Skinsuits Reviewed in This Article

| ACTION PLUS BAHIA 1MM JUMPSUIT AKONA 1MM FULL SUIT BARE SPORTSWEAR .5MM THERMALSKIN BODY GLOVE #1296 .5MM INSOTHERM JUMPSUIT HENDERSON MICROPRENE 1MM JUMPSUIT | MARES REVOLUTION 1MM FULL SUIT OCEANIC .5MM CYBERSKIN O'NEILL 1000X 1MM FULL SUIT PARKWAY .5MM TITANIUM STEAMER SCUBAPRO .5MM N2S STEAMER|
In the balmy air and bathtub waters of the tropics, worrying about keeping warm usually gets lost among all those wistful thoughts of ceiling fans, ice cubes and cold beer. But think about it: Any water temperature less than 98.6 degrees will draw the warmth from your body. Of course, with water temps in the high 80s to low 90s, it's usually not enough to get your attention. But giant-stride into temperatures ranging from the high 70s to low 80s and most of us are going to need some neoprene.

Not much, though. All you need is to wrap yourself in enough rubber to protect your arms and legs from abrasion and keep water from sloshing over your bare skin. That's where light-gauge neoprene tropical skinsuits come in.

Water flowing over bare skin is usually a diver's biggest source of heat loss in warm water. Tropical skinsuits minimize this because they tend to be very stretchy and are designed to hug your body. Add good seals at the neck, wrists and ankles, and you've got a suit that virtually eliminates water flow. And because of a snug fit, any water that does seep in is not likely to move around much.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Fit. This is the most important consideration in choosing a tropical skinsuit. Keep it snug. The more sizes a suit comes in the better. Everybody sports a different shape, so try different brands. Each designer has its own concept of the "normal" body build. Some suits seem to be designed for muscular divers, others fit lean divers better.

When trying on the suit, make sure you can pull the legs up to your crotch and the arms up to your armpits, to minimize bagging in those areas. Also, something as simple as a loose-fitting sleeve or ankle cuff will allow water to seep in. Worse, get caught with a baggy or bunched up collar and you've got a potential water gusher on your hands.

The stretchier the suit the better. However, stretchiness is limited by the nylon fabric, not the neoprene. Usually the suit will stretch in one direction more than the other. Ideally, a suit should stretch more around the legs or arms than along their lengths, although this is far too fine a point upon which to be making a suit selection.

Seals. The biggest entry point for unwanted water is the neck. An adjustable collar that lies flat and smooth, preferably with a sealing surface against your skin, is what you're striving for, since all collars have a tendency to scoop up water as you swim forward. Wrist and ankle seals help reduce water flow also, but they're less important.

Zippers. The main zipper is potentially a large entry point for water. A shorter zipper is better--as long as it's not so short that it makes donning and doffing the suit difficult. There should be a flap behind the zipper to seal across the zipper opening and keep the zipper itself off your skin. Also, it's best if this flap has a sealing surface that mates with another on the inside of the suit. On some suits, the neoprene outer flaps conceal the zipper when it is closed, leaving only a narrow slit. On others, the teeth are exposed. Covering the teeth helps keep out both sand and water, though the main sealing action is on the inside. Keeping the zipper exposed also lets the slider move more freely.

Extras. You'll probably lose more heat to wind between dives than to warm water during dives. So a wetsuit that's able to shed water and dry quickly is definitely a plus. Thumb loops and foot stirrups make it easier to use your suit as part of a layering system under a thicker wetsuit. Knee pads, shoulder pads and even butt pads add comfort and durability, but also add bulk and cost. Spine pads fill in the natural hollow in the lower back that can otherwise get filled with water.

Tropical Add-Ons

If, after your second or third tropical dive of the day, you find yourself getting chilled, consider adding a beanie, bibbed hood or over-vest to your warm-water neoprene inventory.

Beanies. They say most of a body's heat loss escapes through the head. A 2mm or 3mm tropical beanie will hold onto this heat, enabling you to dive longer with a thinner wetsuit and still remain comfortable at depth. Because beanies cover only your skull, they don't restrict head movement or trigger claustrophobic memories of diving back home with a 7mm full hood. As with wetsuits, a snug fit is more important on a beanie than thickness. Beanies generally range in price from $20 to $40.

Bibbed hoods. For those who want more than a beanie, there's the bibbed hood. Ranging from 1mm to 3mm for tropical use, some bibbed hoods are all neoprene; others are neoprene hoods attached to polypro undershirts. Wear the shirt inside the skin to hold the hood in place. The bib overlaps the collar on the outside, deflecting water flow. Bibbed hoods range in price from about $25 to $75, depending on style and material.

Zippered vests. If you've got your head covered but would like a little more warmth at the end of the day or during those tropical night dives, consider adding a 1.5mm to 3mm zippered vest over your warm-water skinsuit. The vest covers the suit's zipper and adds insulation. Zip-front vests in particular are easy to don and doff as needed. Look for a snug fit to avoid flushing between the vest and the skinsuit. Zippered vests range in price from $40 to $80.

FRONT ZIP OR BACK ZIP?

Each has its advantages. Front-zip suits are easier to don but can be harder to doff. Back-zip suits usually provide a better collar seal, but while wearing back-zip suits, it's harder to bend over. Most important, for men at least, front-zip suits make it easier to relieve oneself without completely stripping down during those surface intervals.

The Neoprene Advantage

by John Francis

Super-thin neoprene suits offer obvious advantages over "Polartec" and "trilaminate" for tropical diving.

Neoprene is waterproof. Water can't penetrate the fabric to your skin. When it's this thin, neoprene is very stretchy, so it hugs your body without the wrinkles and bags that would pump water in and out whenever you move. By contrast, "Polartec" and other fleece suits stretch well, but let water pass through the fabric. Trilaminates are more waterproof than fleece, but less stretchy. Only super-thin neoprene both stretches and seals well. Those qualities together practically eliminate water flow over your skin.

Less flow means less heat loss. Water flow over bare skin is important because it is usually a diver's biggest source of heat loss in relatively warm water. Eliminate this cooling by convection and you really don't need bulky insulation in the tropics. At least that's the theory, and reality seems to support the theory.

Add the fact that neoprene skins dry at least as fast as fleece suits, are no more than a pound or two buoyant, and cost, on average, about half as much as fleece suits, and the debate would seem to be over.

BUT IS IT WARMER THAN POLARTEC?

That's the real question. It's difficult to compare exposure suits in practice, because every diver is different: The same water feels warm to some divers and cold to others. Every dive is different: the same diver in the same suit in the same water feels warmer or colder from dive to dive, depending on the balance in his "thermal bank account."

After using neoprene skins more than 40 times in warm water (78F to 82F), I can say I occasionally felt cool, but never cold. I never shivered. Meanwhile, divers around me in fleece suits and shorties complained of the cold. I should add that I always wore head protection, usually a 3mm beanie, while most of the divers around me did not.

On one dive trip, I traded back and forth between neoprene skins and fleece suits. I felt the neoprene skins were warmer. As a result, I bought one of the neoprene skins with my own money. I wouldn't go to the tropics without it.

SAY WHAT? REVIEW DEFINITIONS

Flatlock or Flatseam: A stitching pattern that prevents abrasion rashes, offers strength and flexibility and tends to be more comfortable than conventional overlock stitches.

Stitching: The more stitches per inch, the stronger the seam.

Stretch: Two different directions of stretch. Ideally, legs and arms should stretch across width more than length. Suits with a measured stretch of 50 percent were deemed "good." Suits with a measured stretch of 100 percent were deemed "excellent."

ACTION PLUS BAHIA 1MM JUMPSUIT

Action Plus Bahaia 1MM Jumpsuit
Nicely Finished
Rating: ***

Made of nylon jersey over neoprene with flatlock stitching and Lycra taping on all edges, the Bahia is a nicely finished wetsuit with a rolled collar and folded wrist and ankle cuffs. While the suit provides a good degree of stretch for ample freedom of movement, the Bahia's collar has a gap at the throat, as on all front-zip designs, which makes it easier for water to seep inside the suit. The heavy-duty zipper is cut diagonally across the chest toward the left thigh. The zipper itself is 19 1/2 inches long to simplify donning and doffing. An inner zipper flap cushions the zipper from the skin and helps keep water out. The Bahia comes with excellent molded rubber knee pads and a handy nylon key pouch.

Style: Front zip. Material: 90 percent neoprene, 10 percent nylon. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 13 stitches per inch. Colors: Black, black/blue. Sizes: 6 unisex. Price: $100. Strengths: Price. Heavy-duty zipper. Heavy-duty knee pads. Key pouch. Weaknesses: Limited sizes to choose from.

AKONA 1MM FULL SUIT

Akona 1MM Full Suit
Terrific Value
Rating: *****

New for 2002, Akona's 1mm full suit boasts the lowest price of all neoprene skinsuits in this test group, and offers one of the largest choices of sizes. Flatlock constructed of nylon jersey over neoprene, the suit has a sturdy feel to it yet provides good stretch, helped in part by additional panels sewn into the waist area. A big plus, the collar features a Velcro-adjustable skin-in neck seal. Wrist and ankle cuffs are nicely finished and fitted with elastic bindings. Sandwiched in a reinforced panel, the heavy-duty zipper measures 20 1/2 inches with a 24-inch lanyard to make it easier to don and doff. The suit comes with both an inner flap to keep the zipper off the skin and outer flaps to provide a finished look and minimize water seepage. Another nice touch: the inner zipper flap stops about an inch from the top of the collar so as not to break the skin-in seal. Screened knee patches minimize abrasion in this high-wear area.

Style: Back zip. Material: 90 percent neoprene, 10 percent nylon. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 14 stitches per inch. Colors: Men's, black/blue; women's, black. Sizes: 9 men's, 6 women's. Price: $90. Strengths: Price. Heavy-duty zipper. Skin-in collar. Zipper flap doesn't interrupt neck seal. Many sizes to choose from. Weaknesses: None.

BARE SPORTSWEAR .5MM THERMALSKIN

Bare Sportswear .5MM Thermalskin
Gets the Job Done
Rating: ***

Laminate 100 percent nylon to one side of .5 mil neoprene, incorporate flatseam construction and add what appears to be iron-on knee patches and you've got the Thermalskin wetsuit from Bare Sportswear. Offering excellent stretchability and an adjustable skin-in neck seal that can be snugged up without bunching, the suit comes with both a lightweight inner flap to keep the 18 1/2-inch zipper off the body, and dual outer flaps that both help keep water out and provide a finished appearance. The 22-inch lanyard is easy to grasp for self-donning and the heavy-duty zipper slides effortlessly. However, the inner zipper flap is sewn all the way up to the top of the collar, which interrupts the skin-in seal. And while the body stitching in general looks good, the threadwork on the folded wrist and ankle cuffs leaves much to be desired.

Style: Back zip. Material: 90 percent neoprene, 10 percent nylon. Stretchability: Excellent. Stitching: 12 stitches per inch. Colors: Blue/black, black/yellow. Sizes: 6 men's, 6 women's. Price: $109.95. Strengths: Heavy-duty zipper. Skin-in neck seal. Lots of stretch. Weaknesses: Minimal knee protection. Untidy stitching on wrist and ankle cuffs.

BODY GLOVE #1296 .5MM INSOTHERM JUMPSUIT

Body Glove #1296 .5MM Insotherm Jumpsuit
Super Stretch
Rating: ***

Body Glove's half-mil Insotherm jumpsuit is one of the most stretchable suits in this go-round, aided in part by polypropylene panels under the arms and additional neoprene panels behind the knees that radically improve range of motion. The suit is flatlock constructed from pre-bent patterns of Ti-Si Titanium (a combination of titanium, fine mesh and stretch fabric that Body Glove claims offers 30 percent more warmth over standard neoprene with no water penetration). The collar snugs right up to the neck. Wrists and ankle cuffs are folded over for a finished edge. The zipper is 19 inches long with a 19-inch lanyard and comes with an inner flap and a Velcro zipper lock at the neck. The lack of knee protection detracts from an otherwise solid suit.

Style: Back zip. Material: 80 percent neoprene, 20 percent nylon. Stretchability: Excellent. Stitching: 14 stitches per inch. Colors: Black. Sizes: 6 men's, 5 women's. Price: $109.99. Strengths: Heavy-duty zipper. Excellent stretch. Weaknesses: No knee protection.

HENDERSON MICROPRENE 1MM JUMPSUIT

Henderson Microprene 1MM Jumpsuit
Quality Construction
Rating: *****

A couple of years ago, Henderson's Microprene back-zip suit earned a Testers' Choice. The newly released front-zip model scores just as well. This is a quality jumpsuit with flatlock seams and Lycra trim. Though you can't get as good a neck seal with a front zipper, the suit still snugs up around the throat, minimizing water flow. Wrist and ankle cuffs are neatly finished. The heavy-duty zipper is fitted with both inner and outer flaps and measures more than 20 inches to make donning and doffing all the easier. This suit features foot stirrups, thick knee pads and a spine pad to fill that natural hollow along the back. A handy inner key pouch is stitched alongside the zipper.

Style: Front zip. Material: 80 percent neoprene, 20 percent nylon. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 12 stitches per inch. Colors: Men's, black/blue; women's, black/purple. Sizes: 8 men's, 6 women's. Price: $119.95. Strengths: Heavy-duty zipper. Molded knee pads. Wide foot stirrups. Spine pad. Key pouch. Weaknesses: None.

MARES REVOLUTION 1MM FULL SUIT

Mares Revolution 1MM Full Suit
Best Seal System
Rating: *****

Unique among all tropical wetsuits tested in this go-round, Mares' Revolution full suit features actual rolled skin-in seals not only on the neck but also on the wrists and ankles. The inner zipper flap is cut all the way up to the edge of the skin-in neck, which could break the seal, but wrist and ankle seals are top-rate. The suit incorporates flatlock construction and is cut with a variety of panels for increased movement, including an abrasion-resistant chest panel, raglan sleeves and a saddle crotch. Stitching is above-average throughout. The heavy-duty zipper slides easily and is a full 21 inches long with an easy-to-grasp 24-inch lanyard. A Velcro zipper lock secures the slide at the top of the neck. Extras include a Velcro tab at the base of the zipper to aid in donning and doffing the suit and thick, molded rubber knee pads.

Style: Back zip. Material: 90 percent neoprene, 10 percent nylon. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 15 stitches per inch. Colors: Men's, black/blue/charcoal; women's, black/blue/light blue. Sizes: 5 men's, 4 women's. Price: $109.99. Strengths: Skin-in neck, wrist and ankle seals. Heavy-duty zipper. Molded rubber knee pads. Weaknesses: Limited sizes.

OCEANIC .5MM CYBERSKIN

Oceanic .5MM Cyberskin
Excellent Stitching
Rating: *****

With a half-mil of neoprene bonded between two layers of nylon, the Cyberskin's multi-panel design creates a very comfortable fit. Seams are duotone accent, blue and black, with the second tightest stitching pattern in this test group. Collar, wrist and ankle cuffs have finished edges. The heavy-duty zipper is 20 inches long and is fitted with an even longer lanyard for easy self-donning. A Velcro zipper lock keeps the slider in place while diving, and inner and outer zipper flaps improve comfort and minimize water intrusion. Extras include thumb loops and foot stirrups that are designed to be easily removed if not needed, and rubberized knee patches to resist abrasion.

Style: Back zip. Material: 90 percent neoprene, 10 percent nylon. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 16 stitches per inch. Colors: Black. Sizes: 6 men's, 6 women's. Price: $119.95. Strengths: Excellent stitching. Heavy-duty zipper. Foot stirrups and thumb loops. Weaknesses: None.

O'NEILL 1000X 1MM FULL SUIT

O'Neill 1000X 1MM Full Suit
Color and Style
Rating: ***

The 1000X full suit is made from O'Neill's own 1mm "Fluid Foam" (a double-lined neoprene). The suit incorporates flatlock construction and uses colorful, anatomically contoured side panels and additional patches behind the knees to greatly increase range of motion. The fold-over collar and wrist and ankle cuffs are nicely finished with double stitching. In fact, stitching throughout the suit is above-average. The zipper O'Neill uses is a lighter gauge than most other suits and shorter than average (17 1/2 inches), which could affect the ease of donning and doffing the suit for some divers. The lanyard is shorter than average, too (17 inches) and is a lighter gauge cord, which is less obtrusive than the standard flat ribbon-style lanyards, but harder to grab. O'Neill equips their 1000X with excellent molded rubber knee pads and a key pouch.

Style: Back zip. Material: Polyester and nylon bonded to neoprene. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 15 stitches per inch. Colors: Men's, black, black/yellow/blue, black/blue, black/light gray/dark gray; women's, black, black/purple. Sizes: 6 men's, 6 women's. Price: $123.95. Strengths: Molded rubber knee pads. Weaknesses: None.

PARKWAY .5MM TITANIUM STEAMER

Parkway .5MM Titanium Steamer
"Shark-Skin" Lining
Rating: ****

Parkway's half-mil full suit comes with an open cell "shark-skin" titanium lining that seals against the skin to cut down on water flow. It also makes it easier to get in and out of the suit. Expansion panels are sewn under the arms and behind the knees to increase flexibility. A smaller-gauge 18-inch zipper allows the Titanium Steamer to be worn comfortably under another exposure suit. The adjustable collar is also lined with "shark skin"; it provides an excellent seal, due partly to an inner zipper flap that's cut a couple inches short to allow an unbroken lay of the collar around the neck. The suit comes with thumb loops and foot stirrups that are actually a part of the suit. Rather than knee pads, which can limit the range of motion when worn under another suit, Parkway has gone with a heavier nylon weave on the knees and in the buttocks area to protect the suit from abrasion.

Style: Back zip. Material: Shark-skin lined neoprene. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 14 stitches per inch. Colors: Men's, black/gray, black/gray/blue; women's, black/gray/purple, black/gray/blue. Sizes: 7 men's, 5 women's. Price: $129. Strengths: Thumb loops. Foot stirrups. Adjustable collar seal. Inner zipper flap does not interrupt neck seal. Weaknesses: None.

SCUBAPRO .5MM N2S STEAMER

Scubapro .5MM N2S Steamer
Jewel in the Crown
Rating: *****

One look at Scubapro's lightweight half-mil N2S Steamer and you'll know why it's been a consistent Testers' Choice. The workmanship is superb, offering more stitches per inch than any other suit in this test group. The Steamer incorporates lots of vertical panels with flatseam N2S construction (nylon laminated to both sides of the neoprene), which makes it flexible, more comfortable and easier to slip on and off. The 19-inch heavy-duty zipper slides easily and is equipped with an inner flap to keep the zipper off the skin. Collar, wrists and ankles are nicely finished. The suit features thumb loops and wide foot stirrups that are incorporated into the suit design rather than added on. There are large reinforced rubberized patches on the knees as well as on the shoulders and buttocks, all traditionally high-wear areas. Since fit is the key to a successful wetsuit, Scubapro makes the N2S Steamer available in 18 different sizes.

Style: Front zip. Material: 90 percent neoprene, 10 percent nylon. Stretchability: Good. Stitching: 18 stitches per inch. Colors: Black. Sizes: 11 men's, 7 women's. Price: $111. Strengths: Heavy-duty zipper. Lots of sizes to choose from. Thumb loops. Foot stirrups. Outstanding stitching. Rubberized shoulder, buttock and knee reinforcement. Weaknesses: None.

For More Information

ACTION PLUS (626) 575-2800; web: www.action-plus.com

AKONA ADVENTURE GEAR (949) 581-1300; web: www.akona.com

BARE SPORTSWEAR (800) 663-0111; www.bare-wetsuits.com

BODY GLOVE (800) 678-7873; web: www.bodyglove.com

HENDERSON AQUATICS (856) 825-4771; www.hendersonusa.com

MARES (203) 855-0631; web: www.mares.com

OCEANIC USA (510) 562-0500; web: www.oceanicworldwide.com

O'NEILL (800) 538-0764; web: www.oneill.com

PARKWAY SCUBA (800) 587-2822; web: www.parkwayscuba.com

SCUBAPRO (619) 402-1023; web: www.scubapro.comm