by Dan
XSpan 7 mm Wet Suit (photo courtesy of NeoSport)
I received the Neo-Sport X-Span 7 mm wet suit for review. The wet suit is made out of a foam neoprene which allows for the suit to stretch in all directions. The suit is black with the company logo on it in a few different spots. It is a one piece suit and zips up in the back. The suit stretches enough so it’s a comfortable, close fit but I can still move around in. The sleeve and legs are full length with the cuffs being a bit tighter to allow for a better seal and less water traveling through the suit.
The wet suit is meant for cooler waters such as we have along the central coast of Maine. I plan on trying the suit out in the ponds and bays along the central Maine coast. The water temperature for ponds for the last couple weeks has been about 70F while the bay I go to is about 60-65F depending on which way the current is going. I am currently going for my advance open water SCUBA diving license. We will be in water depths up to and around 70ft. As the season goes one, the water temperatures will drop considerably.
Check back in about a month for an update on how the wet suit works as the temperatures drop, and how it holds up with repeated use.
UPDATE
11/10/10
I have gone diving many times now with the Neo-Sport X-Span off the coast of Maine. The water temperature range was in the 50s F and colder, depending on the direction of the current. I have grown to like the wet suit. It allows for easy movement and good insulation. I like to be able to dive in the water and be warm enough to swim as long as my air tank will allow me. Air has been more of a limiting factor than warmth.
Dan on the Maine Coast
As I would walk into the water the wet suit would allow water to slowly enter rather than like some other wet suits I have used that the water would just rush in and you would get chilled right from the start. The ankles, wrist and neck holes have a nice tight fit which is great at keeping cold water from coming in too quickly. By seeping in slowly, the water has a chance to warm. At just over 6’ 3”, I have very long arms and legs, and found the suit fit well. I had great range of motion, with no restrictions to my movements.
On one trip we went drift diving out in the bay. Drift diving is where you basically just let the current do all the work of moving you along. We were in fairly shallow water of about 30-40ft. The water temperature for that dive was roughly 55F. My 2 dive buddies and myself searched the sea floor for shells, old glass bottles, fish and other underwater life. We saw numerous crabs and star fish, scallop shells but the most interesting was the old glass medicine bottles that we found. One bottle had markings that said the company was established in 1843. The whole dive I was warm and was able to concentrate on where I was and enjoy all the sights. I can’t wait till my next dive and what else I will find. I was recently received my Advanced Diving Certification, and am going to be taking a Rescue Diving course in the spring, so I will have an update then on this review.
[...] Neo-Sport X-Span Wet Suit [...]