Are Neoprene Or Laminate Drysuits Better

There are two main types of drysuit in use today neoprene and laminate neoprene having the better thermal insulation but losing out on flexibility and weight.

Are neoprene or laminate drysuits better.

The best wet suits are tight around the body for better effectiveness made with neoprene a type of rubber and can cover the entire body or just the torso called a shorty. If you prefer the feel of a wetsuit but need the thermal advantages of a drysuit or if you re on a budget then a neoprene drysuit might be for you. According to the manufacturers these suits are made of foam neoprene that has been made denser and thinner by compression. Neoprene suits are economical in the sense that they are typically less expensive and eliminate the need to buy undergarments as well.

Gary asson from the sub aqua association said. The neoprene goes through a process that changes the structure. The neoprene suits are more form fitted which require less air to be used in the suit and offer the diver a more streamlined suit. When tasked with building an even tougher and durable neoprene drysuit than its predecessor our design team looked to some of the toughest protective gear in the world from across a variety of industry and conceived a suit with diamond tuff laminate a heavy duty metal dry zipper seam tape and extended k padz kevlar knee protection.

Generally speaking neoprene drysuits are thicker than membrane suits and more insulating. Neoprene was invented by dupont in 1930 and remains the best thermal insulator for any water sport above or below the surface. If you prefer the feel of a wetsuit but need the thermal advantages of a drysuit or if you re on a budget then a neoprene drysuit might be for you. This makes it even thinner more durable and have a much smaller effect on buoyancy.

However if you dive in a wide range of temperate to cold water temperatures and if durability is a factor and you don t mind spending a little extra cash then a fabric suit also called a shell suit may be the way to go. As you would expect neoprene has evolved in those 85 years. Scubapro offers two neoprene drysuits the exodry and the everdry 4. Another type of drysuit material is crushed neoprene.

My personal preference is for crushed neoprene which has good thermal insulation and flexibility. Refined techniques and huge investment has created a range of neoprene suitable for applications from running tracks to triathlon wetsuits. They are often worn with fins and a mask such as these great full face dive masks.