Open cell suit help

So ever since I've gotten in abs I've been using a closed cell suit,recently I've lost weight and my 7mm one piece doesn't fit anymore.so I'm currently using my backup which is a cressi 5mm one piece,also closed cell.

So the 5mm is not as warm n I'm looking to get a new camo suit two piece.now my question for you divers is will the 3.5 open cell be warm enough or would I have to go to a 5mm.id rather be slightly colder then too warm.

So I'm safe to assume that the two pieces will have twice the warmth in the torso so a 3.5 mm two piece in the center will be 7mm in the torso and the arms n legs will be 3.5?
Thanks

I started in a 5mill which was perfect in the summer but on a cold windy day I got cold start to shiver and you're done. My 7mill is much more comfy. Harder to get on and off but worth it to stay warm


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Go 5mm minimum. I use a 5 on the north coast but the 7mm is even better. I recommend Mako. Great suits, great prices, even better customer service.

i'm not a diver but i do get into the chilly waters up north.. 3.5 is not enough.. at least 5 all over in the ocean. when i suit up in my 7mm i can't feel the water but as soon as i take it off, freezing. better to be warm than cold.

but i recently bought a open cell cressi 7MM and it's good but it takes longer to put on and take off. 1 piece 7MM is way faster for me. i can suit up in  a min.

Go 5mm minimum. I use a 5 on the north coast but the 7mm is even better. I recommend Mako. Great suits, great prices, even better customer service.

This
 

6.5-7 mm 

I have a 7mm Yazbek. LOVE IT!
On this particular suit you will not be doubling the thickness at the torso even though it is a 2 piece.
The torso portion of the torso part of the FJ is like a lycra material. Thin. Some people cut it off at the waistline, I left mine attached.
There have been a couple of times I wish I had a 5mm, but I've never been cold in my 7mm. It's a lot easier to cool down than it is to warm up in the ocean.
I totally forget how cold it is until I intentionally allow a little water into the suit...
YIKES!!!!!!
The choice between a 7mm and 5mm is a personal choice. But consider how long you plan on being in the water.
As you become a better and more relaxed diver you will be expending a lot less energy. That translates into less body heat being generated. So what may, at the beginning, feel like a 7mm is too warm, as you become a better diver and settle down in the water it may end up being perfect.

This is the suit I was looking at,and this style

http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mml7xSJ-oploGxUqbuulaZA.jpg

Water temps are getting back to normal again. Was out last week with temps 49 Deg. I have a 7mm two piece/ farmer john open cell. I dove with two others who have 7mm we were all getting cold after 2-3 hours.

7mm open cell. There are a ton of choices. As a 5mm is fine until it starts to compress, age and lose warmth rapidly. You can always let water in to cool off but you cant raise your temp. The spring winds keep the water cool well through June. A 5mm would be fine August through October and thats about it. Get at least 4mm socks if using freedive fins and I like 5mm gloves with kevlar palms and finger tips for ab diving. You will need a lubricant for open cell as well. I use baby shampoo mixed with water. The freedom of motion and movement is a night and day difference between open and closed cell.

If you're ever in Sacramento area, look up the freedive shop in West sacramento. Tell them Joe sent you and they will take good care of you. I used to work there and am still good friends with the owners greg and vanessa.
http://freediveshop.com

As far as suit recommendations, you get what you pay for. So don't go cheap. Middle of the road usually gets you the best bang for you buck. North coast I always wear a 7mm open cell. Because like the other guys said, it's much easier to cool off in the ocean than it is to warm up. You're not gonna warm up much. And definitely not once you get cold.

I could go on and on about this but I'll try to keep it short.

Freedive suits are different from surfing and scuba wetsuits. Most true freedive wetsuits are 2 piece beavertail suits. 1 piece wetsuits are mainly surfing wetsuits and some scuba wetsuits for warm water. There are some 1 piece freedive suits made but they are basically the same as a surf wetsuit. They are only good for warm tropical places and usually are made in 2mm or 1mm. Basically just a rash guard.

The important difference is in the warmth. A 2 piece freedive wetsuit will keep you warmer than a 1 piece, not because of the overlapping material, but because the 2 piece has a better seal than the 1 piece. The zipper is the weak link in the 1 piece because the water will move in and out of the suit thru the zipper when you dive and ascend so the suit isn't doing it job effectively.

And as far as lube for an open cell. I've tried everything from bar soap to the actual wetsuit lube that is sold specifically for putting on open cell suits. The thing that works best is hair conditioner. Any cheap brand will do. Mix some conditioner in a spray bottle with water, 1 to 4 mixture conditioner to water. And make sure you spray every inch of the suit before putting it on. Flip suit inside out then spray head to toe. No such thing as too much. Best part about using conditioner, it stays in the suit even after 4 hrs of diving. And THAT makes it much easier to get the suit off when you're completely wiped out after a long day of diving and swimming.

That was as short as I could make it. If you have more questions let me know. Like I said, I could go on and on about freediving and spearfishing.

Don't forget to go over to the freedive shop in West sacramento. Greg and vanessa will treat you right and answer any questions you might have.

Being stuck in the desert on the other side of the world makes you think about fishing and diving even more than normal. 2 MORE MONTHS LEFT!!!

As far as gloves are concerned; I wear Cressi Camo 2.5mm gloves and LOVE them. I have never gotten cold wearing them and having the dexterity in those as opposed to thicker gloves is night and day for me.
They go on and come off a lot easier too.
I've had various glove thickness (7mm-4mm) before these. I won't ever go back.

Definitely a 7mm open cell.  I use my newer suits up north and save the older worn out compressed suits for diving down south. Using a 5mm at any time of year in Monterey County or north just doesn't make sense to me, but people do it.  I wouldn't go any thinner than 7mm until you decide that a 7mm is too hot for you in all conditions, which is unlikely.

I use 5mm open cell, but tend to do shorter dives of 2-3 hrs.  Never had a problem with being cold.  I like 5mm because it is more flexible, lighter, and can run less weight.  It really is a personal preference.

If you're ever in Sacramento area, look up the freedive shop in West sacramento. Tell them Joe sent you and they will take good care of you. I used to work there and am still good friends with the owners greg and vanessa.
http://freediveshop.com

As far as suit recommendations, you get what you pay for. So don't go cheap. Middle of the road usually gets you the best bang for you buck. North coast I always wear a 7mm open cell. Because like the other guys said, it's much easier to cool off in the ocean than it is to warm up. You're not gonna warm up much. And definitely not once you get cold.

I could go on and on about this but I'll try to keep it short.

Freedive suits are different from surfing and scuba wetsuits. Most true freedive wetsuits are 2 piece beavertail suits. 1 piece wetsuits are mainly surfing wetsuits and some scuba wetsuits for warm water. There are some 1 piece freedive suits made but they are basically the same as a surf wetsuit. They are only good for warm tropical places and usually are made in 2mm or 1mm. Basically just a rash guard.

The important difference is in the warmth. A 2 piece freedive wetsuit will keep you warmer than a 1 piece, not because of the overlapping material, but because the 2 piece has a better seal than the 1 piece. The zipper is the weak link in the 1 piece because the water will move in and out of the suit thru the zipper when you dive and ascend so the suit isn't doing it job effectively.

And as far as lube for an open cell. I've tried everything from bar soap to the actual wetsuit lube that is sold specifically for putting on open cell suits. The thing that works best is hair conditioner. Any cheap brand will do. Mix some conditioner in a spray bottle with water, 1 to 4 mixture conditioner to water. And make sure you spray every inch of the suit before putting it on. Flip suit inside out then spray head to toe. No such thing as too much. Best part about using conditioner, it stays in the suit even after 4 hrs of diving. And THAT makes it much easier to get the suit off when you're completely wiped out after a long day of diving and swimming.

That was as short as I could make it. If you have more questions let me know. Like I said, I could go on and on about freediving and spearfishing.

Don't forget to go over to the freedive shop in West sacramento. Greg and vanessa will treat you right and answer any questions you might have.

Being stuck in the desert on the other side of the world makes you think about fishing and diving even more than normal. 2 MORE MONTHS LEFT!!!

I got my speargun from there,it's a hammerhead ,I've also have them service my bands and such when needed.