A GUIDE TO ORDER A TAILORMADE ELIOSSUB SUIT.

By Sebastian /Sweden Owner of five EliosSub suits. (sebastian @ webvideo.nu)

 

1. Ask yourself what you will use the suit for. Competition? Training? Pool? Outdoor? Depth? Can you afford two suits? Can you afford changing suit every two years? Do you get easily cold?

 

2. Choose type of NEOPRENE.

Neoprene are made by different manufacturers (Heiwa, Yamamoto, Freedown) Š they all have slightly different qualities. Heiwa is said to be more durable. Yamamoto more stretchable. Freedown is very smooth.

 

3. Choose QUALITY OF NEOPRENE. ECOLINE is somewhat cheaper. NEOFLEX professional is somewhat better and slightly more expensive.

 

4. Choose DENSITY of neoprene. Light, medium or heavy density. The more density the more durable but less flexibility. Heavy density also doesnÕt get as much compressed in the deep. (Hint: It is said among freedivers that there is very little buoyancy change even in medium density. HD suits are actually for divers staying at depth for long periods).

 

5. Choose THICKNESS of suit. The thicker the warmer. The thinner the more flexible. DonÕt  worry about getting to warm Š If so, just let water enter the suit. A thicker suit will change more in buoyancy at depth Š compared to a thin suit.

 

6. OUTSIDE LINING If you freedive outdoor for recreation/training you need to protect the open cell/smoothskin from cliffs. You need a outside lining. With smoothskin open cell you will glide more (competition) but it gets thorn more easily.

 

7. INSIDE LINING. Without lining (open cell) the suit will stick to your body (therefore enhance warmness) and be more flexible, BUT you will need lubrication (soap) to get into it. To avoid this you can choose a coating. A coating will make it slide more easily onto your body but you will loose the advantages of open cell. Coating is NOT a lining. If you need more durability then choose an inner lining. Most coatings are made to reflect heat.

 

REMEMBER

- A common solution for freedivers is Heiwa medium density with an inner coating. If competing choose smoothskin on the outside, if training in wear and tear environment choose an outer lining.

- You cannot combine a stretchy inner lining with a more rigid outer lining and vice versa.

- DonÕt try to buy one suit that will do two things for you.

- Jacket and trousers doesnÕt have to be same linings and thicknesses.

- You can buy an extra jacket that is thicker for winter freediving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FACTS ABOUT ELIOSSUB MATERIALS:

 

NEOPRENE

 

Yamamoto 45, ultra soft, ultra comfortable, but more delicate but not as much resistant to compression in the deep.

 

Heiwa, very elastic, warm and resistant to compression.

 

Ecoline, elastic, soft and cheaper, but not as high quality.

 

Freedown is a new neoprene made in Smoothskin slide on the outside (fastest suit). This is the best neoprene for deep competition dives. It is the fastest suit we make. And it is even more durable than different coatings.

 

There is also a sandwich choice with for instance two neoprene layers on each side of nylon.

 

COATINGS (are painted on the open cell)

 

Titanium (first generation)- the cheapest coating.

Gold coating (the second generation) warmer and more

resistant to wear and tear.

 

 

GOLD, BLACK and COPPER coating are the most expensive, also because they are combined with Neoflex professional neoprene.

 

LINING that only goes on the inside.

 

Thermic plush is the classic solution, resistant, easy to wear and warm (this is the cheapest). This is a good solution if you need a suit that you quickly can get into..

 

Thermic pile is a new lining, little less hairy, but ultra stretchy and warm (used by scubadivers and people that want an elastic but resistant suit).

 

Superelastic lining. A common choice. Goes well with smoothskin on the outside. Classic choice for athletes who dont need tha hassle of soap.

 

 

 

LINING that is made for the outside.

 

- Elastic nylon.

 

- Lycra is a lining, used by scubadivers because it has very bright colors and also by spearfishers because it is more durable against tears and cutting (but it's little less elastic!)

 

- Anti-tear is a special brush-nylon that is very very resistant, used for people who work under water.

 

- Shark-skin is made with rubber (like smoothskin) but the surface is made with "Scales".

It's more resistant than classic smoothskin BUT less slide in the water.

 

- Kanoko is a new fabric, more elastic than classic nylon standard, and more durable.

Used by freedivers that want a more durable suit but also a stretchable suit. This suit will last longer.

 

- Smoothskin (is not a lining) the open cell has been made smoother. Delicate.

 

MAKE YOUR CHOICES

 

1.       Type of neoprene

2.       Density of neoprene

3.       Ecoline or neoflex

4.       Thickness of suit

5.       Long Johns or high waist. Freedivers usually choose jacket with hood, otherwise water can slip in to the suit when swimming fast.

6.       Inside; lining, coating or smoothcell or open cell.

7.       Outside; lining or smoothcell or sharkskin.

8.       Color

 

MEASURE YOURSELF

 

Perfect guide here:

http://www.eliossub.com/html/tailor_made.html

also check guidance here:

http://www.eliossub.com/html/tailor_made.pdf

I have a feeling EliosSub likes to make tight suits. I have lately taken to adding 0.5-1 cm to all measurements, specially on a thicker more rigid suit.

 

Well thats it

 

Sebastian (EliosSub fan) info @ webvideo.nu