Diving With the BARE Nixie Ultra 2.0 and How We Tested
We tested the BARE Nixie Ultra 2.0 during a Northern European summer, where a pleasant, sunny day can hide a chilly surprise below the thermocline. Our dives started in water around 68 F (20 C) and dropped to about 54 F (12 C) at depth. That is colder than I would normally take a 5 mm suit.
We wanted to see if the seal system and thermal lining could close the gap. We watched for cold-water entry during descents, on the bottom, and during surface swims between dive sites.
We also put the suit through a stress test on land. We pulled on the seams, stretched the panels, and worked every zipper through its full range. We checked each seal for gaps. On the fit side, we followed BARE’s size chart to pick the correct size, then put the suit on alone and with a quick assist at the arms. We wanted to know whether a suit this well-sealed could also be easy to get into. We also wanted to know whether anything in the build gave us reason to worry about durability.
Testing Areas for the BARE Nixie Ultra 2.0 Wetsuit
Fit & Sizing
The women’s-specific cut is the standout feature of the Nixie Ultra 2.0. We used BARE’s size chart and got a perfect-fitting suit. The arms and shoulders fit well once they were on. I had no problem squatting, reaching overhead, or moving my arms in any direction underwater. There was no flushing and no air or water gaps anywhere on the suit. That comes down to how well the panels match a woman’s body.
BARE builds the Nixie in a wide size range, so you can match it to your build. The neoprene is flexible enough that I never felt restricted, even during a long dive day. The previous Nixie Ultra ran tight on the arms and shoulders, and BARE improved the cut a bit here. It is still tight and still a bit hard to get on when the suit is wet. Once it is on, there are no movement limitations at all.
Warmth & Seals
The Nixie Ultra 2.0 stayed warmer than we expected for a 5 mm suit. We started our dives in 68 F (20 C) surface water and descended through the thermocline into 54 F (12 C) water. I was comfortable the entire time. There was no flushing. No water moved in and out of the suit. That’s why a 5 mm suit can work in temperatures that would normally call for more neoprene. Even during a fast surface swim, no cold water found a way in.
Three seals are what keep the cold water out. A GLIDESKIN neck seal sits against your skin, and a front neck zipper closes over it. Zip it all the way up for a full seal. If it feels too tight, zip it down a little and the collar still seals underneath. The wrist zippers open wide enough to get your arms through, then close tight against your wrists so water cannot wash past. The ankle closures work the same way. At the end of a full dive day, we were still warm and comfortable.
The OMNIRED infrared lining sits at the torso and back only. It is not full-suit coverage like some other BARE models, but it puts the thermal technology where your core needs it most.
Comfort, Flexibility & Donning
The neoprene in the Nixie Ultra 2.0 is very flexible. The shape of the panels makes the suit stand out, with a cut tailored to a woman’s body. The result is a suit you can move in freely. I could squat, reach, and rotate my arms without restriction on every dive.
Getting into the suit is the weak point. I could get the suit on alone, but it was a struggle at the arms and shoulders, where the sleeves are cut tightest. The neoprene itself is supple, so the fight is with the narrow cut rather than with stiff material.
I needed a quick assist to pull my arms through, but it’s a tradeoff we accept. We would rather have a tight, non-flushing suit than one that’s easy to don but lets water circulate. The back-zip entry has a long pull cord. At the top, a small velcro tab holds the zipper in place, and a larger velcro flap closes the collar over it. The Suit Saver is the booklet-style cover that folds over that velcro so it cannot snag the neoprene or your hair.
The front neck zipper is a real comfort feature. It does not restrict your throat the way some high-neck seals can. Zip it up for a snug fit, or leave it partly down if you want less pressure at the throat. The collar seals underneath either way. The inside lining also helps the suit slide on and off, which takes some of the friction out of getting dressed.
Build Quality
We pulled on the seams, stretched the panels hard, and worked the zippers through their full range. We did not find a quality problem anywhere. The YKK zippers are the kind that will outlast the suit in most cases. The overall construction is what BARE is known for. The panel layout is simple and clean. Extra flex panels sit only on the knees, where BARE uses their new PROTEKT knee protection for abrasion resistance.
The stitching is a bright neon green that runs throughout the whole suit. Our test suit was the Gradient version: mostly black, with a green right sleeve, a left sleeve that shades from green into orange-pink, and neon green stitching.
There is a BARE logo at the ankles and on the left arm, and a small Nixie logo on the collar. The bright sleeves are good for visibility in the water. They also add some personal style to an otherwise black wetsuit. BARE only makes exposure suits, and that focus shows in the details here.
Value for Money
The Nixie Ultra 2.0 sits in the premium tier of women’s wetsuits. You’re paying for the women’s cut, which moves with you underwater without gaps or flushing. You are also paying for the seals at the neck, wrists, and ankles: a GLIDESKIN collar with an adjustable front zipper, plus zippered wrist and ankle closures. On top of that you get the OMNIRED thermal lining, YKK zippers, and build quality that held up when we pulled and stretched it hard.
What you give up is easy solo donning at the arms and shoulders. That is the cost of a suit that seals this well. If you are willing to accept a minute of struggle or a quick assist from a buddy at the start of your dive day, you get a suit that kept us warmer than we expected at this thickness. The fit stays snug and the water stays out.
BARE Nixie Ultra 2.0 compared to others
The Nixie Ultra 2.0 competes at the top of the women’s wetsuit category, where fit, warmth, and seal design separate the premium suits from the rest. Here is how it stacks up against two other well-known options we have reviewed.
ScubaPro Everflex Yulex Dive Steamer vs. BARE Nixie Ultra 2.0
The Scubapro Everflex is ideal for the diver who runs cold and wants a suit built from natural rubber instead of neoprene. It is warm and sturdy, but noticeably less flexible than the Nixie Ultra 2.0. Its internal wrist and ankle seal rings can also feel tight, and one of our reviewers found they cut into the circulation in her hands. The Nixie gives you more mobility and a more adjustable neck seal. The Everflex gives you YULEX, the natural rubber it uses in place of neoprene.
Fourth Element Proteus II vs. BARE Nixie Ultra 2.0
The Fourth Element Proteus II is a maximum-warmth 5 mm that our reviewer found performed like a 7 mm or even a semi-dry. That warmth came with an extremely tight Hydrolock neck seal that our reviewer struggled to get over her head. Once the suit was on, it far outperformed most 5 mm suits. The Nixie Ultra 2.0 takes a different approach: the GLIDESKIN neck seal is covered by an adjustable front zipper, so you can relieve throat pressure without breaking the seal.
Specs & Features
| Thickness (mm) | 5 mm tested; also comes in 7 mm and 3/2 mm |
|---|---|
| Colors available | Black or Gradient |
| Entry type | Back zip plus a front neck zipper, ankle zippers, and wrist zippers on the 5 mm and 7 mm |
| Neoprene type | Standard neoprene, BARE Progressive Full-Stretch |
| Seam type | Double-glued Secure-Lock on the 5 mm and 7 mm; flatseam on the 3/2 mm |
| Seam sealed | Yes on the 5 mm and 7 mm; not stated for the 3/2 mm |
| Lining type | Thermal, OMNIRED infrared technology at the torso and back |
| Reinforced knees | Yes, PROTEKT knee panels |
| Hooded version available | Not yet confirmed by BARE |
| Fit style | Women |
FAQs
The 5 mm BARE Nixie Ultra 2.0 kept us comfortable from 68 F (20 C) at the surface down to 54 F (12 C) below the thermocline. That is colder than we would normally take a 5 mm suit. It worked because the seal system prevented any flushing. Your warmth will depend on your personal cold tolerance and how well the suit fits your build.
Yes, you can get the Nixie Ultra 2.0 on alone, but it is a struggle at the arms and shoulders. I could get it on myself, but I needed a quick assist to pull my arms through, especially when the suit was new. Once the suit is on, the fit is excellent and there are no movement restrictions.
We followed BARE’s size chart and got a perfect-fitting suit. BARE makes many sizes, with women’s-specific cuts to match a female diver’s body contours. If you use the chart and pick the size that matches your measurements, you should get a good fit.
The front neck zipper sits over the GLIDESKIN neck seal. You zip it up fully to close the seal tight against your throat, or you can zip it down a little if it feels too restrictive. The collar stays sealed underneath either way, so you keep the warmth without the throat pressure that some high-neck suits cause.
No, the OMNIRED infrared lining covers the torso and back only. It is not full-suit coverage like some other BARE models. The thermal technology is placed where your core needs it most.
We pulled on the seams, stretched the panels, and worked the seams and zippers hard. We did not find any quality issues. The YKK zippers are heavy-duty and will outlast the suit in most cases. The PROTEKT knee panels are built for abrasion resistance. BARE only makes exposure suits, and the build quality reflects that focus.
