What's your favorite 5mm wetsuit under $300.

[aussie]

I know wetties have been covered a lot on the board and indeed a lot has to do with fit. But I'd like to know what 5mm wetsuits have been your favorite over the years keeping in mind the following.

Warmth

Value for money

Durability

I'm looking at the Cressi Tecnica which I can purchase for $250. I own the 3.5mm but have only worn it a handful of times. I also own the Riffe 7mm which although a little snug under the arms is an excellent suit.

Thanks in advance.

[tailsurfer]

Mako 5mm

[32Juan]

+1 for Mako. I love mine.

[John Hughes]

Those Cressi's look like good suits, I've often thought about trying one out

[Fins 1986]

I own the 5mil Cressi and have had it for a year now. I absolutely love it, it has no rips or cracks in it. On a dive like today the water was around 60 degrees and all I had to do is pop off my hood. I use hair conditioner to lube up my suit to put it on and it works great. It is very comfortable and durable it is by far my favorite and I paid $250 too, I have also seen and heard of the Mako and Have used The Hawaii Skin Diver Flounder suit, but it's camo doesn't really fit into the So Cal environment but they have tons of camo designs.

[classtimesailer]

Apnea. I have a 3 year old Legend. Never had to repair it. 95% shore dives. I understand the new ones are even better.

[Myrran]

Originally Posted by Fins 1986

I own the 5mil Cressi and have had it for a year now. I absolutely love it, it has no rips or cracks in it. On a dive like today the water was around 60 degrees and all I had to do is pop off my hood. I use hair conditioner to lube up my suit to put it on and it works great. It is very comfortable and durable it is by far my favorite and I paid $250 too, I have also seen and heard of the Mako and Have used The Hawaii Skin Diver Flounder suit, but it's camo doesn't really fit into the So Cal environment but they have tons of camo designs.

+1 for the Cressi. I love my 5 mil. Thing is showtime for sure. Great suit super warm and flexible. Highly recommend this suit.

[ddonnell]

I have the Cressi Technica in 5mm. Great suit. Almost a year old and no tears in the rubber at all. If you are getting it from scubastore, play the stock market. I picked mine up when the euro was low and got it for around $190

[lobzila]

M+B. Yeah its over 300, but they last longer and fit better and the money is well spent. You will go through two off the rack suits before you wear one out and then you will have spent more then the first 300 you started with.

[Kraken]

CRESSI!!!! Best suit I ever owned...Sold my last one just to get the newer model and I like it even more if thats possible.

[Namor]

Originally Posted by classtimesailer

Apnea. I have a 3 year old Legend. Never had to repair it. 95% shore dives. I understand the new ones are even better.

Yup, the new ones are GatKu's. I have one and its so good and warm I can hardly believe it. I bought it after coveting my two buds, Apnea suits that are good as new after years of hard use. Under 270 shipped and the owner of the company threw in free booties and a thing of glue. it also comes with a knife pocket. nice muted camo, and only one logo on each piece, I muted my logo with a brown sharpie.

Every spot that my Yazbeck that failed is double reinforced with 2 or 3 rows of stitching and extra material on the GatKu. This suit is so rad, I honestly dont know why anyone buys anything else.

Jeremy

[osfdrums]

Originally Posted by Namor

Yup, the new ones are GatKu's. I have one and its so good and warm I can hardly believe it. I bought it after coveting my two buds, Apnea suits that are good as new after years of hard use. Under 270 shipped and the owner of the company threw in free booties and a thing of glue. it also comes with a knife pocket. nice muted camo, and only one logo on each piece, I muted my logo with a brown sharpie.

Every spot that my Yazbeck that failed is double reinforced with 2 or 3 rows of stitching and extra material on the GatKu. This suit is so rad, I honestly dont know why anyone buys anything else.

Jeremy

ummmm yes and yes I just got a Gat-KU 5mmm and love it... J&J hooked it up. plus if you're coming from LA J&J is not too far and Gat-Ku's shop is in El Cajon I believe. $232 out the door : )

[NaClAddict]

Been happy with the old green/black picasso suits. Picked up a 5mm and a 7mm at a sale for under $350 total!

[dmvadala]

one more for the GatKu, Dustin threw in booties, glue and dive knife for ten bucks. Great customer service. super warm and super soft. I have never been cold in it. I poked holes in the hood wear my ears are to let water in and out to equalize on deep dives and still have not gotten cold. My two cents.

[MOTO 619]

I bought the new Riffe Cryptic Camo 5mm when they first came out at James & Joseph a little over a year ago, and for the first 2 months it was nice. Now, I get cold in 64f water in about an hour. The suit leaks, the hood had so much extra material around the face that it is now torn in multiply places (this actually happened in the first month) . The 'special' coating Riffe puts on the inside of the suit has now worn off.

I care for my gear meticulously. I dive on avg of 1-2 times per week.

I was hoping the suit would last 2 seasons AT LEAST. I got a solid 3-4 months before the suit started leaking in water and chilling me. The cold water winter sucked for me big time. Multiply times coming onto the boat in bone shivering condition. It made me hate WSB a lot looking back at it.

In Riffe's defense I did hear they had some issues with some of the first runs on their suits. Maybe I got one of those, I don't know. I do know I will be looking to buy another suit from another maker unfortunately. I liked supporting a local dive company but being painfully cold is hard to forgive.