Front Horizontal Drysuit Zipper Entry

[jbb]

Front Horizontal Drysuit Zipper Entry.

I've been looking for drysuits with this entry system and there aren't very many. Did a search on this board but didn't find much on the mid horizontal zipper. USIA does have it as an optional zipper position but not many others. Is there some drawback that I'm not aware of? It would require more material at the waist but most of it should get folded up as you lash the zipper arount your waist. USIA claims that zipper position has the least problems in their suits.

This would keep the suit easier to don oneself (even with diagonal zippers people often need help) and conveniently positioned in the area of the usual relief zipper if you don't have a pee valve.

Jason

 

[ddown]

Try OS Systems In Scapoose Oregon great folks great suits

 

[jbb]

Try OS Systems In Scapoose Oregon great folks great suits

Yes I have checked their suits on line. The HD pro looks interesting although it doesn't exactly look like it fits snuggly from the photo. I am very interested in the suit maker Ocean Venders that I see MechDiver got a suit from. I have phoned them as their web site needs more information and am waiting a return call. Particularly interesting is the stretchiness of the fabric. Not sure how easy the front shoulder zipper is to doft and don and am not sure if they have a waist area zipper option. I'm in no hurry as I have a big bag drysuit that wasn't custom sized since I was in too big a hurry to get it before a dive trip to Nanaimo, BC. Although I have just odered a weezle after checking shops in the area.

Jason

 

[detroit diver]

The Bare Trilam and the Diving Concepts Ultraflex Pro are two suits that have "horizontal" zippers. I've owned both of them, and they are very easy to don and doff by yourself.

The zippers actually go from your left shoulder to your right hip.

 

[JeffG]

http://www.andysdrysuit.com/ds3.htm

 

[hardhat]

Front Horizontal Drysuit Zipper Entry.

I've been looking for drysuits with this entry system and there aren't very many. Did a search on this board but didn't find much on the mid horizontal zipper. USIA does have it as an optional zipper position but not many others. Is there some drawback that I'm not aware of? It would require more material at the waist but most of it should get folded up as you lash the zipper arount your waist. USIA claims that zipper position has the least problems in their suits.

This would keep the suit easier to don oneself (even with diagonal zippers people often need help) and conveniently positioned in the area of the usual relief zipper if you don't have a pee valve.

Jason

Typhoon use to do a horizontal zipper, I'm not sure if they do any more. Stay away from any horizontal zips that are positioned across the chest, they get to much stress on them from being bent or curved backwards and you end up replacing a broken zipper.

 

[Uncle Pug]

I haven't replaced my horizontal across the chest zipper yet (Andy's DS3) and it has a lot of dives on it.

Moby's is another suit that can be had with the horizontal across the belly zipper.

My favorite is the Andy's around the back though... I really like is as it is a self-donning but doesn't get stressed. Unfortunately mine doesn't have the protective zipper guard flap and if I were ordering it new that is what I would get.

 

[Spectre]

From what you are describing; I've seen a couple... there is/was an Abyss suit that did that, and also a White's suit:

http://www.amronintl.com/diving/products.cfm?id=1387