Just for the record DUI CF200's do tear. I sold one to a customer of mine
and when we went out to the local lake and completed a dive, upon exiting
the water he noticed his foot was wet- he had a tear on the top of his boot
about inch and a half long. This was a brand new suit. We can only guess it
must have been broken glass or a sharp rock. When I called DUI for proper
repair procedures they told me to use AQUASEAL to repair it. Keep in mind
the boot material is the same as the rest of the suit- proprietary crushed
neoprene. Also keep in mind most people require two pair of thick wool socks
to keep their feet warm in cold water ( 45 degrees F.) with DUI boots. Other
boot styles such as Bare or Typhoon usually get by with light tube socks.

David.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Wells <mike.wells@cm*.co*>
To: MAG Man <mag_man@de*.bb*.co*>; Cavediver <cavers@ww*.ge*.co*>;
Frank Johnson <fwjohnson@we*.ne*>; Techdiver <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Date: Saturday, April 11, 1998 3:19 AM
Subject: Re: DRY suits


>>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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>>From: Mike Wells <mike.wells@cm*.co*>
>>Date: Tue, 7 Apr 98 14:01:50 -0000
>>To: "Frank Johnson" <fwjohnson@we*.ne*>, "Cavediver"
><cavers@ww*.ge*.co*>,
>>        "Techdiver" <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
>>Subject: Re: DRY suits
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