NJMike
Contributor
First thing I noticed:
I recently purchased a D1 Hybrid drysuit. I haven't had the chance to use it yet. I did just complete installation of a P-valve, however, and in so doing I saw a couple things that I did not understand about the suit.
First, the zippers that hold the "mesh liner" to the shell appear to be installed "inside-out". There is no zipper handle to grab to unzip it. After manipulating the head of the zipper with my fingernail, I was able to move it far enough so that I could get the tip of my finger behind it and "push" it rather than pull it with a handle.
I found that there is a cloth "handle" with the Waterproof name on it, but it is on the OTHER side...the side that faces the inside of the shell. So I cannot grab it when I find the zipper. Here's a picture:
Imagine if you bought a jacket with a front zipper but the zipper handle was on the inside of the jacket...see what I mean?
Now, the ANKLE zippers are the same way. When I discovered this, I chose to not remove the liner when I was installing the P-valve because I was scared I would not be able to reconnect the ankle zippers.
Think about it...you can't see down the leg...you can only get one arm down the leg...and the zipper connects from the opposite side..........
Second thing I noticed:
On both legs is an extra protective layer of material that is guard for the knees and legs (I guess). At the bottom they are sewed to the outer layer of the suit...except for about 1-1/2" of the seam that would be lowest (closer to the boot). I don't understand why it is not completely sewn all the way across. As you can see from the picture, I have put a 12" ruler into the unsewn section. It's 10" in, but I could have put the entire ruler in.
I am sure there must be reasons for these two things, and that as a new drysuit owner there is/are something(s) that I do not understand about how they are constructed.
Can anyone enlighten me?
I recently purchased a D1 Hybrid drysuit. I haven't had the chance to use it yet. I did just complete installation of a P-valve, however, and in so doing I saw a couple things that I did not understand about the suit.
First, the zippers that hold the "mesh liner" to the shell appear to be installed "inside-out". There is no zipper handle to grab to unzip it. After manipulating the head of the zipper with my fingernail, I was able to move it far enough so that I could get the tip of my finger behind it and "push" it rather than pull it with a handle.
I found that there is a cloth "handle" with the Waterproof name on it, but it is on the OTHER side...the side that faces the inside of the shell. So I cannot grab it when I find the zipper. Here's a picture:
Imagine if you bought a jacket with a front zipper but the zipper handle was on the inside of the jacket...see what I mean?
Now, the ANKLE zippers are the same way. When I discovered this, I chose to not remove the liner when I was installing the P-valve because I was scared I would not be able to reconnect the ankle zippers.
Think about it...you can't see down the leg...you can only get one arm down the leg...and the zipper connects from the opposite side..........
Second thing I noticed:
On both legs is an extra protective layer of material that is guard for the knees and legs (I guess). At the bottom they are sewed to the outer layer of the suit...except for about 1-1/2" of the seam that would be lowest (closer to the boot). I don't understand why it is not completely sewn all the way across. As you can see from the picture, I have put a 12" ruler into the unsewn section. It's 10" in, but I could have put the entire ruler in.
I am sure there must be reasons for these two things, and that as a new drysuit owner there is/are something(s) that I do not understand about how they are constructed.
Can anyone enlighten me?
