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Harvey's Kobalt Pro-Flex Wetsuit
The good old idea has been improved upon with a “skin-in” material that is easy to slip on even without lubricant. And the new material offers many additional benefits that can make your diving more comfortable and easier than ever.
The Harvey’s Divesuits version of this material is the Kobalt Pro-flex neoprene. This material is an improvement on Harvey’s already proven double- sided Titanium-foil system. The ultra-flexible foam neoprene is layered on the inside and outside with titanium for added thermal protection. The “skin-in” is a metalic blue or “Kobalt.” This material is slippery when dry making the suit easier to put on. Because of how it moves onto the body, it conforms with the body, making it better fitting and very comfortable. It does not bunch or pinch. This material also has the added benefits of being fast drying and anti-bacterial for a cleaner, more hygienic suit.
No doubt parallels will be drawn between this material and other materials used in suits by Henderson, Body Glove and others. They are indeed similar with similar benefits. Ultimately, your best bet is a side-by-side assessment of material flexibility, suit features and construction.
Harvey’s has been making wetsuits since 1957 with an excellent reputation for quality thermal protection for divers. The Kobalt suit is the latest edition to its line and it is no exception.
High quality construction is through and through. Each seam is stitched inside and out. All edges are seam taped for comfort and durability. Limbs are pre-bent for less diving fatigue. Additional details include a velcro neck closure, spine pad (keeps chilly water from flowing down your back), tough knee pads, and adjustable shoulders on the farmer john pants.
The configuration I tested were farmer john pants (5 mil thick material on the legs, 3 mil on the chest) and a step-in jacket (5 mil chest, 3 mil arms) with a hooded vest (3 mil chest, and 5 mil head). The “blended thickness” gives more thermal protection where it is critical (head and torso) and increased flexibility where it is needed, such as in the limbs. This results in a very comfortable suit, both in movement and warmth. Triple layering and an attached hood also gave added warmth.
For the last two years I have been diving a Harvey’s Titanium Toaster in a similar configuration, only with thicker material. It’s a good suit, but buoyant. I found myself just as warm with the Kobalt suit, in spite of the fact that it was thinner. I dived the Kobalt suit in waters 58 to 62 degrees with multiple dives per day. Only once did I get cold when I made two deep dives in a row sitting still on the bottom engaging in macro-photography. I could strip off the jacket between dives and slip it back on dry an hour later. And after a week’s worth of diving, day in and day out, without freshwater rinsing, the suit did not smell—a testament to the suit’s anti-bacterial qualities.
The Harvey’s Kobalt Pro-Flex line of suits is available in a variety of configurations including step-in jacket with farmer john pants (reviewed here), jumpsuit, shortie, and hooded vests. I especially enjoyed the hooded vest. The material on the head and chest added dramatically to my overall warmth.
For more information on the Harvey’s full line of wetsuit and dry suits see your local dealer. For a dealer near you call 206-824-1114 or visit www.harveys-divesuits.com.
Dale Sheckler is Editor and Publisher of California Diving News, Producer of the SCUBA Show 2001 expo (June 2-3 at the Long Beach Convention Center), and co-author of the book newly released A Diver's Guide to Southern California's Best Beach Dives, 3rd Edition.