Henderson has a long history of designing and manufacturing wetsuits for the United States Government at their USA factory located in New Jersey. Today, Henderson manufactures its Spec-Ops wetsuits used by the United States Coast Guard, United States Special Forces and various sectors of the United States Armed Services for Special Ops, Explosive Ordinance Disposal and SAR (Search & Rescue) operations and training. Although Henderson Spec-Ops suits are not available to the public, the Henderson TALON is now available for recreational users. Each TALON wetsuit is cut, hand glued, assembled and sewn in our USA factory using the exact specifications and materials used in our Spec-Ops line. TALON wetsuits must be special ordered. TALON wetsuits are made one at a time, specifically for the owner. Every suit bears a registration number and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the craftsperson that inspected it. This guarantees that the TALON wetsuit you receive was made in the USA to Henderson's exacting standards.
As in all wetsuits, the neoprene core is the heart of the product. No added treatment, coating, laminate or lining can make up for a low quality blended neoprene core material. Henderson's core neoprene utilizes a proprietary HYPERSTRETCH™ THERMOPRENE™ 100% Chloroprene Rubber (CR) formula developed exclusively for Henderson and specifically for maintaining maximum warmth when compressed at depths. This formula is produced in a TAA compliant facility and is utilized in Henderson's BA - BAA compliant SPEC OPS / SAR wetsuit line. The Henderson core neoprene combines a low modulus with superior memory in a microcell structure, ensuring every Henderson wetsuit will maintain its thickness and superior warmth and comfort over many years of service.
Henderson SPEC-OPS wetsuits are internally lined with Henderson's exclusive Fire Fleece™ lining. Fire Fleece™ lining is an ultra-high stretch, low pile, synthetic fleece which is incredibly comfortable. This comfort will enhance performance during extended deployment. Fire Fleece™ lining also contributes to the 300% stretch of the material making all land and water based movements nearly resistance-free. This significantly reduces the effort required to move in a wetsuit and significantly increases energy stores for thermal regulation during prolong exposure. Fire Fleece™ lining minimizes water transfer throughout the wetsuit resulting in maximum thermal conservation.
All the seams on Fire Fleece™ 3, 5, and 7mm wetsuits are double glued and then blind stitched inside and out (most wetsuits are only sewn on one side). This provides longevity, confidence, and performance in the most demanding conditions.
The exterior laminate is also pill-resistant. Pilling occurs when wetsuits are exposed to hook and loop style fasteners, non-slip swim platforms, BCD's and other dive gear worn along with the wetsuit. No high stretch wetsuit is pill proof", but the Fire Fleece™ exterior will resist pilling and abrasion significantly better than other wetsuit laminates and will significantly increase replacement cycle times.
The proven, back zip entry significantly accelerates the speed at which users can be in the wetsuit and ready to deploy. Rear zip entry configurations are well suited for use in confined spaces and tight quarters, like helicopter cabins or surface deployment vessels. The suits can be easily unzipped for comfort and quickly re-zipped prior to deployment.
SAR wetsuit and tester were exposed to 55°f water for 30 minutes.
Core Body Thermal Retention - Thermal readings with the wetsuit removed and after 30 minutes using a 3mm Henderson Spec Ops / SAR wetsuit in 55°f water.