Very unusual Drysuit. Photo!

[paperdesk]

Anyone seen or dived a side to side zip like this? A friend of mine is thinking about purchasing this suit. Looks kind of awkward. Thoughts?

 

[WarrenZ]

Thats old school it is a front zip where you then wrap the excess zipper and suit around behind with the attached straps. I never dove one but have heard of them.

 

[paperdesk]

That makes sense. I wonder how easy it is to control bubble management.

 

[АлександрД]

Mares Polarfit dry suit has such kind of zipper

But it placed lower than on yellow "submarine" suit above

 

[paperdesk]

Look at that! I had no idea. Thanks for the post, I'll check the Mares one out and see if I can find out how people liked it.

 

[al248005]

OS Systems has a similar suit too I believe

 

[tmassey]

I dove a Typhoon drysuit exactly like that. Bubble management is no problem—and no different. The tightness of the suit around you is configurable: tighten or loosen the straps. It made for a very clean, streamlined suit. And unlike my DUI suit, it is truly able to be self-donned. (My DUI zips upward (backward?) and I can’t reach the last couple of inches at the top...) It also gets the zipper out from under the shoulder straps with the weight on them at the top.

All told, a perfectly fine design. Looks real silly when it’s not zipped up, and it makes it harder to wear the suit around your waist, but I never do that: I’ve broken zippers that way...

In short, don’t let that aspect scare you away from the suit. It’s easy to get in, and once you’re in, it will be just the same.

 

[АлександрД]

not only Mares, also German Kallweit Helios Helios Trockentauchanzug - für Sie zusammengestellt use same construction.

 

[paperdesk]

Thanks for all the replies! Guess there are more of these out there than I thought!

 

[FinnMom]

I have seen pictures. I understood that this design makes it possible for the suit to better fit a range of differently sized divers, making it good for a rental, a fire/police/public safety department, etc.

I would be a little wary about having that buckle against my ribs, possibly getting crunched under a waist band or weight belt. I'd have to try it before I could believe that was not a comfort problem.