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Viking Pro 1000 First impressions The suit looks expensive and professional; the material appears stretchy but looks easy to puncture. However, it is a tidy-looking suit. Price £675 (includes repair kit, hose and bag). Material and construction An all-rubber suit with vulcanised seams throughout and a reinforced crotch. The lining is of a canvas-style material. An extra layer of durable rubber is applied at the shoulders, backside, thighs to knee, shin and ankle. "It's just like the Viking I used to own. It has the same strengths and the same faults." Boots The soles of the boots look to be very good quality. "They are too wide for my normal fins. Large-width fins are recommended." Zip The standard zip is well bonded to the suit and reinforced on the outside. Seals It has long conical latex neck and wrist seals. The neck seal is not taped on the inside. Wrist seal contact length 45mm. Knee pads There is a reinforced knee and shin guard (see above). Valves It has Viking inflation and automatic dump valves. We thought the shoulder dump valve might be easy to snag at the point where it meets the rubber of the sleeve, especially as it stands so proud. There is a reinforcing gasket on the inside of the inflator valve. Other features The braces are easily adjustable and detachable, but are stitched into the seam in such a way that they look fragile and ready to part company. Ease of dressing "It does not slip on easily because the inside of the suit, together with the outside of a typical undersuit, causes too much friction." In the water "I felt that this suit was not comfortable and was restrictive both under water and above. The inflation valve seemed stiff and admitted air only slowly. It was stiff to operate when my fingers were cold. There were no leaks." Approximate weight of test suit 5kg. Made-to-measure service Stock sizes. Tested by Gerry Gooch. |
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