Self Zipping a Bare full suit ?

[ScubaSarus]

This suit is a bear to zip. Self zipping also chews up the zip seal. I may coat it with glue were the zipper makes contact.

Does anyone have any tip on self-zipping this suit. I see the little loop on the ass is for pulling the zipper tight while zipping. This is a tough zipper to zip. Also the slider is made of plastic and I dont want to break it.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Phaethon]

I have a Bodyglove 3mm - why oh why did I buy one with a zip up the back????

I find that a liberal application of vaseline helps prevent the zip sticking half way up. I have also extended the original pull tape (attached to the end of the pull tab on the zipper body)with a shoe lace so it's about twice the original length - this makes it easiers to transfer between hands or grip in the mouth while tugging on the neck to get the zip and layer underlying the zip straight and aligned. I also added a second shoelace to the body of the zipper itself (as opposed to the end of the tab that the vertical pull cord, with extension, is tied to) this second lace allows me to pull the zip down again if it gets stuck without having to drop the pull up zip. Also the zipper is designed to lock if the tab is in the down position - this can happen if you use the pull cord to pull the zip by its tab downward (am I making sense..?).

Beyond lubrication and modification I get comfortably into the suit, pull the zipper section taught and fasten the top velcro to keep it aligned, arch backwards slightly and pull smoothly up on the tab pull cord.

Perhaps a bungee cord hooked over that tab at the bottom with the other end under your foot would help keep the bottom of the zip under tension while you tug up on the top with one hand and pull the zip cord with the other - don't forget to unhook you bungee 'tail' before jumping in: you might find yourself back on the boat in short order... =8^O

Just the experiences of a newbie and amateur contortionist... %^S

Cheers,

K.

 

[Spectre]

I can't think of any reason why you couldn't use drysuit zipper wax on a wetsuit. Beeswax works really well for drysuit zippers also. There is plenty of info here about drysuit zippers that you might be able to apply to a sticky wetsuit zipper

 

[ScubaSarus]

Actually it may not be a sticky zipper. It appears that its binding to the zipper seal and digging into it. I have some bee'swax and will try out you solution. The bungee cord method also seems it will be good for some laughs for my dive buddies. I'll work on it. Looks like a long stiff rod of some sort to hook onto the slider and push upward on it may work.

 

[Phaethon]

Looks like a long stiff rod of some sort to hook onto the slider and push upward on it may work.

HEALTH WARNING!
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES use a LOADED speargun for this purpose...

===8^O

K.

 

[Tavi]

I've had 2 Bare wetsuits, a 5/3 front zip (they don't make it anymore) and a 3/2 back zip. even with care and occasional help zipping up, the zippers on both suits have died, the first symptom was "sticking" for no apparent reason. I really like the Bare suits, but can't see a zipper only lasting 2 years.

Anyway, the shop I work with prefers me to wear a Brand that they sell. So I no longer use Bare wetsuits.
I have 2 fairly new wetsuits from another Manufacturer. So far they fit great and NO zipper problems.