Techniques for donning dry suit

[mikerault]

I am the proud owner of a lightly used poseidon unisuit. Neoprene of course. It appears to be the correct size but getting into it has proven problematic. I seem to have rather wide feet (just call me flipper) and trying to get them into the boots has been difficult. I assume you invert the leg until you can get the foot into the boot then push the leg back into normal position using your leg. However, this has proven problematic.

How loose should the legs be?

Mike

 

[mikerault]

No one willing to help here?

 

[H2Andy]

I assume you invert the leg until you can get the foot into the boot then push the leg back into normal position using your leg.

i'm not sure i follow you. i just bought my first dry suit, so i am going through
growing pains too, but this hasn't been an issue for me.

after i have my undergarments on, i grab the suspenders at their base, and
sit down, and put my right (or left) leg into the suit.

then, i grab just above the ankle, and slip my foot into the boot

then i repeat for the next leg

where are you having trouble?

 

[Scottri]

I just sit on the tailgate of my truck and muscle through it. Some boots are easier than others to get into. You will find a technique that works for you. I wish I could offer some bit of knowledge for your specific problem but I can't really understand the problem.

Scott

 

[Bob3]

Oops... missed this first time around... which model suit do you have; how is the zipper routed?
If the critter didn't come with a manual, give a yell & we will get one to you.
How you go about donning the suit will depend on which suit you have, though if you have to go through a lot of acrobatics, you may need a boot swap if they're too small for you.

When it comes to the feet, I stick my socks over the undies' legs, followed by 2 wraps of masking tape just below the ankles. That'll keep even the most problematic socks up & in place for well over 10 - 12 hours if need be. Then I grab as much material in the knee region as I can & yank 'em up, though if you have a crotch zip suit there is an alternate donning method, pretty much like how the astronauts get into their space suits. (head & arms first, then ya stick the legs in & just stand up).

 

[Rick Inman]

I dive with a guy who has trouble getting into his neoprene dry suit boots. One day I sprinkled talcum powder into his legs/boots and it helped tremendously. YMMV.

 

[mikerault]

I dive with a guy who has trouble getting into his neoprene dry suit boots. One day I sprinkled talcum powder into his legs/boots and it helped tremendously. YMMV.

I'll try the talcum powder idea, sounds like its just good lod friction causing the issue.

Thanks everyone!

Mike

 

[mikerault]

Oh, to answer the question about which suit it is, it is a poseidon unisuit of 1/4 inch (5mm?) neoprene material with integral boots and hood, but no gloves and the zipper that goes all the way around through the crotch. Any links to mauuals (care and feeding, donning techniques, storage) would be appreciated. It is probably 5-7 years old.

 

[dilligaf368]

I've had a couple of those suits. It sounds to me like the anckles are too narrow. If the boot is good for You after the struggle then the boot is fine. Just above the boot is the culprit. Spend a little extra cash to have it enlarged. There is thoughts out there that is to fight it and use powder and just shove. They also believe that if it is tight then there is less volume of air at the feet during the dive.
All of that is true but, just keeping the legs deeper than the trunk of body will stop that from happening. I would rather have larger tapers to the anckles so as to slip the foot into the bootie. Besides, if the water is really colder, the Diver can add more socks to keep the toes warmer.
My whole suit is cut larger so as to add any amount of thermols I might need when working underwater for extended times. Diving shallow to burn steel or weld is the coldest diving operation I know of. The diver has to stay motionless for hours of welding/burning so the chill factor goes way up!
So does Photography. If the Diver will want to do some macro then He/She would have to spend many, many hours just sitting still to get that "perfect shot". The Diver gets chilled faster than somebody that is exploring a wreck or swimming Hither to and yawn. (a little joke there) B--

 

[Bob3]

I have a so-so copy of a scanned manual (original) for the crotch zip; I couldn't seem to remember where the downloadable version is. :doh:
We can email the critter to you, it's over a meg if i recall correctly.
Does Yahoo have a max file size for attachments? If so, drop me a PM with your "other" email addy, assuming that ISP allows the sending of files that large.

The crotch zip were always one of my favorites, too. They obviated the need for a relief zip.