We tested the Mares Ultraskin Steamer. Comfortable, warm and versatile, it was our Testers Choice for neutrally buoyant exposure suits.

We tested exposure suits at Blue Grotto Dive Resort and Devil’s Den Spring in Central Florida. We conducted a series of test dives to gauge each suit’s effectiveness when used under both wetsuits and drysuits in moderate conditions. Test divers scored suits in eight different categories including comfort, warmth, fit and ease of donning and doffing.

Made with a three-layer fabric comprised of a fleece lining, a 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 the most 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 in our test, it fit well even under snug 3 mm wetsuits. The Mares Ultraskin was our Testers Choice for neutrally buoyant exposure suits.

View the Neutrally Buoyant Exposure Gear Test Results Here