zipperless wetsuits

I had a zipperless Billabong hooded 5 mm. about 15 years ago. Coming off the horrible 1990s heavy/leaky zipper systems it felt amazingly light and flexible. Stretchy neck entry with the hood/yokes like todays hooded chest zips...except there was a velcro system across the chest.

needles to say, the velcro didnt hold up, and the stretchy neck entry started fraying as soon as the neoprene begain to dry out. I think the suit lasted two winters, and was stetchy as hell the second winter.

 

I have always been a big fan of Quik wetsuits. They seemed to have been a little ahead of the game in the early 2000s providing the most flexible and warm materials.

The wifey got me an Oneill pyshco freak a few years ago. SUPER pricey, but I am AMAZED at the way the neoprene stretches. It acts as a 4 mil, but its actually a 3.5 at its thickest. So, thinner material and still warmer.

Points of all this, is that the material that Oneill started using for the pyschofreak is INSANELY flexible. I mean, I can be sitting in the lineup, and take a pinch of the neoprene on my forearm and pull it out like 8 inches off my arm while I am in the water. Snaps right back in place. That stuff bends, stretchs and such in a crazy way....

So, go to Oneill. If anyone can make a proper zipperless suit, its them for sure. The stuff is like NASA grade. You could get in and out of one a hundred times or so before you even start to see wear and tear.

.02$

 

Yes to them if you're surfing somewhere insanely cold, no if you're looking for something to rip into and out of for casual sessions.

Best:
Ripcurl something from the sample outlet near trestles. In 2006 they still sold them for 100 bucks flat. 5/4 hooded zipperless.

Horror story to put on and take off. Like being born.
Suit of armor against cold. Like a drysuit: took 20 minutes just to soak in. Also couldn't hear much with the hood up. Never noticed water temperature unless it was over 55; then it was a furnace.

Sold it for $250 after a season.

Worst:
Hyperflex 4/3, in 2010. Hooded "zipperless" (Actually had a chest flap zip that didn't do much.)

Easier to put on. Terrible construction. Leaky crotch after 1 season of light use. Warm enough for an hour in water 35, air 26 with 5 mil booties and 3 mil gloves. $75 bucks online, so actually okay for the price.

Sold for $150 after 2 seasons.

Wetsuits are like crack on Ebay.

 

I've tried Zipperless and gotta say they are great in the 4/3 range but never had much luck with the hooded versions. Cant go wrong with the standard chect zip IMO. Good flexibility

 

By "zipperless" do you mean chest-zip (non-back zip)? If so, any wetsuite worth its salt is a chest-zip nowadays. Back-zip suites are generally low end and/or summer suites.

I have a P.O.S. back-zip Quicksilver 3/2 that does the trick in summer. My spring/fall and winter suites are both chest-zip, and both of them kick arse (O'Neill 4/3 and Ripcurl 5.5/4.5).

 

I did a little bit of research on the zipperless being offered by Rip Curl, which revealed that they are warm and flexible, but even more difficult to get in and out of than the current front zip models.

While wetsuite rubber technology has jumped leaps and bounds over the last several years, I'm pretty sure that the constant stretching of the access hole may lead to premature wear of these suits. Just my opinion, that's all.

FWIW, I only experience flushing in cheap backzip suites with short, unsealed necks. I currently have a 4/3 O'Neill Heat with a 3/4 back zip that I wear down to 52 degrees...and I have little to no flush issues.

When it gets colder, I break out the big guns (5/4 Xcel Drylock front zip). It's almost *too* hot.

 

Nice bro.

 

dang bro, taking my comments out of context and turning them into a porno post. I'm gaining a new respect for you, dawg.

 

My all-time favorite 5/3 mil was a RipCurl zipperless. You basically stepped into a tiny opening, then cinched it tight on one shoulder. It was awesome, and amazingly no water got in that thing because layers of the suit were folded over each other.
Now most 5/3 mils have the tiny step in, then the little chest zip, the snap, then the cinch. That's what my current Xcel is like, and that's a pretty darned comfy suit too.