) out of my thermals im happy , i do hang them up overnite and let them air out though .

the other option is never wash your undergarments , just think of the added room you will have on dive boats , and no lining up at dive stores ,,,,,,,LOL


regards
Matty

[Scuba Pete]

I havent washed mine yet. Although i would if i felt like they were a little stinky. Mine just smell like scuba gear smells. They hang up in a closet to air out between dives.

[CompuDude]

As infrequently as possible. Fortunately I don't have Thinsulate stuff... that takes a serious beating from washings. Polartech isn't as bad, but I still try to limit it as much as possible.

I'm in the Fourth Element Arctic undergarments now, which can in theory be washed more freely, but I still try to wait until it really needs it. I wear Patagonia Capilene wicking layer underneath the polar fleece stuff, which DOES get washed regularly, so it's not much of a problem to stretch the time out between washings of the heavier UGs.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

As infrequently as possible. Fortunately I don't have Thinsulate stuff... that takes a serious beating from washings. Polartech isn't as bad, but I still try to limit it as much as possible.

I'm in the Fourth Element Arctic undergarments now, which can in theory be washed more freely, but I still try to wait until it really needs it. I wear Patagonia Capilene wicking layer underneath the polar fleece stuff, which DOES get washed regularly, so it's not much of a problem to stretch the time out between washings of the heavier UGs.

I've always wondered about what Compudude wore underneath it all. Not so sure I wanted to know about the lack of washing

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Lulubelle

I've always wondered about what Compudude wore underneath it all. Not so sure I wanted to know about the lack of washing

I wear Patagonia Capilene under it all, which gets washed after every use. :P Mystery solved!

The insulating over-layers are the ones that only get washed as needed. Much like my jacket. I don't wash that every time I wear it, either... because it doesn't need to be washed every time I wear it, because I bathe and use deodorant like a normal person, and it's not worn against the skin.

The people to watch out for are the cave divers in the 400g thinsulate undergarments. I know a few that regard them as disposable... they wear them (without ever washing) until they can't stand them anymore, and then replace them rather than risk washing them to the detriment of the insulation!

[Tassie Diver]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

...
The people to watch out for are the cave divers in the 400g thinsulate undergarments. I know a few that regard them as disposable... they wear them (without ever washing) until they can't stand them anymore, and then replace them rather than risk washing them to the detriment of the insulation!

Eeewww... that's just wrong...

[BG9879]

I know some of the Tech divers that never wash it either. They use bottles and bottles of Fabreze... Wash Thinsulate, it will deteriorate the insulating properties...