Spine Pad
All
of Pinnacle’s suits employ a spine pad. Some are as thick as 10mm, while others
are thinner. The spine pads perform three major functions:
- They provide protection
for the diver’s back.
- They prevent water from
traveling in the hollow formed by the diver’s spinal cavity, which creates
a much warmer suit.
- They create a sealing
surface to reduce the flow of water through the main zipper, also helping
to make the suit warmer.
Zippers
All
of Pinnacle’s wetsuits use the fines quality zippers available. We use YKK zippers
and only use marine-grade brass zipper sliders and zipper pulls in the main
and chimney seal zippers, as well as most standard ankle zippers. These sliders
and pulls are nearly indestructible, assuring years of corrosion-free smooth
sliding.
The main zippers also feature
long braided nylon zipper leashes that make it much easier to pull the zipper
up or down. The leashes all include a Velcro hold-down at the bottom, which
prevents the leash from floating up while underwater.
The inside surfaces of the
zippers feature a smoothskin panel that seals against the outside of the spine
pad, effectively reducing the amount of water that can enter the suit through
the zipper.
Chimney Seal
Most
Pinnacle 7mm suits are equipped with unique chimney seals at the ankle. This
system actually makes three individual seals at the bottom of the suit: one
between the diver’s ankle and the internal seal, one between the internal seal
and the diver’s boot, and a third between the diver’s boot and the inside of
the leg of the suit.
In order for water to get
to the diver’s legs, it must get under the leg of the suit abut above the boot,
travel upwards and get around the boot, travel downwards and around the boot
again, and then get in between the internal seal and the diver’s leg. Obviously,
it takes quite some time for water to enter the suit in this fashion.
The chimney seal is closed
by a marine grade zipper with a brass zipper slider and pull – not plastic like
commonly found in other suits. This ensures years of solid, dependable, corrosion-free,
breakage-free use.
Collar
Pinnacle Aquatics includes a unique roll-neck collar in our
jumpsuits. This collar is very atypical of wetsuits, but is often found in very
expensive high-end drysuits. The collar is worn rolled in, just the opposite
of a turtleneck sweater, with the smoothskin side against the diver’s neck.
This neck is much more comfortable than a traditional collar because it puts
less pressure on a diver’s neck, yet it makes a superior seal, keeping more
water out of the suit. This proprietary collar system works equally well against
a hood or a hooded vest or a bare neck.
The collar closes in the
back with a generous portion of Velcro mounted to a large, easy to grip rubber
tab. This makes the collar easy to open, even without being able to see it,
with a gloved hand.
Knee Pads
All
of Pinnacle’s suits incorporate rubber or Kevlar knee pads. These pads not only
protect a diver’s knees and shins, but protect the suit from snags and abrasions,
ensuring years of good looks and warm dives.
Shoulder Pads
Most
Pinnacle Aquatics wetsuits and all drysuits incorporate molded rubber shoulder
pads. These shoulder pads protect the suit from wear and tear caused by friction
against a BC or harness, help hold the BC in place on the diver’s shoulders,
and protect the diver’s shoulders from the weight of a BC loaded with a tank
and weights.
Blind Stitching
Blind
stitching is a sewing technique whereby the needle never completely pierces
the material, meaning that water cannot wick along the threads to the inside
of the suit, because the threads never actually make it inside the suit. Gluing
the seam prior to sewing makes the seam totally waterproof. Double blind stitching
means that the suit is sewn once on the inside and once on the outside for double
strength.
Gluing twice and double
blind stitching ensures that Pinnacle’s seams are the strongest and driest that
there are. To go a step farther, Pinnacle places a stress disk on each seam
intersection, which not only makes the suit stronger still, but also makes it
more comfortable.
Pinnacle Aquatics employs
double gluing and blind stitching and the application of stress disks on all
but our lightest weight suits. This is a very time-consuming and expensive way
to go. Many manufacturers use flatlock stitching on most suits (particularly
on 3mm suits) because is it less expensive and easier. If you want the best
made suits, you’ll choose Pinnacle. |
