Open cell closed cell wetsuits whats the difference.
Open cell wetsuit meaning.
Ever wonder what s the difference between an open cell and closed cell wetsuit.
It provides the flexibility and warmth of being open cell but also has durability against abrasions.
By team jbl on march 11 2020 in tech tips.
Open cell neoprene refers to the fact that the interior of the two piece wetsuit is not lined with lycra or nylon like your typical scuba suit.
For most lube is a mixture of hair conditioner and water.
Calling it open cell does not reflect at all on the type of neoprene used.
Here at abyss we prefer open cell technology for our freediving and closed cell suits for our scuba divers.
Open cell technology helps to keep us warm as it sits flush with our bodies.
If using a body wash mixture you need to get an empty plastic container squirt some body wash into it and then add water this will make a soapy mixture.
The open cell wetsuit is more flexible and that makes diving more natural to the wearer.
The open cell finish is the most stretchy and the least tear resistant.
Also open cell suits aid and assist with our streamlining and creating a hydrodynamic profile in the water.
An open cell wetsuit with exterior lining is the most common wetsuit used for spearfishing and general freediving in the ocean.
Choosing the right thickness of wetsuit for the area and activity that you will be doing is the first step to staying warm and happy ready to focus on fun.
This type of suit offers a greater level of comfort which means it can be worn for longer when diving unlike the closed cell alternative.
Once the slab of chloroprene master foam has been mechanically split hence the correct appellation split cell it becomes pure rubber with tens of thousands of tiny craters which used to be the closed cells with the nitrogen gas filling.
Did you even know there s more than one wetsuit type.
1 your suit when dry on the inside will be difficult to put on you need to make up a slippery mixture using either wet suit lube or a mild body wash with water.
Usually prepared in a rush right before heading out for a dive.
The lube is used to coat the exposed neoprene inside of the open cell suit.
Putting on an open cell suit would be close to impossible without lube.
The cut surfaces of the foam have a slightly porous mat finish as the cutting process passes through a large number of bubbles leaving what is called an open cell surface finish but the bulk of the foam remains closed cell.
An open cell wetsuit offers insulation against the cold which is a very useful feature in most diving situations.
Jbl s guy skinner walks us through the various differences between the two.
Although neoprene for manufacturing wetsuits varies greatly in quality.
