Hydroglove

[Bronze06]

I feel like such an idiot. All this time when folks on the forum were talking about vintage (ancient) dry suits, I thought that were using 40-50 year old suits. I then saw Solanda828's posting of the modified "Hydro glove" as well as the post about the Chinese walk in and the interest was peaked. Questions!!!!! Do you like the .025, .030 or the Heavy .045.? Neck seal, or full hood? Do you recommend the additional .020 double dipped boots? And what about glove options? Glove Seal Rings, etc.? How durable have they been in your experience?
Even here in the Red Sea, I wouldn't mind having one. I've used modern Drysuits, but they are way over-priced on most occasions and generally can be a maintenance pain in the rear over time. I am swinging to a full hood .030 with double dip boots. Can you all give me your read on this and what has worked for you? Any other pictures you all have with you in this rig would be cool as well.

Thanks Again

[swimjim]

Here's Rob diving his. He'd be your go to guy.........

https://vimeo.com/24956743

Jim

[Bryan]

Use the search feature Hydroglove will come up a lot. Ron has worked with them quite a bit so between he and Rob you should get all your answers.

[antique diver]

I have both the neck seal and the hooded Hydrogloves, but personally I much prefer the neck seal. I stay dryer, and have the option of diving with any hood I want or going without as conditions warrant. It's nice to add an inflator to keep the volume fairly constant for comfort, warmth and buoyancy control.

The hooded suit has the advantage of letting you add air to the suit via your mask skirt, but I don't like the added trouble in clearing my ears. Also it tends to let more water in, but that could also be due to a partial beard and maybe it doesn't fit my face snug enough.

I have had 3 Hydrogloves over a 4 or 5 year period, and I currently have the thin hooded model and the slightly thicker one with neck seal, but there is not a great difference in feel. On my particular suits the single boots fit fine and are stretchy, but one with the double dip feels smaller since it doesn't stretch near as easily. I thought I would like the more durable double dip, but it's just not as comfortable on me.

I don't think I would like the 0.045 suit, but I would like to hear from anyone who has one about the comfort.

Overall, I like diving with these soft and flexible suits. If I need abrasion protection for certain dives I just wear stretch poly pants and top over the rubber. Still have two DUI dry suits that I seldom wear anymore except for working dives around sharp objects.

BTW, you can buy a new Hydroglove for about the cost of having new neck and wrist seals put on your expensive conventional drysuit!

[Bryan]

I stand corrected...Bill knows whats what too. ..

[antique diver]

I stand corrected...Bill knows whats what too. ..

Still learning!

[swimjim]

I own a Hydroglove, but I'm still learning it. My personal dry suit I use in Lake Michigan is a DUI CF 200. My work suit for dive rescue is a DUI TLS 350 SAR version. My DUI's are much easier to don and doff and can be used with all the modern bells and whistles. On the other hand, my Hydroglove can be used totally vintage. I really like being a "Manfish" even though I tend to get a bit wetter in the process. Even when I get the process mastered I think I'll get wetter in the process with the Hydroglove. That being said, I dove a double 72 twin set at Fortune Pond down to 140 feet in 38 degree water. I wasn't totally dialed in and got wet. On the other hand, I was still warm and comfy during the dive. While I haven't perfected things yet, it's still something I wish to pursue. I am going to buy a heavier suit. I will buy one with the hood attached. I do not think I will do a chest inflator on it. I think it will be cool to be able to use one of my Mistrals or my Faux 50 Fathom or even my DivAir and dive "dry"

[Creed]

I recently bought a neck seal suit. I plan on hitting the water soon with my Kraken for testing. I'm testing it stock first. I'm also looking at adding valves for deeper dives. I've considered buying a separate top for that, so that I can alternate.

[Dave2]

I recently bought a neck seal suit. I plan on hitting the water soon with my Kraken for testing. I'm testing it stock first. I'm also looking at adding valves for deeper dives. I've considered buying a separate top for that, so that I can alternate.

How did it turn out?

[Creed]

How did it turn out?

Works great. I've used it twice. The first time, I might have had some minor seepage at the waist. Hard to tell since I had just done a bike ride and was somewhat sweaty. The second time, I used the waist band, and it was dry. Just threw it on over a pair of sweats and I was warm in Monterey Bay, California. I had left my computer at home, so I'm not sure what the water temp was, but it's never warm water in Monterey.

[Bryan]

If I had a black hood with big white ovals painted on the sides I would defiantly be mistaken for a killer whale when I wear mine....And not in a good way Comedy gold I tell ya.

The last time I used mine I wore a 1mm surfer jumpsuit style wetsuit under it and stayed warm even though it leaked a bit....But I've never had luck getting mine to stay completely dry.

[antique diver]

.... The last time I used mine I wore a 1mm surfer jumpsuit style wetsuit under it and stayed warm even though it leaked a bit....But I've never had luck getting mine to stay completely dry.

Seems like the best trick I learned about wearing dry/damp suits is to wear good Polypro fleece undergarments. The dry suits generally just seep small amounts of water that is quickly absorbed into the fibers and is rapidly warmed up while I remain comfortable. I hardly notice being damp, if at all, until I get undressed. At any rate I still stay significantly warmer than if I were in a wetsuit. If you wear anything else under your Hydroglove instead of fleece type garments, you will definitely feel the water as it gets in, and you know it all through the dive.

[Creed]

I use the neck seal, so my head stays wet, but I don't have to deal with adding air through the mask and such. Since I am usually sporting a beard, hoods tend to leak anyway, so I planned for that and just got a neoprene drysuit hood to go with the Hydroglove. With the addition of the waist band, I think I'm good to go for now.

[antique diver]

I use the neck seal, so my head stays wet, but I don't have to deal with adding air through the mask and such. Since I am usually sporting a beard, hoods tend to leak anyway, so I planned for that and just got a neoprene drysuit hood to go with the Hydroglove. With the addition of the waist band, I think I'm good to go for now.

The neck seal version with a neoprene hood is the most comfortable configuration that I have found too. I doubt that my hooded top will see much action in the future since it leaks around my face and also makes it more difficult to equalize my ears. I have used it enough in the past to appreciate the convenience of adding air in the vintage manner, but I just get too wet sometimes even for the fleece to sop up. I think for the vintage configuration I would rather go with Ron's version in which he added an old style oral inflator tube. When nobody is looking I prefer to use my top that I installed a modern DUI inflator on.

[Bronze06]

Hey Folks,
I am over on the Persian Gulf side right now and have my new Hydroglove waiting for me back on the Red Sea side. We'll meet for the first time hopefully the Sunday after next. Can't wait. Thanks for all the advice!