O'three PBB Extream - impressions from diving in a new warmer

Recently we received from Typhoon, the representative of the brand O’Three, a test insulator Point Below Base Extreme. As the brand itself is new and not yet very well known in our market, the same is true about the warmer itself. Its construction is unusual and the greater was our curiosity as to how it would work under water.

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PBB Extream consists of three parts. The base of the set consists of leggings combined with a waistcoat, which are complemented with a sweatshirt and a pair of comfortable socks. As assured by the producer, the whole set has been made of modern materials, which in practice is supposed to translate into improved thermal performance, by keeping a larger layer of air through the warmer itself.

Already at first glance the O’Three set draws attention to the very high quality of finishing of individual elements. All seams, embroideries and inserts have been made very precisely and with great attention to detail. It is no different in the case of the double zipper of the YKK brand, famous for its quality. Underneath the plastic zipper there is a pad that seals the whole and does not allow air to freely penetrate it.

The construction itself seems to be well thought out and created by people who know their stuff very well. This is evidenced, among other things, by the designed p-valve openings and the leg finish, which is comfortable and does a great job of preventing the leggings from pulling up.

Compared to the standard warmer that our dive equipment pilot uses every day, you immediately notice the greater freedom of movement and the significantly smaller size of the O’Three warmer.

Under water, the equipment performed flawlessly. During two dives of 60 minutes each, thermal comfort was fully maintained. It was warm, dry and pleasant, but above all comfortable. A well-chosen set of this type guarantees very decent thermal parameters, but not without significance is the cut or division into elements. It is thanks to these last two factors that the PBB Extreme insulation stands out very positively among the competition.

Of course, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all warmer. Depending on the weather conditions, the length of the dive, the depth and our individual predispositions, we should carefully select the warmer that will suit us best. Fortunately, if you like what the O’Three does, you’ll have plenty to choose from.