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A suit for all seasons
David Wilson (England) - November 15th 2008
During the 1960s, when I began snorkelling here in England, I chanced upon the catalogue of a local diving equipment company which imported Skooba-Totes drysuits. I was about to order one when a kindly aunt bought me a neoprene wetsuit as a birthday present. Although this wetsuit served me well over the years, I also regretted that I had not tried out a Skooba-Totes suit, which completely excluded cold water, allowed undergarments of varying thickness to be worn and cost much less than the wetsuit did. Sadly, by the time I began earning my living, the Skooba Totes was no longer in production.
The Hydroglove suit is modelled on the same Skooba-Totes suit which I never got round to buying in the 1960s. I now own several Hydrogloves, each an improvement on its predecessor, thanks to the company's commitment to quality control. I also now own a "new old stock" Skooba Totes, thanks to a vintage diving equipment company, so I can compare the original with its modern incarnation. The Hydroglove is indeed a worthy successor to the Skooba Totes. The large-size versions of both suits are an identical fit. The footed pants accommodate my short legs and big feet perfectly. The hooded shirt seals well against my facial hair. It is also a good match for my short arms and growing waistline. The Hydroglove seals better at the waist than the Skooba-Totes because the former comes with more excess material to roll together.
The Hydroglove not only pays tribute to an historical suit which brought the sport of diving within reach of the masses during the 1950s and 1960s. When compared with its "modern" competitors, the suit also has several advantages. The pants and shirt are both made of one traditional, hard-wearing, elastic, tried and tested material which moulds to, and moves with, the body as the diver progresses through the water. The suit dries rapidly when the inside and outside are exposed to the air. It takes up little space in luggage and can be worn under ordinary clothing when driving to the dive site.
Donning, sealing and venting the Hydroglove are relatively straightforward after a little practice. The suit can be put on and taken off unassisted, with the occasional sprinkle of talc to ease the process. If the waist, wrist and face seals are kept wrinkle-free prior to water entry, the wearer is very likely to remain dry. If a few drops manage to get in, they will not cause discomfort. The latest model of the suit has cuff seals that are less restrictive to the wrists without compromising watertightness. Air can be removed from the suit by allowing it to pass through the wrist and face seals.
I have snorkelled with a Hydroglove suit in the North Sea during the spring, summer and autumn seasons for several years now. It never binds my arms and legs as I swim and I sometimes even forget I am wearing it. Thicker suits with more trapped air are the warmest. I have learnt to inspect the suit regularly for signs of wear. It is best to repair any tears in the material immediately with a bicycle inner tube patch kit. The latest suit has the option of textured feet, which I am hoping will reduce abrasions in the material when I walk down the beach to the sea. Some kind of thin-soled natural rubber footwear, such as the Skooba-Totes "shore boot", would be ideal to protect the latex socks from wear.
The Hydroglove suit is modelled on the same Skooba-Totes suit which I never got round to buying in the 1960s. I now own several Hydrogloves, each an improvement on its predecessor, thanks to the company's commitment to quality control. I also now own a "new old stock" Skooba Totes, thanks to a vintage diving equipment company, so I can compare the original with its modern incarnation. The Hydroglove is indeed a worthy successor to the Skooba Totes. The large-size versions of both suits are an identical fit. The footed pants accommodate my short legs and big feet perfectly. The hooded shirt seals well against my facial hair. It is also a good match for my short arms and growing waistline. The Hydroglove seals better at the waist than the Skooba-Totes because the former comes with more excess material to roll together.
The Hydroglove not only pays tribute to an historical suit which brought the sport of diving within reach of the masses during the 1950s and 1960s. When compared with its "modern" competitors, the suit also has several advantages. The pants and shirt are both made of one traditional, hard-wearing, elastic, tried and tested material which moulds to, and moves with, the body as the diver progresses through the water. The suit dries rapidly when the inside and outside are exposed to the air. It takes up little space in luggage and can be worn under ordinary clothing when driving to the dive site.
Donning, sealing and venting the Hydroglove are relatively straightforward after a little practice. The suit can be put on and taken off unassisted, with the occasional sprinkle of talc to ease the process. If the waist, wrist and face seals are kept wrinkle-free prior to water entry, the wearer is very likely to remain dry. If a few drops manage to get in, they will not cause discomfort. The latest model of the suit has cuff seals that are less restrictive to the wrists without compromising watertightness. Air can be removed from the suit by allowing it to pass through the wrist and face seals.
I have snorkelled with a Hydroglove suit in the North Sea during the spring, summer and autumn seasons for several years now. It never binds my arms and legs as I swim and I sometimes even forget I am wearing it. Thicker suits with more trapped air are the warmest. I have learnt to inspect the suit regularly for signs of wear. It is best to repair any tears in the material immediately with a bicycle inner tube patch kit. The latest suit has the option of textured feet, which I am hoping will reduce abrasions in the material when I walk down the beach to the sea. Some kind of thin-soled natural rubber footwear, such as the Skooba-Totes "shore boot", would be ideal to protect the latex socks from wear.