Drysuit latex seals adjustment

[martzak]

Hi,

I recently bought my first dry suit (made by Bare), with latex neck and wrist seals. The suit fits perfectly but the seals are a little (uncomfortably) tight. They appear to be the 'heavy-duty', non-tapered, non-trimmable latex seals. So the only option for size adjustment is to stretch them with soup cans (wrist seals) and a large jar (neck seal)...this was recommended by a Bare rep. I tried it and kept the cans and the jar in place for 2 days without much change in the seal size and feel.

Should I have let the seals stretch even longer than 2 days?
I thought about using a hair drier during stretching to 'force' the latex to 'give'...carefully, of course, not to compromise the seal adhesive. Does that sound like a good idea?
Any reasonable advice will be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I have not heard of a non trimmable latex seal. Even the non tapered looking wrist seals usually have rings to guide you in trimming them - and removing a ring or two makes a big difference.

Same with the neck seal.

 

[Gary D.]

Same here. I have never heard of non trimable latex seals either. Seals are NOT a one size fits all.

Gary D.

 

[timegan]

If your suit didn't come with instucts as to how? Check the internet or do a search here on how to do it right. You want to deal with suit squeeze, air bubble etc. SPG. But you don,t want to be monitoring your blood pressure as well..LOL

 

[--tom--]

The shop trimmed mine. I recently bought a Bare Tri-lam.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

You can still trim them, they are all able to be trimmed.....take a little off at a time or you will be doing a replacement....remember, you can always take more material off, but to put it back on is a new neck seal so take your time when cutting

 

[Teamcasa]

Do yourself a favor and trim is carefully and only a ¼” at a time. It should feel tight and if your lower your chin to your chest it should still remain in contact to the back of your neck. Same thing with tilting your head back, it should stay in contact under your chin. I trimmed mine just a touch too much and it leaked.

 

[AcDriver]

Which Bare suit is it? I just bought a Next Gen Pro Dry and it's seals were trimable. I trimmed the neck seal and it's much more comfortable. Before I was going all red and white and blue in the face.

The Wrist seal I didn't/haven't needed to trim.

A word of caution. Do a search on triming the neck seals before you trim them. Read all you can, make your own risk assesment and then decide if you want to trim or take it to your LDS and have them trim it. Or continue with the can stretching.

BTW, PADI's Drysuit course says that only low grade latex will stretch. High grade will return to it's original shape. (Now prepare for 15 posts telling you otherwise! LOL)

My own personal experince was trimming the neck seal was not a big deal if done carefully. But a little goes a LONG way, so if you decide to do it, go slow!

 

[martzak]

Divers,
Thank you all for your input...it was very helpful.
I'm going to take another much closer look at the seals on my Nex Gen Pro Dry and trim them carefully, 1/4" at a time, as recommended.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Divers,
Thank you all for your input...it was very helpful.
I'm going to take another much closer look at the seals on my Nex Gen Pro Dry and trim them carefully, 1/4" at a time, as recommended.

If you need help, drive down I-55 tomorrow and I will help ya I work open to close and would be more than happy to help