Easier way to get my bleepin' Wetsuit on :) ?

[waterkitty]

Yeah, I would try on other sizes too to be sure. (Or just get a Henderson Hyperstretch!) Otherwise...try putting it on by rolling...I find that's much better. Or try a skin. It isn't something I have done yet, but it seems to be the general consensus. Good luck and happy diving!!!

 

[Sideband]

I agree that a lot of it is putting it on correctly. DON'T try to put it on like pants. Turn all but about 6 inches of the legs inside-out and get your foot in to where it needs to be. Next, work in about 4 to 6 inch increments and work it up your legs, turning it right side out as you go.

Joe

 

[justleesa]

We had a guest on the boat and she had a brand new 5,6,7 suit and we had a heck of a time getting her in it. Then one day she shows up with a tube of lubricant (KY) ......went on with ease

 

[Sideband]

Yeah, I would try on other sizes too to be sure. (Or just get a Henderson Hyperstretch!) Otherwise...try putting it on by rolling...I find that's much better. Or try a skin. It isn't something I have done yet, but it seems to be the general consensus. Good luck and happy diving!!!

The Hyperstretch suits are nice, and easy to put on, but you sacrifice a little insulation for that stretch. Not necessarily a big deal unless you really need all of those 7 millimeters for warmth. I have one and dive in the midwest. This month I started to wear my 2mil shorty under it and I think I have done the last of the local dives for the year. Starting to get a bit nippy. (I would probably be done for the year no matter what suit I had)

Joe

 

[Ishie]

I used to use pantyhose, but wasn't useful for getting the arms on, plus felt weird inside my dive boots. I finally bought a full length lycra skin and I LOVE it! It was surprisingly difficult to find though; finally got one at Aquarius II in Monterey. Everyone else thought I was talking about the .5-1 mm wetsuit. With the skin, my wetsuit slips on pretty easily despite my having the big calves problem (eventually want to get a hyperstretch).

If the feet are still a problem, you could get a bunch of those knee or ankle high nylons, slip the suit on, and then take the stockings off.

Ishie

 

[diver@35]

Thanks for the quick response (love this board!)

I think the Lycra is a great recommendation. Can probably go to any sporting goods store and get one (?). This, combined with the "rolling up" approach, should work like a charm.

Will get back to you afterwards. We're doing our 1st pool this Thursday.

Warmest regards and thanks again!

 

[Far_X]

Switch to a dry suit - you will find that all those problems disappear

 

[Boater Dan]

Try a proper fitting suit with ankle and wrist zippers. Does wonders!

 

[chepar]

Don't know where you you're located at - but for me, heat is a factor in how easily my wetsuit is donned.

From much experience, I know that it's in my best interest to sit in the shade and get that thing on as soon as possible. If I'm futzing around and it's a sunny day - more likely than not I'll start to sweat a little and then trying to get the wetsuit on is almost an exercise in futility. The more I struggle, the more I start to sweat and the more impossible it gets.

What's important for me is to get the wetsuit on halfway. I'll not fully put on the wetsuit until we're ready to get geared up to go into the water. On more than one occasion I've created blisters on the top joints of my fingers and sometimes ripped them open from all the tugging.

 

[Sideband]

Don't know where you you're located at - but for me, heat is a factor in how easily my wetsuit is donned.

From much experience, I know that it's in my best interest to sit in the shade and get that thing on as soon as possible. If I'm futzing around and it's a sunny day - more likely than not I'll start to sweat a little and then trying to get the wetsuit on is almost an exercise in futility. The more I struggle, the more I start to sweat and the more impossible it gets.

Once you start to get sweaty it's time to get the suit wet.

YOU-----SUIT
dry------ dry---ok
dry------ wet---ok
wet------ wet---ok
wet------ dry---very hard

Joe