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Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

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Wave_Ride
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Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby Wave_Ride » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:15 am

Hello,

Need to buy 5/4 wetsuit.
Which one is more suitable for kitesurfing front or back zip?

:thumb:

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jumarcil
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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby jumarcil » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:48 am

Wave_Ride wrote:Hello,

Need to buy 5/4 wetsuit.
Which one is more suitable for kitesurfing front or back zip?

:thumb:
By far front or neck entry so you dont wind up with cold water in your back. If you want a 5 4 it is probably because you will kite in cold weather or water. I have been using xcel drylock 5/4 suits and I can kite in freezing water and wearher. I use the one with tthe integrated hood. I also have an ocean rodeo soul but still I prefer my wetsuit. Others will swear by ripcurl, mystic etc.. for me xcel is doing the job. By the way there are major difference in a cheap entry level 5/4 and a top of the line. Here in quebec we get to kite in freezing water in late fall. 3 or 4 degree water so we need something really warm.

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby nothing2seehere » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:01 pm

I prefer back zip. All of the front zips I have tried tend to choke me when in use.

All the modern winter wetsuits I have seen have a stretchy neck entry with back zips so you no longer get water sloshing around inside. You just get a much larger hole to climb into.

Personally the advice for buying wetsuits that has worked for me is to measure yourself properly then go through the size charts of the different brands until you find a shape that matches. I'm a Neil Pryde shape and none of the other brands I've tried fit as well (In some cases I can't even fit my legs into them - thats right I don't skip leg day 8) ) .

Hence you can't just work off brand recommendations.

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby Féfis » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:07 pm

back zip with bat-wing is the best thing especially for hotter suits (5mm)

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby Westozzy » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:08 pm

Read below weird stuff happened posting for a reason...
Last edited by Westozzy on Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby Westozzy » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:09 pm

Both neck zip (front entry) have torn at the shoulder after less than a seasons use and they weren't cheap ones either. Back zipper for me from now on.

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby TheJoe » Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:06 pm

Back zip personally here for me. I'm pretty stout with wide shoulders and front zip is just too hardto get in an out of. I also live in Texas so our water is not as cold. If it was worse I would just get a dry suit.

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby BillyGoatGruff » Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:08 pm

Back zip for me all the way. No issues with flushing if its a good fit, batwing design and decent suit. I use a "West Nitro Plus" 4/5mm for very cold UK conditions. I am not keen on all these light and stretchy new suits. I want a winter wetsuit to have some weight to it for wind chill resistance. Make sure you get a suit with large chest and back rubber panels. Lots of new suits are going all over neoprene which has a much lower wind chill rating than the rubber panels.

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby Peter_Frank » Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:06 pm

Front zip is by far the best out there on the water, no doubt whatsoever :thumb:

Much warmer, feels better, no annoying zip, no zip leash wips :D

BUT, I prefer backzip, simply because I am not so flexible, so totally impossible for me to get out again, if alone (which we are most often when winther).

And I find it more difficult to put on also - so I use backzip eventhough I know they are not as good as front (actually chest) zip ones :naughty:

8) Peter

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Re: Front zip Or Back Zip wetsuit?

Postby bay surfer » Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:47 pm

Back zip for sure, need the zipper strap to tie my sunglasses to.


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