DUI CF200X Crushed Neoprene Drysuit

At a glance

The CF200X is a crushed neoprene drysuit with Kevlar-reinforced knees and seat, a telescoping torso for fit across body shapes, and a choice of latex or neoprene seals with front or rear entry. Crushed neoprene compresses far less than foam, so buoyancy stays predictable at depth. DUI backs it with a limited lifetime warranty in the US.

What the drysuit actually gives you

Where it wins and where it costs you

Full review: DUI CF200X Crushed Neoprene Drysuit

Crushed neoprene is foam neoprene that has been compressed before the suit is built, and that single process choice drives everything the CF200X does well. Compared with uncrushed foam it barely compresses further at depth, so buoyancy stays predictable through a descent instead of shifting under you. Compared with trilaminate it resists tears and abrasion better and retains some inherent insulation of its own — which means a slightly weeping seal is an inconvenience rather than a dive-ending cold emergency.

The telescoping torso is DUI's answer to the fact that drysuits fit badly. It lets the suit accommodate different heights and a full range of reaching, kneeling and finning without the crotch binding, and it is why one suit can fit a wider range of body shapes than a fixed-torso design. Kevlar reinforces the knees and seat, the two panels that fail first on divers who kneel on boat decks and wreck plating. Seals can be specified in latex or neoprene, and entry as front self-donning or rear.

The suit is made in the USA and carries a limited lifetime warranty in that market, which is the strongest support in this category. Set against that: it is heavier and bulkier than a trilaminate shell, so travel is less pleasant; it really does want professional sizing rather than an online guess; the neoprene needs a break-in period before it softens; and its buoyancy characteristics differ enough from a membrane suit that you will need to redo your weighting rather than carry it over.