Why do the zippers on women's wetsuits stop at the waist?

[kimbalabala]

I keep watching for someone to make a wetsuit with a zipper that goes down to the hips - or at least halfway between the waist and the hips. Guys may not understand why this is a problem so I'll try to explain why *I* am frustrated about this. Women's hips are bigger than their waistline - well, at least that's the way we're SUPPOSED to be shaped. So we get this wetsuit that is made for a standard size 10 (as an example - and my dimensions will be way off I'm sure) and the pattern is cut for a woman to have hips that measure 40" and a waist that measures 30". Now, the wetsuit only unzips to the waistline so that means that the woman now has to squeeze her 40" hips through an opening that is meant to accommodate a 30" waist. The result is that every time we don or doff our wetsuit we go through this process of pulling and rolling the skin/fat of our legs and bottoms through a 30" hole so that our posterior can snugly rest into that 40" of neoprene.

Would the wetsuits not work if the zipper went down 4 or 5 inches further south? Would we lose the snug factor? What's up with that? Anyone? Was this already discussed somewhere - if so, feel free to delete.

 

[Laurie S.]

All my wetsuits unzip to about six inches below the natural waist. I have no problem getting them on. Three are Hendersons and the other is an Akona.

 

[kimbalabala]

I just tried on my Henderson 5mm and it stops at the waist ... and it appears to have shrunken over the winter ...

 

[morecowbells]

After reading your question, I just had to get up and compare my two wetsuits with each other. My Henderson has the zipper starting at the navel. My new Waterproof has a front zipper which starts about 2" above the crotch. My hips are my downfall when it comes to how clothes and gear fit.

 

[BabyDuck]

it's because the designers are a) guys and b) clueless.

 

[CheddarChick]

And as long as we are bitchen... Why can't they understand the idea of ladies having b**bs. I can never find an off the rack suit that fits in the waist, isn't baggy in the butt, and I can actually breath in when it is zipped.....

 

[kimbalabala]

Can we get a wetsuit manufacturing company to read these posts?! I'm buying a new wetsuit tomorrow and would happily pay more for a suit with a zipper that goes down to the top of my hips and would accommodate the girls!!

 

[kotik]

There may be someone in your area that does custom wetsuit modifications. I know there's a woman relatively close to my area who is well known for the work she does, and zippers are the most common customization. I've spoken with people who've had her add/lengthen zippers all over their suits.

 

[kimbalabala]

Thanks for the customization idea but I really think that the zippers shouldn't have to be a custom job. I can't imagine why that issue hasn't been addressed - other than the fact that we buy what is offered because we have no choice, so they see no need for factory modifications.

 

[CheddarChick]

I hear ya sista!!!!