Compared two brand names of dry suits back to back in the Puget Sound last month and one was leaking within 20 minutes of the first dive

The difference was the zipper placement and how the neck seal was glued in, the higher priced one had a smoother seam that just held up better under pressure, has anyone else noticed a big gap in quality between the big brands lately?

2 comments

2 Comments

torres.leo1mo ago

Honestly that sucks about the leak. I had a similar thing happen a few years back with a brand that was supposed to be the mid range option. Took it out into the Hood Canal and felt that cold trickle down my back about 30 minutes in. Turned out the neck seal was just glued in a different way than the expensive one I tried later. My buddy had the same two brands side by side on a trip to the San Juans and we both noticed the cheap one's zipper was this thin plastic thing that looked like it would snap if you breathed too hard. The expensive one had a chunky brass zipper that felt like it could survive a car crash. Not saying the cheaper ones are always junk, but for cold water like Puget Sound, I would rather pay more than get that icy surprise again. That first dive ruined the whole trip for me.

michaeljones1mo ago

Man which brand was the one that leaked? Ive been looking at getting a new dry suit for the cold season up here and Im trying to figure out if the extra cost is actually worth it for the seals. Did the cheaper one have a plastic zipper or a metal one?