Pinnacle Evo 2 or DUI 350?

[BORG]

I'll be getting DS certified after the 1st of the year and will be looking to get a drysuit. I've tried on the DUI 450, great suit, pricey and a bit on the stiff side is what I've heard from users.
How does a DUI 350 compare to a Pinnacle Evo 2 suit? It seems like you get alot of the benefits of a DUI 450 and 350 suit with the Pinnacle Evo 2, minus the Zip Seal capability. The biggest plus is it is a lower cost suit for all the quality that you get with the Pinnacle Evo 2.
Just wanted some feedback.

THANKS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[snagel]

Great question, I'll be watching. It looks like the Pinnacle and 350 are comparable in price. The 450 is a few $100 higher. I like the zip-seal technology that DUI offers; however, I'm not familiar with others. The only experience I have is attending DUI Days. It looks like you get all the seals with with the Pinnacle. Are the seals extra with the DUI? If not, this is about a $200 cost with DUI. I'm looking at getting certified after the 1st of the year as well.

Are you looking at buying a drysuit for certification - just curious? In my negotiations I'm told there is $70 a day rental charge for the drysuit during certification. I hate throwing good money out in rental gear; thinking that the rental fee could go toward purchasing. On the other hand, I don't know exactly what I want and don't want to buy something that I regret later either. Aaauggghhh - decisions, decisions, decisions.

S. Nagel

[foglesre]

Well, I just ordered my TLS350 Special Production on Sunday. The shop had a TLS350 sitting side by side with a Pinnacle Evolution II. The Evo II is quite a bit stiffer than the TLS350. It is also heavier and based on the feedback of the shop owner does not dry nearly as fast. The pockets also look a bit on the small side.

My conclusion was that if you're going to be travelling with the drysuit, the TLS350 is the obvious choice (amongst just about all drysuits). The evidently tougher fabric of the Evo II would be better for more abusive diving (wreck diving). Similar to the Evo II, I've heard excellent things about the USIA Techniflex.

Good luck. I can't wait to get my TLS350 in a couple of months.

Bob

[snagel]

The lead time is a "couple months"? Did you order it through DUI? What was "Special Production"?

S. Nagel

[therealtreehugger]

Holy waterbugs, Batman, a couple of months is a long time! Is that normal when you custom order a DUI? (I'm assuming its a custom fit?)

[foglesre]

Sorry, I should have been more careful there. Actually I have no idea how long it will take as DUI is closed for the holidays so the dealer can't even get the order to DUI. I'm not expecting before the first of February. If its here sooner, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Yes, its is a made ot measure suit.

BOb

[foglesre]

FYI, I got an update from my dealer. DUI is running 4 weeks for made to measure suits.

Bob

[SHAGGY]

Originally Posted by BORG

I'll be getting DS certified after the 1st of the year and will be looking to get a drysuit. I've tried on the DUI 450, great suit, pricey and a bit on the stiff side is what I've heard from users.
How does a DUI 350 compare to a Pinnacle Evo 2 suit? It seems like you get alot of the benefits of a DUI 450 and 350 suit with the Pinnacle Evo 2, minus the Zip Seal capability. The biggest plus is it is a lower cost suit for all the quality that you get with the Pinnacle Evo 2.
Just wanted some feedback.

THANKS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We recently ordered a pair of Evo 2 suits from ST at Joe's recommendation. They came out a few hundered dollars cheaper than the DUI, but we stated to him that we wanted a really top quality suit that was extremely durable. For the search and rescue and other underwater tasks that myself and my partner will be having to do they appear that they are gonna be more durable than the DUI. But,.... what suit is best for me may not apply for all. The DUI may be best for you if weight and bulk is a factor. Now if I were paying for my own suit I think I would buy one of the Bare Nex Gen suits, just because I've read good things about it on here and it would cost about half of the Evo2 or DUI, and when spending my own money I tend to be more thrifty.........

[Divingguy]

I also went with the Evo2. I really did like the swappable seals on the DUI suits, and agree that the DUI 350 would probably pack smaller than the Evo2. However, as a DMC, working on and around platforms, I really liked the heavier material of the Evo2, and could not justify spending the extra money to get a comparable DUI 450.

[Deep Six]

Just wanted to throw my $.02,

Just got my TLS350 Special production, and it is awesome! My LDS got a bunch of us together and put in a group order so we are now a DUI dealer. It took about a month, ordered 2 days before Thanksgiving and got them on the 19th of Dec. There are a lot of options with the TLS350, you can get Kevlar or this CF200 stuff just about anywhere you want on the suit. You take about 20 measurements and then fax your measurement for to DUI. I am a bigger guy (6'5", 225lbs with a tall torso and long arms) so I wouldn't fit in the stock sizes. But anyway, it is a great suit, again, sooooo many options!

Btw, if you're a Padi dive society member, you get a free stretchliner from DUI, but I don't know how long the offer is for.

any Q's, just ask!

--Brett