If you could only pick one dry suit to buy

[Kidder]

Hi there,
If you could pick only one dry suit to buy. Ie: best all around entry level to advanced. Which would it be?

[thesmoothdome]

I faced that decision last year when I came back to diving. For me, the choice was easy. DUI CF200. Tough crushed neoprene suit, front zip, zip seals. Pretty much bullet proof.

[mm_dm]

DUI has the zip seals. Hard to compete with that.

[Kidder]

Hmm zip seals sound cool, how much did yours run you if you don't mind my asking. Is there such a thing as a DUI deal?

[thesmoothdome]

Originally Posted by Kidder

Hmm zip seals sound cool, how much did yours run you if you don't mind my asking. Is there such a thing as a DUI deal?

Mine ran me $1800.00 after taxes, but I got a lucky deal. First, one of the local LDS's take 20% off of list price, so Sports Chalet matched that. Then, somehow the order was submitted as a special production suit, meaning that it was custom fit for me, but I was only charged for the stock suit.

I know DUI recently raised their prices. The stock CF200 now goes for $2458 and the special productions go for $2858. Those prices are without the zip seals. They'll run another $300 according the DUI's website.

[Kidder]

Man that's pretty pricy, but it sounds worth it.

[brandon]

CF200 is a hell of a drysuit. My next suit will be one...

Course, that means my Bare drysuit will have to die first... don't see that happening anytime soon!

-Brandon.

[Kidder]

Hey do the DUI dry suits (or any of the dry suits for that matter) leak when you have to let air out when you are ascending?

[thesmoothdome]

Originally Posted by Kidder

Hey do the DUI dry suits (or any of the dry suits for that matter) leak when you have to let air out when you are ascending?

The exhaust valve should not leak when you're ascending and there is air escaping. IF you push the valve down and don't have air to escape though, water will come in. In the automatic position though, exhaust valves should not leak.

[Kidder]

It seems like DUI is the best. Which suit would be the best value? Not the cheapest, but the most durable at the best price