Recommend a drysuit!

Northern Tim · 12 February 2007, 15:28

Hi guys,
I've just had a new sock put on my Gul breathable drysuit and then had it pressure tested. There are leaks at the tops of the legs and the bottom of the zip has gone, total repairs about £180. I'm thinking that it's not worth repairing, given that the Gul Infra is going for about £200-£230. This has happened just as I'm about to do a safety boat course and I've been told that there will be some time when I have to get in the water - on the first weekend of March...bbbrrr.

What drysuits do people use and what would you recommend, based on what's currently available? I was only planning on spending about £50 on repairs, so I don't want to spend £850 on a Musto HPX!

Thanks guys,
Tim

Phil Chitty · 12 February 2007, 15:39

Hi Tim

I've got a Crewsaver Hyperdry breathable dry suit. It cost £250 at Southampton boat show 18 months ago and its been fine.

Easy to get in to, has braces (more useful than you think!!!) and matches the colour of my boat!!!!

What more could you want out of a dry suit!!

Alan · 12 February 2007, 15:57

Justly popular with ribsters. Breathable, comfortable (get the comfort zip if you are doing extended cruising) and a decent bunch of people to deal with too.

Ribster Rache · 12 February 2007, 16:52

Made to measure suits, from Rubberman.

www.rubberman.co.uk

Roy Smith · 12 February 2007, 18:35

we spotted Musto HPX dry suites at the Outlet store at Bicester village
£399 about half price. I have a crewsaver and that great but the HPX is in a differant class but its pricey.

Northern Tim · 12 February 2007, 19:47

Thanks for the comments. Anyone got a Gul/Typhoon suit?

Roy, do you have an address or website for the shop in Bicester Village? I'm driving past Bicester tomorrow - living in Manchester, that doesn't happen very often!

Cheers,
Tim

Andre · 12 February 2007, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Tim

Thanks for the comments. Anyone got a Gul/Typhoon suit?

Roy, do you have an address or website for the shop in Bicester Village? I'm driving past Bicester tomorrow - living in Manchester, that doesn't happen very often!

Cheers,
Tim

Tim,
I have the Typhoon WOSS the old style, (only back panel breathable, new style the whole top is breathable) in my opinion the Typhoon WOSS is the best drysuit available. Last month I had the latex neck and wrist seals replaced with neoprene seals. Much better.

dctucker · 12 February 2007, 20:31

Wife has a Gul Infra (?) which I've worn a couple of times. Glideskin neoprene seals, breathable. She loves it, and the few times I've used it I've liked it too. >1 year old, so no long term durability reports...

She's got quite broad shoulders for a woman, from pushing a wheelchair. That dictated her sizing and luckily for me that means her suit fits me too

Of course, that also means she's wearing it most of the time that I might like to

nik · 12 February 2007, 20:34

Quote:

we spotted Musto HPX dry suites at the Outlet store at Bicester village
£399 about half price. I have a crewsaver and that great but the HPX is in a differant class but its pricey.

In that case, grab it. A secondhand one sold on ebay for £500.

Mugshot · 12 February 2007, 20:36

I have a Typhoon Racer XTS F/E with socks which looks like this, (please see below) although I haven't quite mastered the pose yet. To be honest its the first drysuit I've owned but from that limited experience, and for what its worth I've found it superb, its comfortable, its easy to put on and take off and most importantly it keeps me dry, totally!

Neal · 12 February 2007, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Tim

Roy, do you have an address or website for the shop in Bicester Village? I'm driving past Bicester tomorrow - living in Manchester, that doesn't happen very often!

Cheers,
Tim

Its just off the M40 (junction 9 i think) about 3 miles but is sign posted. I was in there couple of weeks back and some of the prices were very good they said they had a web site but sorry cant find the details.

Roy Smith · 12 February 2007, 21:59

There is a thread on here from last year from some one who got a HPX from the outlet not sure if it wasant less money.
I pass by there a lot just to mean to put my hand in my pockett.

mike · 12 February 2007, 22:03

Have had both, we bought the typhoon and it was very good for the 3 years I had it, in the end thogh it was just plain worn out.

went over to the new Gul breathable suit and love it, its a better zip, the cuffs are more comfy and he pocket is a boon, The wear pads also are better. out of the two the gul is better.
the v for money on both is good.

mark-f · 12 February 2007, 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

Tim,
I have the Typhoon WOSS the old style, (only back panel breathable, new style the whole top is breathable) in my opinion the Typhoon WOSS is the best drysuit available. Last month I had the latex neck and wrist seals replaced with neoprene seals. Much better.

yep

for the WOSS, have tried a lots of drysuits over the years and this is the best i have found without any doubt.

mark

Northern Tim · 13 February 2007, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

There is a thread on here from last year from some one who got a HPX from the outlet not sure if it wasant less money.
I pass by there a lot just to mean to put my hand in my pockett.

I popped in today on my way from London to Manchester. The Musto outlet has got the HPX down from £850 to £500 if anyone's interested.

I also went into Purple Marine and tried on Gul, Crewsaver and Gill. I think I'm going to end up with the Gul one, it has a much better fit than the others, and the neoprene seals are considerably comfier than the latex ones.

Anyone know of any typhoon stockists either in Manchester or en route from London to Manchester that might have a WOSS in stock?

Cheers folks,
Tim

richardjawilson · 16 February 2007, 08:15

I paid £499 for a Musto HPX last september from Bicester village. The suit is awesome, and not a second, just a 2006 model year version as I think there is a newer design out for 2007. You will need so sort of base/mid layers as well as the the suit has poor thermal properties. But even if you dont go for the HPX, I'm glad you recognise the safety benefits that these drysuits bring.

regards richard

Steve Waters · 16 February 2007, 22:54

I have two Guls and have to say that having had a zip failure last year thier back up was second to none. The suit (6 mths old) was returned and replaced with a new suit within a fortnight no quibbles. Watch sizes though 'cause I couldn't get into the new one!! It was smaller than the original so I gave it to my son for Christmas! Such good quality I bought another.........
Steve

Northern Tim · 17 February 2007, 22:54

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

I went to Robin Hood watersports near Leeds to pick up my old drysuit today. They are offering to sell me a custom made to measure suit with pockets where I want them for me for £320! All the suits they make are glued rather than stitched so that there are no stress points on the seams. This means that there are no stitching holes so are more reliable. Also, they tell me that salt water blocks the pores in breathable drysuits, so there is no point having it made from breathable material. What do people think? I'm also wondering about the styling, I've not seen a finished product yet, but I don't think it will have the style of a typhoon or gul.

Any thoughts?
Tim

havener · 18 February 2007, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Tim

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Also, they tell me that salt water blocks the pores in breathable drysuits, so there is no point having it made from breathable material.

Any thoughts?
Tim

Partly true, so the answer - wash it!! Simple!!

You'll reap the benefits of breathable once you have one.

As for make, has to be the Typhoon WOSS every time.

John Kennett · 18 February 2007, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Tim

Also, they tell me that salt water blocks the pores in breathable drysuits, so there is no point having it made from breathable material. What do people think?

I'll tell you what I think:

Breathable drysuits do work, and they are the only ones worth buying.

I really wouldn't bother with non-breathable drysuit. You'll end up soaked in sweat so you may as well buy a cheap set of oilskins and spend the money on something else.

How about that for a straightforward answer?

John