Front entry zip or shoulder entry ?

[davis]

Having a look at drysuits and would welcome some comment on whether a front entry zip or a rear zip would be better. J ust thinking in terms of putting the suit on and taking off, is there any disadvantage to front entry as havent seen many only Otter. I am also thinking of a Neoprene so a front entry would be helpful .

[nickb]

Having moved to a front-entry suit last year, I can honestly say I'd never go back to a shoulder-zip.

[Twinsetmad]

Hi Chap... I've only ever dived a cross the shoulder zip...but seen many guys with the chest zip.. I reccon If I were to buy a new suit I to would have a\ chest zip..

It just seems easier to self don... the call of nature.. I know they do P zips but they aren't great to use... espesially with cold hands. I would spend the money and buy a Dui front loader..although the seals would have to be changed to neoprene.

Also I prefer a hyper compressed neoprene over a membrane...

so after a good few years and a good few suits... I would know exactly what I want...

I have an R1 Othree at the moment...and its a great suit...do they do front entry..? If they did it would be perfect.

[tom]

same as nick - a properly fitting front zip is much much better in several ways.

I wouldn't buy a DUI though - there are several other options at much more sensible prices (protec, polar bears, otter, seaskin, hammond etc etc)

[PapaBear]

I have a rear entry but having been on the boat with a few people having front entry have to agree when I change suits I will go for a front entry.
The biggest thing at the minute seems to be to try and get a suit with a zip cover, either a velcro flap or a second normal zip over. Stops the teeth wearing on the one that costs £70+ to replace a time

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by PapaBear

The biggest thing at the minute seems to be to try and get a suit with a zip cover, either a velcro flap or a second normal zip over. Stops the teeth wearing on the one that costs £70+ to replace a time

Another vote for front entry. Now I have one I'll never go back.

A word of caution about zip covers; when you're back on the boat it's nice to remove that vacuum packed feeling by unzipping the dry zip a couple of cm. Just remember it's undone. It's easy to glance at the closed zip cover and think the dry zip is...

IF you buy a DUI, make sure they put the zip the proper way round. They "improved" their design with the worst bit of f**kwittery you could imagine, so the zip does up by pulling towards your left shoulder. Only problem is that the weight of your harness straps wiggles the zipper back a cm or so, which results in a very wet diver.

DISCLAIMER: neither of the above has happened to me. Yet.

[wilbo]

Front entry - no question.

I found shoulder entry far too restrictive when doing valve manipulation during the dive.

[nickb]

Originally Posted by MarkP

IF you buy a DUI, make sure they put the zip the proper way round. They "improved" their design with the worst bit of f**kwittery you could imagine, so the zip does up by pulling towards your left shoulder. Only problem is that the weight of your harness straps wiggles the zipper back a cm or so, which results in a very wet diver.

DISCLAIMER: neither of the above has happened to me. Yet.

This has never happened to me either, I suspect it's an urban myth.

I have no idea why DUI call the new style of zip the 'QuickZip' as it's patently no quicker to zip it up than to do so in the other direction. However mine has the QuickZip and it's not been a problem for me. I find myself getting wet from lots of other places though

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by nickb

This has never happened to me either, I suspect it's an urban myth.

I have no idea why DUI call the new style of zip the 'QuickZip' as it's patently no quicker to zip it up than to do so in the other direction. However mine has the QuickZip and it's not been a problem for me. I find myself getting wet from lots of other places though

Actually, I've witnessed both happen. They're true actual events.

The one about the new style zip happened to a buddy who, the first time he got soaked thought he'd simply not done the zip up properly. We double checked the next time and saw the zip had opened from where he and we'd left it.

[Ian@1904]

I have two membrane suits one is a front loader (Seaskin-2 seasons old) and the other a shoulder zip (Oceanic-5 seasons old), both work fine and on original zips. Zip covers seem to be more hassle than gain.

Front entry requires some flexibilty to get in, and you can only blame yourself if not fully zipped up. As I alternate between the suits I almost forgot to zip up the Oceanic a few weeks ago.

I have never encountered discomfort with the zip across my shoulders, or across my chest.