Multi-purpose suits made of materials that provide exposure protection without adding buoyancy have become increasingly available from multiple manufacturers. These suits have a variety of uses and can be worn under a wetsuit, under a drysuit or separately. Test dives were conducted at Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Williston, Florida.

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HOW WE SCORE
The bar graphs with each review show a suit’s combined scores for comfort and warmth when used under 3 mm wetsuits and shell and neoprene drysuits.
The scoring is:
1=poor
2=fair
3=good
4=very good
5=excellent

HOW WE TEST EXPOSURE SUITS
Our test was designed to gauge each suit’s effectiveness both wet (under 3 mm wetsuits) and dry (under shell and neoprene drysuits) in moderate conditions, with special emphasis on the degree of comfort and warmth it provided.

Ease of Donning
Ease of getting the suit on without assistance, including zipping and adjusting cuffs.

Fit How well did the suit fit, relative to other suits of the same size?

Ease of Overdressing
How difficult was it to pull a suit on over the garment? Were thumb loops or foot stirrups effective? Did the suit fit over the garment smoothly without undue difficulty?

Comfort
How comfortable overall was the suit, under other suits as well as on its own? Did it chafe or rub uncomfortably? Did seams or flex points cause discomfort?

Warmth
How much insulating warmth did the garment provide, relative to similar suits? Were there noticeable cold spots? Was it effective in blocking wind when wet?

Range of Motion
To what degree did the suit limit freedom of movement? Did it bind at flex points?

Features
If equipped with distinctive features, such as closures, cuffs, adjustments or pockets, how effectively did they perform?

Ease of Doffing
After diving, how easy was it to remove a suit worn over the garment? How easy was it to doff the undergarment itself, both wet and dry?

Testers also inspected each suit’s materials, stitching, reinforcements, zippers and adjustments before and after test diving to evaluate how the suit stood up to repeated use. Also, each suit’s inherent buoyancy (in fresh water) was measured by submerging the suit, removing all trapped air, and placing it in a neutrally buoyant mesh bag.

MARES ULTRASKIN STEAMER

Made with a three-layer fabric—fleece lining, breathable membrane and a high-stretch outer layer— Ultraskin is available in an assortment of apparel, including separate tops and bottoms with long and short sleeves and legs. The front-zip fullsuit we tested was easy to don and doff wet or dry, and to pull a suit over, thanks to its smooth outer layer. The breathable membrane did a good job blocking a brisk, cold wind even when wet. But the layer that stood out was the plush lining: “Warm” and “soft” appeared repeatedly in testers’ comments, along with “surprised how warm I stayed” and “I could wear this to bed.”

It was the only suit rated excellent for comfort and warmth under both wetsuits and drysuits (although testers tended to keep the zipper about an inch short of fully zipped, where it sometimes rubbed the neck). While not the thinnest suit here, it fit well even under snug 3 mm wetsuits. Comfortable, warm and versatile, the Ultraskin steamer is our Testers Choice.

BARE EXOWEAR

The three-layer ExoWear also has a bit of thin neoprene, used in wrist and ankle cuffs and at the neck. That wasn’t unwelcome, since it helped cuffs lie flat under suits and added no measurable buoyancy. The cuffs and the smooth exterior made it easy to pull both wetsuits and drysuits on and off, even with no thumb loops, and helped it take excellent scores for donning and doffing. The lining isn’t especially thick, but it’s uber soft, and was rated excellent for comfort under all suits (though the neck closure sat a little high under low-riding drysuit seals). The suit took an excellent score for warmth under wetsuits, and very good under drysuits. “I got warmer as the dive progressed,” one tester noted after a wetsuit dive. We tested a rear-zip fullsuit, but ExoWear is available in long and short tops and bottoms and accessories. The ExoWear still looked new after multiple wet and sweaty dives, and was a top contender in our test.

LAVACORE POLYTHERM

Divers first thought the Polytherm two-piece might be sized too small, but it proved to be surprisingly elastic. “Stretches and stretches,” one tester noted. With long gusset panels under the arms to reduce binding, the suit was rated very good for range of motion even under tight wetsuits, though testers noted a bit of bunching at the elbows. The top has a long tail that extends practically to the hips and— like the high-waisted pants—has an adjustable drawstring at the waist. Once fully suited, the Polytherm stayed in place under both drysuits and wetsuits, without any gap between top and bottom. Soft and silky, the breathable fleece lining performed well in both cold and hot conditions. “Sweltering in drysuit, but did a good job wicking away moisture,” one tester noted. Garments are also available with short sleeves and legs, and as a hooded top or vest.

PINNACLE INFERNO FZ

Three different materials are used in the thermal layers of the Inferno, with fleece in the extremities and smooth lining on the back and sides. But our testers’ favorite was the thick, soft merino wool lining in the chest and abdomen, which provided warm comfort in both dry and wet use without being uncomfortably hot topside, even under a drysuit on a sunny day. “Toasty and soft—wish it was in the whole suit,” one tester commented. The rest of the suit is noticeably thinner than the front torso, but as a tester observed, “still no real cold spots.” The Inferno was rated very good overall for comfort and warmth under both wetsuits and drysuits. The long front zipper also made the suit easy to get on and off. But pulling a snug wetsuit over it required “a bit a tugging,” as one tester put it. The suit’s design includes a lot of seams, but the flat-lock stitching gives them a low profile that wasn’t noticeable when wearing the suit.

SEAC UNIFLEECE

The Unifleece is intended for drysuit use. But because its materials, cut and fit are similar to the wet/drysuits we tested, we also used it under 3 mm wetsuits, just to satisfy our curiosity. With fleece lining throughout and a high-stretch nylon shell, the Unifleece was the lightest suit in our test—thin enough to see light through when stretched. The frontzip suit has a bit of a workman’s-overalls look. Intended for moderate conditions, the Unifleece provided sufficient insulation for our drysuit dives in 72-degree water and wicked moisture readily. It worked well under a neoprene drysuit, but would need additional layering for colder stuff under a shell. In wetsuit use, the Unifleece added noticeable warmth —though, not surprisingly, less than thicker suits—and also got kind of baggy when wet. “Better for drysuit use,” noted one tester. But as another added, “Could use wet in a pinch, and it fits under anything.”

WATERPROOF BODY X

Two-piece undergarments offer more options to match protection to conditions but can be aggravating if they leave a cold gap at your tender middle. That was never a problem with the Body X, which has a wide elastic waist with a drawstring on the bottom and an extended tail on the top that kept everything tucked in throughout wet and dry dives. Noticeably lighter than the thickest suits here, the Body X still took an excellent score for warmth under drysuits and very good marks under wetsuits, thanks to its air-filled hollow-core fiber, which Waterproof says was inspired by polar bear fur. In drysuit dives it wicked moisture so well that sweaty garments felt perfectly dry until suits were doffed. Thumb loops, stirrups and the suit’s smooth outer layer made it a cinch to pull even a snug suit over. Comfortable, warm, versatile and attractively priced, the Waterproof Body X is our Best Buy.

ASK ROGER
Q: What do you mean by neutrally buoyant exposure suit?
A: We confess that it’s a catch-all we’ve used to describe this growing sector of versatile undergarments. But the descriptions can be a bit misleading. For example, for suits used under drysuits as well as wetsuits, the garment will of course add about the same amount of buoyancy as would any dry-only garment of the same bulk and volume.

Also, while they’re often referred to as undergarments, some of these suits are also designed for use as stand-alone garments for diving or other watersports.

That said, at least in wet use, we found the “neutrally buoyant” moniker to be watertight: In our freshwater testing, every suit was neutral to slightly negatively buoyant.

Positively Versatile

In our first head-to-head test of these suits, we found a lot to like. Their light weight makes them easy to pack for travel, or to stow in your dive bag for just-incase use.

Their neutral buoyancy lets you slip them on under a wetsuit if conditions are a bit cooler than expected— or maybe on the second or third dive of the day—without having to add any weight.

All of the suits offered a high degree of comfort, thanks to their soft fleece lining and elasticity, with test divers often comparing their comfort to that of pajamas—not a bad thing.

Our test suits, while they sopped up enough water to weigh a ton when soaking wet, dripped out and dried quickly. And while some provided more wind blocking than others, they all offered at least a bit. But above all, it was the suits’ versatility that impressed us, with wet/dry/standalone capability that makes them handy go-to garments for a wide range of dive conditions.

Our testers also tried two new drysuit undergarments:

CRESSI UNISEX UNDERSUIT

Rather than fuzzy fleece, this suit has a relatively thin waffle-pattern insulating lining throughout the suit. With a basic cut and material that isn’t especially stretchy, the fit was less form-fitting than other suits, though a wide elastic section in the waist keeps it pulled in snug. The high collar has an adjustable closure and a smooth, rolled hem along its top edge that lets you bring it up close to keep your neck warm, without being so tall that it interferes with a drysuit seal. The sleeves and legs fit loosely on our sample, but the ankles and wrists have elastic as well as thumb loops and stirrups to keep them in place. A pocket at the right hip has a Velcro closure, and is big enough for keys or a wallet. While not as warm as heavier undergarments, the unisex undersuit was able to fit comfortably inside neoprene as well as shell drysuits, and its cut and shape make it easy to pair with a lighter weight garment for a range of conditions.

SCUBAPRO K2 EXTREME

As the name suggests, the K2 Extreme is designed for the toughest conditions, with deep, dense fleece throughout and thick compression padding at the knees, chest and shoulders. The heavy, segmented padding, contrasting stitching and general puffiness make it look a bit “like a combination of Batman and Michelin Man,” as a test diver noted. But it’s all to a purpose—the padding helps keep the insulation from compressing or squeezing; the robust stitching adds durability; and the thick fleece pile is extremely warm without unduly restricting range of motion. While the suit’s profile is a bit bulky, it didn’t really complicate donning a drysuit because the shell is snug and relatively smooth on its exterior. “Incredibly soft and warm,” one diver said, adding, “I’d take this to the poles.” The double-ended front zipper is long for easy entry, a pair of hip pockets are zippered for security, and both legs have holes for a P-valve.