You’ve just bought your shiny, brand new drysuit, but the question now is what to wear underneath it, and what are the best drysuit undergarments available? Whether you’re a recreational diver diving in cold water or a technical diver used to deep diving, choosing the right undersuit is crucial to enjoying your diving.
Staying warm but avoiding overheating in the water is a joint effort between the drysuit and the undersuit. Looking around there are plenty of options available, all promising to keep you warm, but ultimately which ones are the best?
One of our big goals here at The Adventure Junkies is to make your life easier when it comes to gear shopping. In this guide, we’ll walk you through which drysuit undergarments are the best, and when and where you can best use them.
For more of our top scuba gear recommendations, check out the Best Dry Suits.
Quick Answer - The Best Drysuit Undergarments
- Scubapro Climasphere
- Fourth Element Halo3D
- Fourth Element Arctic
- Waterproof Warmtec HD 200G Fiberfill
- Aqua Lung MKO
Comparison Table - Best Drysuit Undergarment
For the best experience turn your device horizontally| Name | Warmth | Part of a Layer | Price | Rating | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scubapro Climasphere | * | No | $$ | 5.0 | Read Review |
| Fourth Element Halo3D | **** | Yes | $$$ | 5.0 | Read Review |
| Fourth Element Arctic | *** | Yes | $$ | 5.0 | Read Review |
| Waterproof Warmtec HD 200G Fiberfill | ** | No | $ | 4.6 | Read Review |
| Aqua Lung MKO | * | No | $ | 5.0 | Read Review |
| Name | Warmth | Part of a Layer | Price | Rating | Review |
Reviews - The Best Scuba Diving Drysuit Undergarments
Scubapro Climasphere
Specs
- Material: Fleece
- Part of a Layer: No
- Warmth: *
Features
- 2-piece suit with a full body undersuit
- Shorty-like top for additional warmth
- Thumb and foot loops
- Neoprene ankle and wrist cuffs
BEST FOR: DIVING IN TEMPERATE AND COLD WATERS, BY CHOOSING TO WEAR EITHER ONE OR BOTH LAYERS
PROS: Two-piece gives more flexibility, cuffs and loops make putting the drysuit on much easier
CONS: Two-piece design can be bulky around the midriff, chest and shoulders area, not easy to route a P-valve, somewhat heavy
Fourth Element Halo3D
Specs
- Material: Dual Layered Stretch with SPACETEK
- Part of a Layer: Yes
- Warmth: ****
Features
- Thumb and foot loops
- Right arm pockets
- P-valve holes
- Three-layer construction with SPACETEK insulated panels
BEST FOR: COLD WATER DIVING, OR ULTRA-LONG DIVES IN TEMPERATE WATERS, IDEAL FOR COMBINING WITH THE XEROTHERM BASE LAYER
PROS: Super warm even when soaking wet, pockets, thumb and foot loops make donning the drysuit very easy, P-Valve holes allow for easy routing of the hoses
CONS: Expensive, can be bulky especially when worn with base layer
Fourth Element Arctic
Specs
- Material: Dual Layer Fleece-Like
- Part of a Layer: Yes
- Warmth: ***
Features
- Thumb and foot loops make it easier to put on the drysuit
- Will continue to provide warmth even after minor leaks
BEST FOR: IDEAL FOR COLDER WATERS WHEN USED ALONE, WHEN COMBINED WITH THE XEROTHERM CAN BE USED IN VERY COLD WATERS
PROS: Very warm, lightweight, and combines very well with Fourth Element base layers, stays warm when wet
CONS: Somewhat expensive, does not offer ideal routing for a P-valve, and can take a while to dry
Waterproof Warmtec HD 200G Fiberfill
Specs
- Material: 100% Nylon Taffeta/Polyester
- Part of a Layer: No
- Warmth: **
Features
- Four pockets
- Front entry zipper
- Mesh shoulders
- Elastic waist
- Zippered legs
BEST FOR: WATER TEMPERATURES FROM 45-65 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
PROS: Great value for the money, snug fitting, four pockets for stashing essentials
CONS: Not for the coldest waters
Aqua Lung MKO
Specs
- Material: Bamboo Blend
- Part of a Layer: No
- Warmth: *
Features
- 1-piece suit with rear convenience flap
- 2-way torso/relief zipper
- Non-corroding YKK zippers
- Smooth Lycra stirrups
- Elastic thumb loops
BEST FOR: A MOISTURE-WICKING BASE LAYER
PROS: Additional Spandex content results in an extreme stretch suitable for all body types
CONS: Not easy to route a P-valve, not suitable for extreme conditions
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST DRYSUIT UNDERGARMENTS
WARMTH
The key factor when choosing the best drysuit undergarment is how warm they can keep you for the type of diving you are doing. Since minor leaks are a fact of life when diving with a drysuit, it is crucially important to know whether your undergarment will still keep you warm when it is wet.
LAYERING
On land, layering your clothing is key to staying warm, and it’s no different underwater. Multiple layers are far more effective for maintaining thermal protection. The best drysuit undergarments can be layered as part of a bigger system—providing warmth and flexibility no matter what the water temperature or diving conditions. One drawback to look out for is that with layering, the undergarment can end up being very bulky and hinder movement and performance, and even negatively affect your buoyancy control.
DESIGN & MATERIAL
There are several accessories that make life so much easier when using a drysuit. The best drysuit undergarments have foot and thumb loops that prevent the suit from rolling up your limbs when you’ve zipped up your drysuit. They should also make it relatively easy to route hoses from P-valves. The material the suit is made from is also important since it should wick away moisture and keep the diver’s skin dry throughout the dive.
COST
It’s a fact of life—cost does play a part in determining whether you buy a suit or not and whether you can justify the cost. A dive professional making several hundred dives a year might opt for a very expensive suit, whilst someone who only does 10-15 dives per year might find the price prohibitive.
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