Oversuits - Again

[Stupot]

Iam sure this has been covered before, but yet again iam due for another oversuit as my latest Warmbac has given up the ghost.

Q. As i have only ever used Warmbac oversuits (heavy version) as to support local buisnesses what are the others like i.e. Petzl etc, or are they pretty similar each having their pro's and con's ?

Would'nt mine trying something different this time around.

Stu.

 

[Les W]

Even though I live on Mendip I swear by my Dragon Suit.
Dudley / Ben will make it to your own specification with many optional extras, good after sales service and free tea if you go in the shop

 

[andymorgan]

I will get a dragon suit next time, everyone who owns one recomends it.

I still have the same lightweight warmbac suit I bought 3 years ago, all it has is a cut in the leg from a bucket when digging, and a hole in the material over the zip.
Is it just because I am a nimble caver or am I not caving hard enough?

 

[caverholic]

It all depends on what caving you prefer.
For wet yorkshire dales pitchs or welsh big stream passage a pvc is the best meander or petzl (if on holiday in france buy from expe it works out about £70 )
For muddy dry or damp, small mendip style caves which are had wearing get a cordura. Dragon ones are very good although warmbac are not far behind. Dragon pros over warmbac include braces, and fancy colours and fitted to order.

For the compromise of all caves I would go for cordura, as PVC may keep you dry on the outside but in dry caves you get sooo hot you get wet on the inside, they also rip quite easily.

I have both so no need to compromise and they last just as many trips.
I'm sure others opinions may differ though

hope this helps

 

[gus horsley]

What's wrong with the bin liner with your dad's old cardigan under the second-hand boilersuit? I did Swildon's in 1965 dressed like that and my voice still hasn't broken.

 

[AndyF]

Some of our guys bought Meanders and have been unimpressed by wear and tear (mainly tear).

Mostly squatty digging trips though...

 

[SamT]

Some of our guys bought Meanders and have been unimpressed by wear and tear (mainly tear).

Mostly squatty digging trips though...

Yup - my meander is full of small tears now - and they'll soon turn into big tears Im sure (unless I get my arse in gear and patch em). Its only done a few trips (probably less than 10). :roll:

I much prefer my warmbac - although I'd like to see one of these fabled dragon suits in action.

 

[AndyF]

The Dragon suits look well made, but I prefer PVC for warmth when wet.

C'mon Dudley,make some PVC suits, you can get me to test one for free...

I have a warmbac PVC, but like every other oversuit I've owned it's gone in the crotch area. Maybe I've been buying too many pills over the internet...

Someone need to come up with a proper gusetted design.

 

[Rachel]

I'm also getting less impressed with my meander suit. It's really warm, dry and flexible, but like a lot of people it's getting full of holes, particularly long ones parallel to the leg seams, that would be really awkward to fix. I'm not particularly into tight caves and I've never been digging, so I don't really see why it's falling apart, especially as I've only had it for a couple of years. Having said that though, it is the most bendable-in suit I've ever owned so I'll probably wear it until it drops off me and then go and buy another.

 

[Anna]

I treated myself to a new meander suit a couple of weeks ago as my dragon was starting to fall apart. By the sound of things I've not made a wise choice.

 

[cap n chris]

Over the years I've had loads of Warmbac cordura suits (heavy and light weight), a Dragon suit, Petzl PVC and used an array of other suits such as Meander and Beaver. IMHO there's not a lot between Dragon and Warmbac but..... oh! Dragon take it by a whisker - all the things you love about Warmbac with few of the cons and they're made to fit like a glove (and yes, I do like the braces). It's about time I bought myself another one but I've still got a lot of Warmbacs left.

 

[Les W]

Over the years I've had loads of Warmbac cordura suits (heavy and light weight), a Dragon suit, Petzl PVC and used an array of other suits such as Meander and Beaver.

You've never done that much caving! what have you been doing to all those suits?

 

[cap n chris]

You've never done that much caving! what have you been doing to all those suits?

... err, how much caving do you think I've done?

 

[paul]

I treated myself to a new meander suit a couple of weeks ago as my dragon was starting to fall apart. By the sound of things I've not made a wise choice.

You always tend to hear about the problems when you ask what people think about some item of equipment and less from those with praise.

I have a Meander suit for over two years now an highly recommend them as PVC oversuits as oppsoed to PVC vs. Nylon, which is a different issue.

In the past I have used nylon suits of various makes over the years. I wanted an oversuit that provided more protection from wind and rain, etc. on the surface as well as underground (standing around in a bitter wind with intermittent rain/sleet by Oxlow Cavern's entrance during a rescue practice convinced me it would be a wise move!).

It is used underground regularly - about once a week on all sorts of trips. Yes - there are one or two places where small holes or small tears have appeared - that's why you get a repait kit with them! Simply apply some adhesive and some of the material as a patch (cut with rounded corners) and the hole/tear is fixed. Other oversuits made of nylon (Warmbac, etc) I have used also have small holes and tears but are not as easy to mend.

At least they are better than the Beaver suit which split all the thread on the crotch 20 minutes into a trip from brand new!

 

[AndyF]

No seems to stock Petzl oversuits much these days...certainly none of my local shops.

Are they to expensive? ..or poor quality?

Anyone comment on them.

 

[cave junky]

Inglesport had some in last time I was there, I think they were just short of £100

Ally

 

[emgee]

At least they are better than the Beaver suit which split all the thread on the crotch 20 minutes into a trip from brand new!

Mine did that after a few trips. Got out the sewing machine and restitched it and it's been fine since.

Starting to wear through in a few places now I've had it a while.

 

[gus horsley]

No seems to stock Petzl oversuits much these days...certainly none of my local shops.

Are they to expensive? ..or poor quality?

Anyone comment on them.

The sad thing is that they're in unfashionable colours. A bit like lycra climbing tights.

 

[Katie]

Andy F,
I have a petzl banana suit. I got mine from Hitch and hike but it was the last one (cos it was an Xsmall so no one had bought it) think ot cost about 82 pounds before discount which is about 2 pounds more expensive then meaanders in there.
I really like mine and it only has one little hole (got it in july) but i am very selective about where it goes caving! i have a warmbac for digging, stoney middleton etc..
I dont know how they compare to meanders cos i have never had one, except if you are very small (think 5 foot 2) none of the meanders will fit u!
Katie

 

[Peter Burgess]

The sad thing is that they're in unfashionable colours. A bit like lycra climbing tights.

Mine's a sort of greeny browny colour most of the time. Perhaps I should visit a few wet caves now and again, or even hose it off occasionally. Oh no, I can't - water shortages and all that. Oh dear, what a shame.