TESTING THE PATHOS THIRA 5MM WETSUIT

HIGH PERFORMANCES FOR TOP SPEAROS

Spearos generally know what is the value of a solid and reliable equipment at sea and tends to assiduously purchase the products and brands that have transmitted such a sensation. It is difficult, therefore, not to be carried away by enthusiasm when you can finally test a well-made product. This is the case of the THIRA wetsuit by the Greek company PATHOS that we tried in the 5mm version, XL size.

PATHOS has lately proved several times to be able to produce high performance equipment that clearly shows the results of a careful design by designers-users who are fully aware of the needs and difficulties that spearfishing implies.

The THIRA wetsuit is made of high density SHEICO neoprene which, in addition to ensuring a firm body comfort, helps preventing it to get thinner over time (very common in industrial wetsuits from other manufacturers) due to normal use.

To increase comfort in use, the wetsuit includes neoprene inserts coated with super elastic black lining on both the chest sides, immediately below the armpits, and on the frontal part of the neck, from base to chin. This enhances the expansion of the chest cage during breathing, limiting the sense of constraint and facilitating neck movements where neoprene usually folds.

The neoprene (open cell inside) is externally lined with camu lycra characterized by a predominantly green pattern with hints of brown that makes it ideal for use at our seas. However, the plain black version is also available.

All seams have been covered with a neoprene sealant that has the double advantage of ensuring the seam sealing over time avoiding the usual shrinkage and increasing water protection despite the seams do not pass all the way through the neoprene. Also other features have been implemented to limit the access of water inside the wetsuit. On the wrists and ankles the common ribs have been implemented but on the face contour a slightly thinner neoprene band is applied, which also ends with the above mentioned rib. The thinner material and the absence of seams give a feeling of comfort while guaranteeing waterproofness. Finally, with regard to pants design, the WATER STOP system was adopted, which essentially consists of a particularly high waist that, folded about 10cm outwards, allows open cell neoprene of pants to adhere to the open cell neoprene of the jacket preventing Water to get in.

In addition, this wetsuit is also functional and in fact large supratex inserts have been implemented to counter abrasions due to normal use. They are present on the front of the legs (from the knee to the ankle), the forearms (from the elbow to the wrist) and the waist area of the jacket throughout its circumference. Finally, a thick chest pad that reproduces the stylized shape of a fish provides a good support during loading operations.

In relation to cutting, as almost all manufacturers make, legs and arms are preformed, it has to be noted that the back part is not divided into two but is obtained from a single piece of neoprene. Finally, another very important feature is that seams of the back of the knees have been moved to avoid abrasion in the folds.

In short, not a good product, not a good compromise but a A class product with honours!!!