O’Neill 7000x Drysuit Review

December 13th, 2005

I’ve logged about 40 dives on my O’Neill 7000x drysuit thus far, and its treated me well despite a few annoyances among the many reasons I think this is a terrific suit for the money. Lets start off with the vitals. The O’Neill 7000x drysuit is a 7mm neoprene suit with neoprene seals. The suit has been overhauled for 2005 and sports an impressive set of features for a very reasonable price. It also looks sporty, as most O’Neill products do. The primary features include:

• New SI TECH Inlet and Adjustable Exhaust Valves
• Attached 3mm Neoprene Socks
• Fluid Seam Weld
• Glued and Blindstitched Seams
• Dynat Dry Zipper with Shield (horizontal back-zip)
• Rugged Vulcanized Boots
• Rugged Knee/Shinpads

The most improved feature over the previous model are the valves. O’Neill was having problems with their previous valve setup and decided to outsource to Sweden-based SI TECH, a leader in drysuit component manufacturing. Though I never got a chance to experience how shoddy the previous valves were, I’m not entirely happy with the SI TECH exhaust valve. Depressing the valve manually does little in terms of actually venting the air and I can’t really tell whether or not the valve is opening or not. I suspect that using a stiffer spring or having more defined open/closed states would fix the issue. As a result, I find myself leaving it all the way open and just turning about to orient it upward while doing a muscle-man bicep curl to squeeze out the air. My buddies with other types of drysuits don’t have this issue.

The seals on this year’s suit are also quite a bit thicker and unruly than those found on the previous model. I had to stretch my neck and wrist seals for nearly a month prior to dives just to keep from passing out or feeling choked, but in the end they’re just perfect now. The seals themselves never leak, despite the common conception that neoprene seals have this problem. I am however, diving the 3rd suit sent from O’Neill. The first one looked quite beat up (probably a display model), the second one had a small seeping leak in the leg, and the third suit had a tremendous leak from the inlet valve. Luckily, I bought my suit from Underwater Sports and they kept getting me suits till I was happy (I stuck with #2, and hardly notice the leak anymore). I was surprised that any of them leaked at all, given the emphasis O’Neill puts on the ‘Fluid Seam Weld’ technology they use. These (and almost all) neoprene suits are made in factories in Thailand to keep manufacturing costs down, so you have to expect a few errors once in a while.

The attached neoprene socks are great in that you don’t have all the air traps that come along with having attached boots. However, the effort to don and doff the suit is my biggest complaint against the 7000x and, not surprisingly, one of the only times I find myself with any real complaints. The problem stems from the narrow ankle opening, which is a chore to get your feet through.

The boots are the most rugged I’ve ever seen for a drysuit, and are great for scampering over rocks and logs to go diving at Alki. One thing I don’t like about the boots is that there is a velcro strap that goes over top of the foot. While this is easier than tying laces, it adds unnecessary height to the boot and thus makes it hard to find fins that fit properly. Currently, I use Apollo Bio Fin XTs, size large. They fit, but I have to jam my boot in there despite the plethora of room to the sides of the fin boot-pocket.

The knee pads are huge, thick and rugged. Great for kneeling on anything, save shards of broken glass or nails, and not springing a leak. Not terrific for getting in and out of a suit that’s already a bit troublesome in that department.

The snugness of the suit is its biggest problem and its greatest feature at the same time. The suit fits more like a wetsuit than a typical drysuit, its snug and hugs the body in all areas. This is not the right suit for you if you are significantly overweight. The snug fit also limits the amount of undergarments you can use, but since its 7mm thick, all but the most frigid waters are bearable. Even with a lycra under-suit I find myself wrangling with the 7000x each time I’m getting in or out of it. This is not a self-donning suit for more reasons than just the zipper. Even with a fair bit of practice now, I can’t flip the neck seal by myself (luckily I have buddies who don’t mind). Why would O’Neill make a suit this hard to get in and out of? Because the suit is a dream in the water. Virtually no drag, and because the suit conforms to your body shape the air in the suit is distributed evenly around the body, rather than collecting in the boots or other area (as happens with many shell suits and suits with integrated boots). The frustration I endure on the surface is worth every moment when I get into the water and have the gliding ease of a wetsuit, yet the warmth of a drysuit.

All in all, I can’t think of another neoprene suit in this price range that offers so many features and fits so nicely. For me, the selection was limited since I found out that I am allergic to latex. The O’Neill 7000x was a natural choice among suits with neoprene seals, based on the cost, quality, fit and of course….the good looks too.

Update 7-20-07: The O’Neill turned out to be a great starter suit, and it was a terrific value for the money. I recommend going with a less expensive drysuit in the beginning, so that you’ll know what you want to spend the big bucks on when the time comes. I upgraded from the O’Neill to a custom DUI suit eventually, you can read about it here: DUI CF200 Crushed Neoprene Drysuit Review.

Entry Filed under: Gear, SCUBA