>Subject:     Re: DRY suits
>Sent:        4/8/98 2:53 AM
>Received:    4/9/98 12:42 AM
>From:        MAG Man, mag_man@de*.bb*.co*
>To:          Cavediver, cavers@ww*.ge*.co*
>             Frank Johnson, fwjohnson@we*.ne*
>             Mike Wells, mike.wells@cm*.co*
>             Techdiver, techdiver@aquanaut.com
>
>                      RE>>DRY suits                                4/7/98
>
>Jeff...
>
>The Viking Pro is NOT a "commercial work" suit, it's simply a heftier
version
>of the Viking Sport.  Heavier material and more durable latex wrist and neck
>seals.  The commercial line of Viking suits are Viking HD and Viking PRO 590
>Polyurethane, both designed primarily for working divers.  

The Pro is also extensively used by commercial divers where they do not 
want the EXTREME bulk of a HD suit and do not need hard hats.  (the CF200 
is also often used in this arena)

>
>The benefits of Viking over a DUI are ease of repair at a dive
>site...repairing a tear is as easy as patching an innertube and as quick and
>fool-proof.

A DUI CF200X doesn't tear in the first place, so you don't need to worry 
about patching or calling a dive.  The CRUSHED neoprene is practically 
bullet proof.

>  They dry very quickly between dives.  They're vulcanized rubber,
>which means they don't absorb water.

True, and nice, But....So what if they perform well BETWEEN dives, these 
are not the most important traits to look for.

>  And being vulcanized, there are no
>seams
>to leak.

Seams are not a problem in ANY of the premier suits made today.

>  The boots can be ordered in one of four basic size groups.

NONE OF WHICH ARE PROPORTIONED RIGHT FOR SWIMMING WITH FINS ON (unless 
you have elephantitus or deformed feet).

>
>The CF200X, a crushed neoprene suit, has drawbacks, too.  They're slow to
dry
>between dives.

Again, who cares.  As long as it fits right, it isn't wet inside where it 
counts.  We usually don't take our suits off between dives anyway!

>  Impossible to repair on-site; if you tear or snag, you'll
>need
>AQUASEAL to make a repair.  AQUASEAL does not adhere well to wet neoprene
and
>needs plenty of time to cure.

That is NOT how you repair a CRUSHED neoprene suit.  It is true that it 
needs to dry before the repair is done, ***IF**** you ever do put a hole 
in it.  And I have never heard of anyone "tearing" one.

>   And just like wetsuits, eventually the
>crushed
>neoprene wears out.

This couldn't be further from the truth!!  CRUSHED neoprene is a 
COMPLETELY different material than the neoprene in wetsuits.  It is not 
subject to the damage from repeated compression and expansion that a wet 
suit OR standard neoprene dry suit.

The life of a CRUSHED neoprene suit is longer than a vulcanized rubber 
suit.  My 200 is 12 years old and still a good suit.  
>
>IMHO, DUI's TLS (Tri Laminate) Series are preferable to the CF200X.

For What?  That is the big question.  Why do they make the 200 then?

>  Dollar
>for dollar, they're longer lasting.  It's personal taste.

Personal Taste has nothing to do with it, or shouldn't.  The issue is to 
get the right suit (tool) for the job, and each suit has it's own merits 
depending on the demands put on it.

>  But there are
>tangible product benefits and advantages to the Viking over the CF200X.

Again, like I said, who cares if it dries faster, and you can always put 
the Viking valves on a DUI.  I don't see any other practical benefits for 
the average sport diver.

There are far more benefits for the 200 over the viking for the *average* 
sport diver.  Believe me....I've got a lot of time in both.  The biggest 
mark against the viking (and it's a ****HUGE**** one) is the disgusting 
boots that they have.  DON'T BUY A VIKING IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON SWIMMING 
IN IT.  This is one of the main reasons I made the statement that it is a 
"work suit", because it's a bitch to swim in.  And I still dive my Pro 
suit if I am doing a dive that doesn't involve a lot of swimming, or I'm 
diving a really cold lake with the dry gloves and hood.  I'm not knocking 
Viking (hell, I have one), I'm just saying it has a more limited use as 
the "best" suit in most situations for most divers.  If I had it to do 
over, I would have used the Viking money to buy a TLS350 to compliment my 
200.  The 200 for an extremely tough but yet comfortable (OOOhhh yea) 
suit, and the 350 for an extremely comfortable, light, and fast drying 
suit.
>  The
>best bet is to dive any drysuit before you buy it.  Most good dealers will
>let
>you "test" the product before making an investment such as a drysuit.

Agreed on this one.  If I would have done that with the Viking, I 
wouldn't have bought it!!!

>
>MAG
>

One last note:  A freediving full foot fin fits on my CF200 boots, now 
try that with a Viking or MOST other suits!

A "sold on DUI" diver,
Mike W.
>--------------------------------------
>Date: 4/7/98 6:58
>To: MAG Man
>From: Mike Wells
>Jeff,
>I've got a DUI CF200X, a Viking Pro, and a USIA.
>
>The Viking is a commercial work suit.  It doesn't have all the comfort 
>features of the DUI.  The thing I dislike the most about it is the boots. 
> They come in a limited size (I believe only 3 or 4 choices) and almost 
>always require an oversize fin.  The boots are extra "tall" top to bottom 
>at the toe area to allow lots of room for insulation.  This creates lots 
>of "slop" for your feet when finning.  I've got a size 1 with dry gloves 
>and relief zipper if your in the market for one.    :-)
>
>I'll take my DUI any day for just about any type of diving!
>
>Try one out and you too will be sold!  Some of the dealers have them 
>available for rent or demo.
>
>Later,
>Mike
>
>
>
>>Subject:     DRY suits
>>Sent:        4/6/98 7:49 PM
>>Received:    4/7/98 1:39 PM
>>From:        Frank Johnson, fwjohnson@we*.ne*
>>To:          Cavediver, cavers@ww*.ge*.co*
>>             Techdiver, techdiver@aquanaut.com
>>
>>I see a lot of DUI suits mentioned on this net. Is there a problem with
>>Viking? How's about some pros and cons? -Jeff
>>
>
>
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>To: "Frank Johnson" <fwjohnson@we*.ne*>, "Cavediver"
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>Subject: Re: DRY suits
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