TiZip or YKK?

[TSandM]

I would love to know where DUI gets their information that the TiZip doesn't last as long as the metal zipper. I talked to one of the guys who designed the zipper at DEMA a couple of years ago. He may have been lying, but he told he had a suit with over 1000 dives on it with the plastic zipper, and ain't nobody gets 1000 dives out of a metal one.

I agree that they are easier to zip, don't fray, and behave extremely well once you realize that you have to give a couple of extra tugs to make sure the zipper docks at the end. I did put silicone lubricant on mine at the beginning, because I had heard it was necessary, but I haven't done that in a long time. I just make sure I give several strong tugs to get it securely docked. I'd never have another metal zipper if I didn't have Fusion suits that require them (the TiZip can't do the double curve of the Fusion zipper).

 

[TONY CHANEY]

idk about you, but I don't hit my drysuit zipper with a hammer.... Seems irrelevant.

I think that you are missing the point. Have you watched the video?

 

[andrewy]

i have outfitted tl350 with tizip. every now and then end of zipper leaks. any movement if a dock results in a leak i think it happens because tls material is too thin for tizip.
in any case after couple of "zipping" under water, im going with regular metal ziuppers. they are now coming from CHina $ 80 a pop, so what if they last for 100 dives.

 

[ajduplessis]

I cant find the video

 

[PfcAJ]

I think that you are missing the point. Have you watched the video?

Interested in seeing it. Can you send me a link?

In any case, if it's not reliably dry, I'm not interested. And it's dryness has been called into question by more than a handful of divers. There's a big long thread about it over on the DIR Explorers forum.

The ykk zipper is at least dry. When it starts to fray you've got a good number of dives left on it to prepare for replacement, too. Like an early warning system.

 

[RJP]

YKK is coming out with their own copy of the Ti-Zip called the Aquaseal.

McNett might have a problem with that

 

[TSandM]

In my experience, the only problem is that the zipper docks differently from the metal one. Once you master that, it is dry. I have a lot of friends with these zippers, and nobody is having any trouble.

 

[KevinNM]

In my experience, the only problem is that the zipper docks differently from the metal one. Once you master that, it is dry. I have a lot of friends with these zippers, and nobody is having any trouble.

I slowly flooded my suit in the pool once during skills practice, not sure if it was due to not quite sealing the TiZip or not applying the silicone goo to the end. But I've been a lot more careful about both of these since (plus lubricating the zipper) and never had any issues in real dives. I also typically check that the t handle is not being pushed/pulled in an undesirable direction by the BCD right after I jump off the boat.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

idk about you, but I don't hit my drysuit zipper with a hammer.... Seems irrelevant.

Probably not a hammer but maybe a tank that rolls against the rolled up suit in the trunk? Maybe something gets dropped on top of your drysuit bag and causes the zipper to bend more than it should? Both of the metal zippers I had fail broke in a way similar to what the video demonstrates. I was always careful about how I packed my suit and where it was stored, even used a large plastic tote and it still broke.

 

[Keith.M]

Well there does seem to be a lot of evidence from others that the plastic zipper is indeed reliable as long as you make sure that it is docked correctly.

However, since this suit is my single largest scuba investment as of yet, I decided to go with the YKK for their long track record of staying dry.

I figure that once this first one wears out, that could be the time that I give the TiZip or other plastic zipper a try.

Thanks to all who contributed.

As a side note, I can't find that video either. So I will be the third person to request of someone that has seen it, please post the link.