New PVC suit
- Thread starter Sausagebun
- Start date
Andy Sparrow
Active member
seddon said:
Yes, indeed. I am 6'3" and 14 stone (an XL in Warmbac and 3B in Meander) and size 4 is too small for me. We could determine very little difference between sizes 4, 3 and 2. Size 1 is probably equivalent to a Warmbac medium. I am told by Lyon that new sizes, and a sizing chart are in preparation. In the meantime I would strongly urge trying before you buy. Come and see for yourself at caveclimb.com this Saturday.
TheBitterEnd
Well-known member
hrock
New member
you joke about it but a friends flicker account has some very dubious friend that only seem to like photos of men in pvc suits. still its great that cave photography is reaching a wider audience even if that does mean that you then need a wipe clean suit.
i think Tim Allen has had one on test for a bit to and he is tall. from trying one on i would say that the size is more about volume if your tall the suit seems to get longer (unless it cant due to reaching max volume) but if your short and wide then the length seems to go side ways in stead.
they seem very good but i think i have to kill my currant suit first.
i think Tim Allen has had one on test for a bit to and he is tall. from trying one on i would say that the size is more about volume if your tall the suit seems to get longer (unless it cant due to reaching max volume) but if your short and wide then the length seems to go side ways in stead.
they seem very good but i think i have to kill my currant suit first.
We had two of these suits on test, with thanks to Lyon and Hitch n Hike. They are not PVC.
We were fortunate that we fitted perfectly the two suits that were offered. However, I've no idea on the finished sizing that has hit the shops.
When new, these suits are fantastic to wear. One friend describing them as being like wearing silk pyjamas. Certainly I was very comfortable in mine and liked the slight stretch the material offers.
It is worth remembering that wear and tear will very much depend on how and where the suit is used. I know cavers who are still using Petzl PVC yellow suit which hasn't been around for more than a decade. Others can trash a new suit (of any kind) in just a few months.
We used these suits for exploring a new cave and there were quite a number of sharp projections. Unfortunately both suits were trashed in twelve trips. My assessment is that they puncture easily. They do not, however, rip very easily. So any flake, spike, crystal etc will make a hole in the suit but it will not spread as a rip. In comparison to a Meander I would say that the Lyon suit punctures more easily, but unlike a Meander it will not then tear. Meander suits are more resistant in respect of a puncture, but often once punctured will then go on to create a big tear. I cannot emphasise enough that we used them in a very 'sharp' cave, although in that cave, Meander suits faired much better. My suit now has 20-30 inch long holes in all parts of the suit and a completely shredded area in the backside.
As far as I know Lyon has not offered any advice regarding repair and the new suits do not come with repair kits. My caving mate tried five different glues before finding one that stuck (a Howdens kitchen contact adhesive I think). We had no spare material so he used bicycle inner tube which did the job.
Lyon will need to address the repair issue soon but I think the suit has the potential for taking over from the Meander as the 'de facto' suit for cold, wet, muddy UK caving. Not that there is much choice and cavers will need to dig a little deeper in their pockets for it, as well as their caves.
We were fortunate that we fitted perfectly the two suits that were offered. However, I've no idea on the finished sizing that has hit the shops.
When new, these suits are fantastic to wear. One friend describing them as being like wearing silk pyjamas. Certainly I was very comfortable in mine and liked the slight stretch the material offers.
It is worth remembering that wear and tear will very much depend on how and where the suit is used. I know cavers who are still using Petzl PVC yellow suit which hasn't been around for more than a decade. Others can trash a new suit (of any kind) in just a few months.
We used these suits for exploring a new cave and there were quite a number of sharp projections. Unfortunately both suits were trashed in twelve trips. My assessment is that they puncture easily. They do not, however, rip very easily. So any flake, spike, crystal etc will make a hole in the suit but it will not spread as a rip. In comparison to a Meander I would say that the Lyon suit punctures more easily, but unlike a Meander it will not then tear. Meander suits are more resistant in respect of a puncture, but often once punctured will then go on to create a big tear. I cannot emphasise enough that we used them in a very 'sharp' cave, although in that cave, Meander suits faired much better. My suit now has 20-30 inch long holes in all parts of the suit and a completely shredded area in the backside.
As far as I know Lyon has not offered any advice regarding repair and the new suits do not come with repair kits. My caving mate tried five different glues before finding one that stuck (a Howdens kitchen contact adhesive I think). We had no spare material so he used bicycle inner tube which did the job.
Lyon will need to address the repair issue soon but I think the suit has the potential for taking over from the Meander as the 'de facto' suit for cold, wet, muddy UK caving. Not that there is much choice and cavers will need to dig a little deeper in their pockets for it, as well as their caves.
cap n chris
Well-known member
Badlad said:
Watch this space....
I have one which is being trialled too and so far have found it excellent - especially for SRT. The expectation is that, subject to successful trials and subsequent production, it will retail well under ?100.
chrisporcheret
New member
Hi all. Now the lyon pvc oversuit has been out for more people to abuse them, how are you rating them?
I have herd there amazingly good ( not mentioning no names but a shop keeper)
In the real world how are the fairing?
Chris
I have herd there amazingly good ( not mentioning no names but a shop keeper)
In the real world how are the fairing?
Chris
Rob
Well-known member
MODERATORS: this topic should probably be morphed with the other one at http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=14701.0
[gmod]Done.[/gmod]
I bought one about 4 weeks ago. I've done 6 trips since then, all digging trips, three short and muddy, three long and wet.
Firstly, i love the material! Soft and smooth, slightly elastic, just great. The velcrow is strong too.
I agree with the comments that it's over priced. There are no added extras at all (pockets inside or out, cuffs, fleecy collar, repair kit, etc).
After the second trip i noticed some small puncture holes in the suit, around the arse area. This was following a short digging trip where i spent quite a while in a new rift that has lots of quite sharp nodules, which might explain the holes, but not exuse them for the second trip. Maybe i do cave a bit agressively for suits, but that habit has come from suits being able to cope with it.
Now, after 6 trips it's got lots of holes. One big problem currently is I can't find out what material it is, so don't know what glue or spare material to be buying. Upon suggestion of the retail outlet i purchased this suit from, it's being returned.
[gmod]Done.[/gmod]
I bought one about 4 weeks ago. I've done 6 trips since then, all digging trips, three short and muddy, three long and wet.
Firstly, i love the material! Soft and smooth, slightly elastic, just great. The velcrow is strong too.
I agree with the comments that it's over priced. There are no added extras at all (pockets inside or out, cuffs, fleecy collar, repair kit, etc).
After the second trip i noticed some small puncture holes in the suit, around the arse area. This was following a short digging trip where i spent quite a while in a new rift that has lots of quite sharp nodules, which might explain the holes, but not exuse them for the second trip. Maybe i do cave a bit agressively for suits, but that habit has come from suits being able to cope with it.
Now, after 6 trips it's got lots of holes. One big problem currently is I can't find out what material it is, so don't know what glue or spare material to be buying. Upon suggestion of the retail outlet i purchased this suit from, it's being returned.
chrisporcheret
New member
Thanks for the reply! I've a bit of thinking then as whether to buy or not.
Chris
Chris
I'm one of the cavers who are trialling a new Warmbac PVC suit and so far i'm really impressed with it - i've done about 40 hours caving/digging over 15 trips and it's showing no real signs of serious wear anywhere yet and i am finding it as comfortable and manoeuvrable as the PVC Meanders were and the fit is really good - i don't generally wear a belt or harness for caving. (I think as suits go, the meander criou had set the benchmark for PVC suits and it is a shame they are no longer available.) For me, the proof of the pudding will be when it does actually hole and i have to start thinking about repairing/maintaining it as i tend to try and keep suits going until they are literally just patches held together with a bit of original oversuit!
There are a number of us across the country who are trialling the new materials for Warmbac in different caving conditions that each region provides and i think from talking to Kermit so far the results are fairly favourable. Tests are still ongoing on materials, so i guess it will be a case of watch this space and hopefully at some point over the months to come there will be a new PVC on the general market.
There are a number of us across the country who are trialling the new materials for Warmbac in different caving conditions that each region provides and i think from talking to Kermit so far the results are fairly favourable. Tests are still ongoing on materials, so i guess it will be a case of watch this space and hopefully at some point over the months to come there will be a new PVC on the general market.
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