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Noticed a huge difference in dive comfort after switching to a Kevlar undersuit
Did a 5 day job on the offshore rig near Galveston back in 2018 with my old neoprene setup and wound up shivering by hour 3 every shift. Picked up a used Kevlar undersuit from a guy in Louisiana last spring and it was night and day even in the same 50 degree water. What did you all switch out that actually saved your back or kept you warm better?
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murray.drew10h ago
Yeah I read something just last month about how Kevlar undersuits trap heat way better because the material doesn't let your body heat escape as fast as neoprene does. @jordanblack you hit it right on the head with that weight thing though, mine feels like I'm hauling a wet dog out of the water every time I surface. But honestly I'll take the extra couple pounds over that bone deep cold that neoprene lets in after a few hours. I switched to a Kevlar setup two winters ago after reading a forum post from a guy who did a deep water cold water job and swore by it, and he was dead on. The biggest thing for me was how much longer I could stay down without my back getting stiff from shivering, especially on those long bottom time days.
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jordanblack12h ago
My first time in a Kevlar undersuit was up in the Gulf of Maine about five years ago on a survey job. Water was maybe 45 degrees and I thought I was gonna freeze solid in my old suit. Buddy of mine let me borrow his used one for a shift and I swear I almost started sweating by the end of the day. I ended up buying a new one from the same company he used and now I won't even look at neoprene again unless it's summer. The difference in how fast you get cold is just insane, like your body actually holds onto heat instead of letting it bleed out. Only downside is mine weighs like a wet blanket when you get out but I'll take that over shivering any day.
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