Bare NexGen Zipper Life

[Sintax604]

I just finished test driving the new zipper and I have to say that I'm quite pleased. There was no detectable leaking/permeation, it glided open and closed very nicely and it was noticeably more flexible. Also, my buddies say the black zipper looks cool... that's all that matters anyway, right?

I'm not sure if it would make much difference in terms of not getting your undergarment stuck in it but it definitely isn't any MORE prone to getting it stuck.

So for now, I'm very happy with the zipper and I look forward to getting my 1500 dives out of it. My only complaint is that the folks at Bare must have been kind of rough with my suit because now my p-valve is leaking. Oh, the troubles never end...

 

[sibermike7]

now my p-valve is leaking. Oh, the troubles never end...

You sure it's the VALVE?

 

[Graeme Tolton]

I have had my nexgen suit for about 2.5 yrs now. This year, i have had to put a neckseal on it and the zipper is now leaking, and will need to be replaced before winter. On the most part, the suit has been pretty good, but seems to be susceptible to small nicks and cuts. I am constantly repairing pin holes, mostly in the legs.

 

[beekeeper5]

Sintax604, how is your drysuit with the TiZip holding out? It's too bad that the TiZip is only available on the Nexgens. Can you take a picture of it?

 

[Sintax604]

I've dove the suit with the TiZip on 4 dives plus an entire day in the ocean doing the PADI Rescue course. The course made me a bit nervous as there was a lot of stress put on the zipper from pulling people around in and out of the water. The zipper performed wonderfully and kept me perfectly dry.

The best part is that when donning my hogarthian harness the shoulder strap no longer catches on the zipper since the TiZip is such a low profile zipper.

Sadly I'm out of the water for 4-6 weeks after hernia surgery and my suit has been put to bed. I'll see about getting a pic of it next time I take it out.

 

[Slamfire]

Hopefully the hernia didn't come as a result of hoisting a heavy buddy out of the water during your rescue course.

So there's been no indication of the infamous light water permeation... Maybe I will go with the Tizip when it comes time to change the zipper on my suit. Is it much easier to close? Would it be easy enough to self close (maybe with the help of a clothes hanger)? I know of people that use the clothes hanger technique to close traditional metal zippers. But it is rough on the zipper and you run the risk of having the zipper bite into the undergarment.

 

[Sintax604]

Is it much easier to close? Would it be easy enough to self close (maybe with the help of a clothes hanger)? I know of people that use the clothes hanger technique to close traditional metal zippers. But it is rough on the zipper and you run the risk of having the zipper bite into the undergarment.

Naw, the surgery was pre-scheduled, I wanted to do the course before I had the surgery so I didn't risk wrecking the surgeons work by taking the course afterwards.

As for the self zipping. When I picked up the suit, the Bare guy specifically warned me NOT to self zip as that is the #1 cause of busted zippers. The TiZip requires about the same force to zip/unzip as the regular brass zipper but the "handle" you hold while zipping is much smaller and would be very difficult to attach to a clothes hanger/door handle, etc.

I hate to say it but it sounds like you are in the same boat as me - gotta wait for the next suit to get self-donning. The NexGen is a great introductory suit but in the end, a fancier (more expensive) suit will be desired for the long term.

 

[leabre]

Have you had a chance to do more dives with this zipper yet? I'm wondering if there may be away for me to get it on a Fusion!

 

[Sintax604]

Have you had a chance to do more dives with this zipper yet? I'm wondering if there may be away for me to get it on a Fusion!

I've now got 38 dives on the zipper and I have had zero problems. No leaking and it glides open/closed like butter. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this zipper to anyone. It will be interesting to hear if they can install it on a Fusion, the zippers on those things look kind of funky. Please post the results.

 

[beekeeper5]

I had it installed on my Bare Trilam drysuit -- it took a lot of phone calls and convincing though.

It's smooth and glides easily. It feels a bit fragile but according to Bare, it's a lot sturdier than it looks or feels.

Regarding your Fusion, when I called TiZip to inquire about the zipper in general in the scuba world, they said that most drysuit manufacturers including Whites are heavily testing the plastic zipper.

Sintax, what are you using to wax the plastic zipper?