REMINDER: THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. has no obligation to monitor the Forums. However, THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. reserves the right to review any materials submitted to or posted on the Forums, and remove, delete, redact or otherwise modify such materials, in its sole discretion and for any reason whatsoever, at any time and from time to time, without notice or further obligation to you. THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. has no obligation to display or post any materials provided by you. THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. reserves the right to disclose, at any time and from time to time, any information or materials that we deem necessary or appropriate to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, contract obligation, legal or dispute process or government request. Click on the following hyperlinks to further read the applicable Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
The Great Unbiased Wetsuit Review Thread
- Thread starter silentbutdeadly
- Start date
barney suit for the barney, clean that garage ya filthy animal
It's the one thing I don't like about these new suits........the zipper.@jkb chest zip
purple is a fav
The smooth skin on Cyber is the most durable I've had
about a month or two ago I hit my fin above the elbow hard enough to break the skin ( I was going to get a pic)
with no damage to the rubber (2mil)
Zipper is smaller than the old ones and hard to thread. I almost always have an issue getting it on.
I'm considering going back to the zipperless (velcro) on my next one.
I like the zipperless the most myself.
I was very fond of the fancy Hurley Phantom 202 and 303. Those were among my best ever once they were on. But one YUGE advantage of the xcels is, like you say, you just yank the zipper across and you're done. Any pre-surf giddyness or haste just compounded getting the Hurleys threaded on perfectly. Got better with time/practice but not really sure why they did it that way.
I had a zipperless Rip Curl in the 90's. Exact same design as their zipper less suits today. Loved that suit. That's back when Rip Curl made a decent product.
The Cyber zipperless that I'm talking about is quite different, however. It has a standard front zip flap, but with velcro around all the sides of said flap instead of seals and a zip. It worked well but wasn't my favorite design. Cybers new zippers are smaller than previous versions and have a new hook you have to line up before the zipper will thread. If it was the old, large plastic zippers, I'd have no issues with it. This one is just mildly annoying.
I don't understand (unless cost is an issue) why anyone would design a suit where you have to thread the zipper.
Does it give any more room for entry and exit without an attached zipper?
One guy suiting up in the parking lot needed help with threading the chest-zip wetsuit (forgot the brand) as it was insanely hard to align while peering under your chin. I eventually managed to get it threaded for him while nearly punching him in the face 3 times in the process.
Made note to self - don't get that wetsuit brand. But I've already forgotten what it was. Dammit.
And yes, I made sure to call out the chest zip part of this because man, that would be some Sensual Surfer material, otherwise.
Last edited:
next time this happens, right after you engage the zipper give him a quick kiss and walk away like nothing happened.
SOMEONE has the goods on that otf-gbg parking lot encounter!
Paging keenfish....
Yeah, same zipper. It's not an issue on my 3/2. It is on my 4/3. 4/3 needs a heavier duty zipper, IMO.
My 2mm full has the zipper go the opposite direction. Agreed, it's a mind fvck when in a hurry.
so what's the argument against an attached zipper, less flexible? To me it just seems to have the opportunity of water getting in at another entry point.
I have a mutant (detatched zipper) and a hyperfreak (attached zipper). The different in flexibility taking the suits on and off is huge. I can't say I notice it once I'm suited up and paddling.