Halcyon Tech Shorts Review
Dry suit-style pockets for wetsuit divers who need real storage.
Price Tier: $$$
Ownership: Personally owned/used in cold and warm water
Overall Score: 9.6 / 10
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Real drysuit-style pockets on a wetsuit-compatible garment | Sizing runs small — order up |
| Strong construction and plenty of bungees for clipping gear | Pricey for shorts, but justified |
| Matches my drysuit configuration for consistent pocket layout |
Why I Chose the Halcyon Tech Shorts
These matched the build quality and layout of the pockets on my Santi drysuit, giving me consistency across all wetsuit dives. I also liked that the construction was rugged enough for both local quarry dives and tropical use. I dive them over wetsuits and even over my Mako full body rashguard. They drain well and provide everything I want in terms of pocket utility.
Performance in the Water
- Trim & Streamlining: No noticeable impact on trim. Very streamlined even when loaded.
- Comfort: Fit snug and don't shift once sized correctly. Sizing runs small — order up.
- Storage: Excellent pocket design with internal bungees and drainage holes.
- Durability: Withstood frequent use and travel. No failures or stitching issues to date.
Verdict
I don’t dive without them unless I’m in a pool. In fact, I liked them so much I gave a pair to the dive ops director at Beqa Lagoon and replaced them when I got home.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely
Deep Dive into the Score
Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.
| Category | Score (0–10) | Weight | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function & Performance | 10 | 30% | 3.00 |
| Ease of Use | 9 | 20% | 1.80 |
| Versatility | 10 | 15% | 1.50 |
| Durability & Build Quality | 9 | 15% | 1.35 |
| Value | 9 | 10% | 0.90 |
| Brand Trust | 10 | 10% | 1.00 |
| Total | 9.55 / 10 | ||
Rounded Display Score: 9.6 / 10
Deep Dive Score Explanations
- Function & Performance – 10: These shorts are highly functional, mimic drysuit pocket layouts, and perform flawlessly in both warm and cold water over wetsuits and rashguards.
- Ease of Use – 9: Easy to don and doff, but the need to size up slightly detracts from a perfect score.
- Versatility – 10: Usable in all wetsuit and warm water configurations, including over rashguards. Pool exclusion is a personal choice, not a design limitation.
- Durability & Build Quality – 9: After a year of diving, they’ve held up extremely well with no signs of wear or stitching failure.
- Value – 9: Pricey, but the quality and design justify the cost if you're diving frequently.
- Brand Trust – 10: Halcyon continues to deliver high-quality gear and solid support, making them a go-to brand in this category.