On 23 Jan 1997, Reinhard Buchaly wrote:

> George,
> let me start at  the beginning.
> to be comfortable in cold water around 4 deg C the diver should maintain the
> body core temperature to avoid shutoff of the blood flow to the periphery. 

agreed

> Using only the C4 Thinsulate is not enough. I use different layers of 
> underwear. 

Good idea

> On the upper body I start with a t-shirt, 

very bad idea. Any form cotton is a big no no. You want a polyprop. 
underwear top and bottom. The idea is to keep the moisture away from the 
body. Cotton absorbes it and keeps it there. I thought this was obvious 
but then, I guess, not everyone lives in -10C weather for 5 months a year.

> then a Patagonia lightweight shirt, then
> on dives with longer deco a shirt with heating wires, then a Patagonia
> expeditionweight shirt. On the lower body I only use expeditonweight trousers.

sounds good 

> Above this all  the DUI C4 Thinsulate. On the feet are normal socks,

Again very bad idea. Try thick polypropylenes socks directly on the skin. 
You will see a world of difference. Cotton socks are the worst, wool is 
better but not the best. 

> then fleece socks from Helly Hansen, then the DUI Thinsulate booties.

With the polyprop. socks of proper thickness you will probably be able to do 
without the fleece ones. Fleece tends to "crush" over time and repeted
washings. It also generates lint, especially when brand new which you 
don't  want in your valves.

can't comment on the rest.

Today in Montreal it's sunny and a "warm" -9C.

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