BARE Nixie Ultra: Ultra Warmth, Ultra Comfort
The BARE brand is known for high-quality products that include innovative technologies and premium features, which bring their wetsuits to the top of the line, similar to the Fourth Element Proteus II.
Warmth and comfort are the two primary criteria by which I judge a wetsuit, and the Bare Nixie Ultra delivers thoroughly on both. The BARE Nixie is suitable for water temperatures around 60 to 70 F (16-21 C) and comes in black and gray/heather.
OMNIRED Infrared Technology
For those of us who like to dive year-round in temperate locations, fall, spring and winter dives can let the cold seep into your bones if you’re not prepared, but Bare’s OMNIRED infrared technology offers lasting warmth even on longer dives.
The construction of this suit, using 13 thermo-reactive minerals in the fabric materials, turns your body heat into infrared heat before reflecting it back onto you. Its radiant red, semi-dry internal lining makes a noticeable difference in warmth underwater compared with other wetsuits, as well as during surface intervals, through retained heat. BARE’s claim to lead the dive industry on this front may very well be justified.
Full-Stretch Neoprene Technology
BARE’s full-stretch technology gives you advanced flexibility and comfort in the important performance areas of the suit by adding varying degrees of their full-stretch panels. More flexibility equals more comfort and more enjoyment when topside and while diving.
GLIDESKIN collar and zippers
The Nixie Ultra’s unique GLIDESKIN collar not only seals well, but also adds to the suit’s superior comfort factor, which can’t be said of many thicker wetsuits that tend to choke you while at the surface. This suit easily keeps warm water in and cold water out.
Additional sturdy zippers at the neck, wrists, and ankles make this suit even easier to don and doff, and give you that critical breathing room before and after you hop in the water.
Price/Quality Ratio
The BARE Nixie Ultra 5 mm comes in around $430, which is closer to the higher end of the price spectrum for a 5 mm wetsuit, but BARE doesn’t compromise on quality. With the added comfort features, ultra-warm infrared technology, and excellent flexibility, the Nixie is worth the extra penny for a solid, high-quality wetsuit for colder diving.
Still looking for other features? Check out our full guide for comparisons and further recommendations on finding the right wetsuit for you, along with any other dive gear you may need.
Do we recommend the BARE Nixie Ultra wetsuit?
The BARE Nixie Ultra 5 mm gets our strong recommendation for anyone looking to go on a colder dive. Comfortability, warmth, and flexibility are top-notch in this suit, making it an easy go-to wetsuit for fall, winter, and spring diving. BARE knows how to make a great wetsuit, and they did not disappoint with the Nixie Ultra.
Specs & Features
| Material | Full-stretch technology neoprene (100% PFC free) |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 3/5/7 mm available |
| Zip | 19-inch back-zip, plus ankle, wrist, and neck zips |
| Seams | Double-glued seams with secure-lock construction |
| Sizes | 2–14 |
