A GUIDE TO ORDER A TAILORMADE ELIOSSUB SUIT.

By Sebastian /Sweden  info @ webvideo.com Owner of six E-suits
http://www.eliossub.com

1. Ask yourself what you will use the suit for. Competition? Training? Pool? Outdoor? Depth? Can you afford two suits? Can you afford changing suit every two years? Do you easily get cold?

2. Choose type of NEOPRENE.

Neoprene are made by different manufacturers (Heiwa, Yamamoto, Freedown) – they all have slightly different qualities. Heiwa is said to be more durable. Yamamoto more stretchable. Freedown is very smooth.

3. Choose QUALITY OF NEOPRENE. ECOLINE is somewhat cheaper. NEOFLEX professional is somewhat better and slightly more expensive.

4. Choose DENSITY of neoprene. Light, medium or heavy density. The more density the more durable but less flexibility. Heavy density also doesn’t get as much compressed in the deep. (Hint: It is said among freedivers that there is very little buoyancy change even in medium density. HD suits are actually for divers staying at depth for long periods).

5. Choose THICKNESS of suit. The thicker the warmer. The thinner the more flexible. Don’t  worry about getting to warm – If so, just let water enter the suit. A thicker suit will change more in buoyancy at depth – compared to a thin suit.

6. OUTSIDE LINING If you freedive outdoor for recreation/training you need to protect the open cell/smoothskin from cliffs. You need a outside lining. With smoothskin open cell you will glide more (competition) but it gets thorn more easily.

7. INSIDE LINING. Without lining (open cell) the suit will stick to your body (therefore enhance warmness) and be more flexible, BUT you will need lubrication (soap) to get into it. To avoid this you can choose a coating. A coating will make it slide more easily onto your body but you will loose the advantages of open cell. Coating is NOT a lining. If you need more durability then choose an inner lining. Most coatings are made to reflect heat.

REMEMBER

- A common solution for freedivers is Heiwa medium density with an inner coating. If competing choose smoothskin on the outside, if training in wear and tear environment choose an outer lining.

- You cannot combine a stretchy inner lining with a more rigid outer lining and vice versa.

- Don’t try to buy one suit that will do two things for you.

- Jacket and trousers doesn’t have to be same linings and thicknesses.

- You can buy an extra jacket that is thicker for winter freediving.

- High waist gives your more breathing, less water under the jacket and if you have some needs… you dont have to take the whole jacket of.

- Long John gives more neoprene over the essential torso that has to be warm (colder countries) but a thinner ”extra suit” (2mm tight vest) is said to be more effective solution.

- It will take some e-mail correspondance to finish of your order since Eliossub is very keen on details. Do express yourself as clearly/simpel as possible since their english is not perfect.
FACTS ABOUT ELIOSSUB MATERIALS:

NEOPRENE

Yamamoto 45, ultra soft, ultra comfortable, but more delicate but not as much resistant to compression in the deep.

Heiwa, very elastic, warm and resistant to compression.

Ecoline, elastic, soft and cheaper, but not as high quality.

Freedown is a new neoprene made in Smoothskin slide on the outside (fastest suit). This is the best neoprene for deep competition dives. It is the fastest suit they make. And it is even more durable than different coatings.

There is also a sandwich choice with for instance two neoprene layers on each side of nylon stretch.

COATINGS (are painted on the open cell)

Titanium (first generation)- the cheapest coating.

Gold coating (the second generation) warmer and more

resistant to wear and tear.

Black Coating (the last generation) very warm and durable but not as easy to get into as copper.Black coating smooth is another choice which slides on more easily.

Copper coating and the new Black coating, is a painting put over smoothskin (not over open cell), But it is a little less elastic and little less adherent to the body compared to open cell.

Copper coating and the new Black coating, is a painting put over smoothskin (not over open cell), so is very very easy to wear and slide into. But it is a little less elastic and little less adherent to the body.

Gold, black and copper coating are the most expensive, also because they are combined with Neoflex professional neoprene.

LINING that only goes on the inside.

Thermic plush is the classic solution, resistant, easy to wear and warm (this is the cheapest).

Thermic pile is a new lining, little less hairy, but ultra stretchy and warm (used by scubadivers and people that want an elastic but resistant suit).

Superelastic lining. A common choice. Goes well with smoothskin on the outside.

LINING that is made for the outside.

- Elastic nylon.

- Lycra is a lining, used by scubadivers because it has very bright colors and also by spearfishers because it is more durable against tears and cutting (but it's little less elastic!)

- Anti-tear is a special brush-nylon that is very very resistant, used for people who work under water.

- Shark-skin is made with rubber (like smoothskin) but the surface is made with "Scales".

It's more resistant than classic smoothskin BUT less slide in the water.

- Kanoko is a new fabric, more elastic than classic nylon standard, and more durable.

Used by freedivers that want a more durable suit but also a stretchable suit. This suit will last longer. Comes only with open cell or copper coating on inside.

- Smoothskin (is not a lining) the open cell has been made smoother. Delicate.

WHICH IS STRONGEST /WHICH IS MOST ELASTIC?

Grade of Elasticity:

1° Superelastic

2° Nylon superstretch

3° Kanoko elastic

4° Nylon elastic

5° Nylon standard

Grade of durability:

1° Kanoko elastic

2° Nylon superstretch

3° Nylon standard

4° Nylon elastic

5° Superelastic

MAKE YOUR CHOICES

1.       Type of neoprene

2.       Density of neoprene

3.       Ecoline or neoflex

4.       Thickness of suit

5.       Long Johns or high waist. Freedivers usually choose jacket with hood, otherwise water can slip in to the suit when swimming fast.

6.       Inside; lining, coating or smoothcell or open cell.

7.       Outside; lining or smoothcell or sharkskin.

8.       Color

MEASURE YOURSELF

Perfect guide here:

http://www.eliossub.com/html/tailor_made.html

also check guidance here:

http://www.eliossub.com/html/tailor_made.pdf

I have a feeling EliosSub likes to make tight suits. I have lately taken to adding 0.5-1 cm to all measurements, specially on a thicker more rigid suit.

MY SUGGESTION

-One idea is to have a suit that you can turn inside out. Smoothskin glide on one side and superstretch nylon on one side. Either side can go out. Works well - friend of mine tested it.

- Another idea is to gor for a 3mm suit and buy a 3 mm shorty for those early/late season dives. A shorty on the outside will keep you warm during warm-up.

MEASURE:
PICTURE

Arm length
keep your arm in normal position by your side and measure from tip of
humerus to wrist bone

Chest measurement
proceed as follows: 1. Raise your arms 2. Take the chest
measurement well below the armpits 3. Lower your arms 4. Take the
chest measurement with the tape close fitting under the armpits, in a
relaxed position and breathing normally
Women need to measure over breasts and a second measure under breasts

Shoulder-blade/crotch length
place the tape measure on the backbone and measure from the first
vertebra at the base of the neck to halfway sown the curve of the
buttocks 4 cm beneath the coccyx

Waist
measure at the level of the navel

Pelvis
Measure over the buttoks on the widest part.

Thigh
measure at the widest point

Calf
measure at the widest point

Inside leg
measure length from crotch to ankle bone

Head circumference
measure at the forehead

Neck
measure at the centre of the neck on the Adam's apple // Indicate in a
separate note if the neck is visibly long or short and if the chin is
particularly pronounced

Biceps
with your arm at your side measure at the centre of the muscle

Forearm circumference
measure at the widest point a few centimetres below the elbow

Wrist
measure at the smallest point

Ankle
measure a few millimetres above the ankle bone

Shoulder breadth
lay the tape measure on your shoulders and measure the breadth from
tip of humerus to tip of humerus.

Overall heigth

SIX OPTIONS WITH PRICES 2004

1) Poor freedivers suit for training/recreation:

Ecoline neoprene

outside: Nylon stretch

Inside: Titanium

Long John 5mm

Jacket with hood 5mm

Socks and gloves 5mm

- Standard size Euro 165,00

- Tailor made Euro 193,00

1B) Same suit without inner coating:

Ecoline

outside: Nylon stretch

Inside: Open cell

Long John 5mm

Jacket with hood 5mm

Standard size Euro 123,00

Tailormade Euro151,00

2) Poor freedivers competition suit.

Ecoline

outside: Smoothskin

Inside: Open cell (needs soap)

Long John 5mm

Jacket with hood 3mm

Euro 138,00 in standard size

Euro 166,00 in tailor made

3) Rich freedivers training/recreation suit.

Neoflex Heiwa medium density.

outside: Nylon superstretch

Inside: Black coating

Long John 5mm , Jacket with hood 5mm

Suit in standard size Euro 224,00

Suit in tailor made Euro 252,00

4) Rich freedivers competition suit.

Neoflex FREEDOWN

outside: SuperSmoothskin

Inside: Open Slide Cell

Long John 5mm, Jacket with hood 3mm

Suit in standard size Euro 224,00

Suit in tailor made Euro 252,00

4b) Rich freedivers competition suit.

Neoprene Yamamoto 45

outside: Smoothskin

Inside: Gold coating

Long John 5mm , Jacket with hood 3mm

Suit in standard size Euro 238,00

Suit in tailor made Euro 266,00

5)  Sensible freedivers training/recreation suit.

Neoflex Heiwa medium density.

outside: Nylon stretch

Inside: copper coating

Long John 5mm , Jacket with hood 5mm

Suit in standard size 200,00

Suit in tailor made Euro 228,00

ALL SOCKS ABOUT 19.00 TO 23.00 EURO

ALL GLOVES ABOUT 19 TO 23 EURO

FREIGHT COSTS TO SWEDEN (ONE SUIT):

1) Euro 28,00 by normal post service and payment directly at post office (12 days ship)

2) Euro 34,00 by Quick Pack post and payment by bank account or Credit Card (6 days ship)

3) Euro 38,00 by EMS CAI post and payment by bank account or Credit Card (3 days ship)