TESTCENTRE
Boots with grip
For several months now I ’ ve been putting a pair of Beaver ’ s Ocean 7 Hard Soled Boots through their paces . At a couple of quid shy of £ 50 , they ’ re not the cheapest boots on the market , neither are they the most expensive .
As an item of kit that I tend to use and abuse to destruction , I ’ ve come to the conclusion that the old saying ‘ you get what you pay for ’ couldn ’ t be more true , as they ’ ve proved very robust regardless of the treatment I ’ ve put them through .
The Ocean 7 ’ s have specially-designed extra thick soles which coped admirably , not only for clambering across rough terrain during shore dives , but also dishing out similar punishment while kayaking and generally messing around in boats .
Manufactured from 6.5mm micro-cell neoprene , the chunky rubber moulded sole extends over the toe and arch areas , supplying both support and protection . The deep tread provided excellent grip when navigating slippery surfaces , while the raised heel ensured my fin straps stayed firmly in place .
The corrosion-proof plastic zippers made donning the boots very easy . While others I ’ ve used in the past had an annoying tendency of sliding down during use , these stayed firmly in place . An equally-important feature in any wetsuit boot is its thermal protection , and the Ocean 7 ’ s titanium interior lining was just the job to keep my feet warm and cosy . Neil Hope
Ocean 7 Hard Soled Boots
COMPANY : BEAVER SPORTS PRICE : £ 47.25 TEL : 01484 512354 WEB : WWW . BEAVERSPORTS . CO . UK
SCUBA SAYS
Beaver ’ s sturdy , warm and comfortable Ocean 7 wetsuit boots are a strong value-for-money purchase that should go the distance .
Versatile vest
Deepskin Tech Vest
COMPANY : O ’ THREE PRICE : £ 59.95
TEL : 01305 822820 WEB : WWW . OTHREE . CO . UK
You could be forgiven for thinking that O ’ Three ’ s new Deepskin Tech Vest is ‘ just another rash vest ’ resembling as it does , the Lycra garments beloved by many warm water divers .
The Deepskin ’ s superior thermal qualities do however , offer a much broader scope of use . Manufactured from a very supple 0.5mm neoprene material , the vest is almost as easy to don as Lycra , thanks to its glide skin interior .
The all-black unisex design , finished with white-stitched , low profile seams and white / grey graphics , uses Lycra for its roll neck and cuffs ; they provided a comfortable seal against the skin .
In addition to its heat-retaining qualities , the Tech Vest also provides UV protection and an excellent freedom of movement that makes it suitable for a diverse range of watersport activities including kayaking , surfing and swimming .
For scuba diving in UK waters , it serves best as an extra layer of thermal protection . My close fitting semi-dry easily accommodated the Tech Vest underneath , and as temperatures began to dip , I was grateful of that little extra insulation , which extended my wetsuit diving season . Neil Hope
SCUBA SAYS O ’ Three ’ s Deepskin Tech Vest is a stylish , versatile alternative to the conventional rash vest . Its superior thermal properties make the perfect pairing beneath a wet or semi-dry suit . Bung it in your kit bag for foreign trips too and you won ’ t regret it .
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