|
20 DRY SUITS Aquatek X480 Aquion Pro Rear-Entry Beaver Iceberg Ultra Body Glove Pro-Lite Diamond Saxon 200 DMS Atlantis DUI FLX50/50 Gates PRO-VSN 1100 GUL Commercial Hydrotech Evolution IST Dive Team Proline Northern Diver Vortex Oceanic Flex O'Three RI 2/500 Otter Technical Superskin Poseidon Jetsuit TNG Roho Tech Seaway Arctic Pro Typhoon Nexus Viking Pro 1000 Return to GEAR Page |
Beaver Iceberg Ultra First impressions This suit looks like a conventional neoprene drysuit. Price £525 (includes hood and hose). Material and construction Made from (not very) compressed neoprene with few panels and therefore the minimum number of seams that might leak. A simple approach to drysuit design with evidence of neat stitching throughout; reinforced at the armpits and crotch with internal patches. Boots Comfortable neoprene boots, well covered with rubber. Zip The standard cross-shoulder zip was seen to be very well glued and stitched externally; also glued internally. Seals The conical latex wrist seals and bellows-style neck seal are glued and taped internally. Wrist seal contact length 30mm. Knee pads Rubber knee pads. Valves The Si Tech inflator valve, which rotates through 360°, can be used with the direct-feed hose from any angle. The low-profile Si Tech auto-dump valve "was a delight to use", and both valves have dust filters to avoid the ingress of talc. Other features A single small open pocket. Ease of dressing "It proved very comfortable and stretchy, but I imagine you could get extremely hot in it. It felt bulky by current standards. The towelling lining was comfy but would be very difficult to dry out if it got wet." In the water "It felt slightly restrictive, just like old-fashioned neoprene drysuits used to do. I experienced a slight loss of air and ingress of water at the wrists. This would obviously be an ideal suit to use up north in Scapa Flow. The Si Tech valve was very easy to use." Approximate weight of test suit 5.5kg. Made-to-measure service Yes. Tested by George Buxton. |
 
|