DUI Zip Seals

[snagel]

So, I'm talking to this guy about drysuits (it seems I've been talking to everybody about drysuit recently). Anyway, I ask him about his opinion of DUI's Zip Seals. He says he doesn't like them because although they are handy and "easy" to replace; the problem is that the "zip locks" tend to get smashed over time. This causes many leaks and premature failure.

Now, I don't think he had any motive behind this and he was simply giving me his opinion. Of course everybody has an opinion (you know what they say). But, I thought this was an interesting concept. Made me think, how long have zip seals been out - maybe 5 years something like that. Does anybody buy this?

S. Nagel

[mm_dm]

I know of at least a dozen folks who dive with them and I haven't heard of that problem from any of them and they've been diving the zip seals since they came out. I guess it could happen, but none of them have had that problem yet. Usually, the complaint you read about on DUI's is a leak on the front entry zipper, or slow responses to customer inquiries, but even that's not true from all DUI owners. The biggest problem seems to be that their suits are overpriced compared to some others of comparable quality.

[RECDiver]

I have been diving with DUI zip seals for three years and have not had a problem with them. I have the latex seals and the gloves with zip seals. I had a leak via the neck seal in the spring of last year, but folding under the collar of my undergarment took care of it. I have not heard of the type of problem that the individual related. Sounds like user error if it is true; the user is not properly storing the suit.

[BouzoukiJoe]

It looks like you could crush the zip rings if you dropped a tank on them or something. I always hang my suit so that there is no pressure on the zipper or the zip rings.

[CompuDude]

I agree, I've heard complaints that the seals themselves aren't as robust as they could be, and are thus a little too easy to tear, but I've never heard any complaints about malfunctions with the zip attachment point itself, other than user error in not completely closing it.

Other than that, and cost, the only complaints I've heard semi-consistently about zip seals is some people find the rings used to hold the neck seals uncomfortable due to some pressure on the collar bone.

[snagel]

I'm not sure how much experience this person has/had with zip seals. The suit they were diving did not have them. He didn't say much more than what I originally posted. But, out of curiosity I posted to see if anybody had this type of issue, because I had never heard of it, but that isn't saying too much. My guess is that this was an opinion from somebody who really never dove them, but just from seeing them concluded that this could happen.

S. Nagel

[cummings66]

Other than thin seals compared to other brands I don't think it's a bad system. I've had a lot of people say bad things about them to me and honestly I don't see it as a problem based on the dives I've done with them, plus some of my buddies have had them for a while without issue.

Typically the leaks are elsewhere and not the seals, unless they don't fit right.

[thesmoothdome]

As a zip seals user, I can honestly say I'm sold! The ability to change out torn seals can be a trip saver. That alone is worth the extra cost. I have not had any issues with the zip locks being smashed. I'm pretty tough on my gear and haven't had any issues.

People tend to find faults with anything they don't own. On the flip side, people tend to defend what they do own, so it's hard to get an honest opinion. To me, the additional cost and convienence is worth it. To my dry suit repair shop, zip seals are the devil incarnate.