3mm or 5mm for wetsuit.

[rongoodman]

I'm older and fairly thin, but I find that temps that might be OK for a 3mm for 1 or 2 dives get pretty chilly when doing 4-5 dives per day for a week in a row, such as on a liveaboard. I take a 5mm to the Caribbean and don't worry about getting too warm.

[SteveR]

I am still deciding on a full suit thickness but did just pick up a Henderson Thermoprene shorty with a front zip.

Any issues with getting a front zip in a full jumpsuit? I would think it would be easier to get zipped up and would allow you to vent the suit at the surface or in the water if you get too hot. Other than surfing what is the purpose of the rear zipper? Seems like a pain the rear to me but I am sure there is some design reason for it...comfort, fit, leak reduction. Still, I will try my shorty front zip for a while and see the pros and cons of it.

I am leaning to a 3mm Elastoprene with Marino lining as I believe it will be warmer than a regular 3mm suit. I can then add layers as needed to stay warm up to the limits of the suit. This should carry me through a good part of the year around here but cold water will require a full 7mm. I plan on renting a 7 for a while to see how much I really need one.

[Damselfish]

It seems intuitive a front zip fullsuit should be easier and zipping the back would be a pain. I always used to think that and wondered why the heck so many have the zipper in the back. Turns out, while it may be a little more convenient to zip and upzip in the front, and is handier for cooling off, it's easier to get in and out of the suit itself with the opening in the back. Less contorting or pulling your shoulders out of their sockets. (I exaggerate, but think about it and you'll see what I mean.) And using the long cord attached to the rear zipper it's easy to zip.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Damselfish

It seems intuitive a front zip fullsuit should be easier and zipping the back would be a pain. I always used to think that and wondered why the heck so many have the zipper in the back. Turns out, while it may be a little more convenient to zip and upzip in the front, and is handier for cooling off, it's easier to get in and out of the suit itself with the opening in the back. Less contorting or pulling your shoulders out of their sockets. (I exaggerate, but think about it and you'll see what I mean.) And using the long cord attached to the rear zipper it's easy to zip.

Yup. Being able to peel "forward" with rear zip suits turns out to be MUCH easier than getting your arms pinned back while trying to pull the suit off from a front zip suit.

With a short-sleeve shorty, it's not such a big deal, but on full suits, back zip is easier.

[azdiver]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Yup. Being able to peel "forward" with rear zip suits turns out to be MUCH easier than getting your arms pinned back while trying to pull the suit off from a front zip suit.

With a short-sleeve shorty, it's not such a big deal, but on full suits, back zip is easier.

Hve you seen the xcel front zip? It runs diagonally from thigh to shoulder and looks like it might be an easy on/ easy off.

[mitsuguy]

man, some of you guys are crazy...

around here, if its 78 or warmer, its board shorts, rash guard, and 3-5 dives a day... 78 or less, 3 mil shorty or full suit...

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Yup. Being able to peel "forward" with rear zip suits turns out to be MUCH easier than getting your arms pinned back while trying to pull the suit off from a front zip suit.

With a short-sleeve shorty, it's not such a big deal, but on full suits, back zip is easier.

Only front zip I have is a 1 mil. Did that to make it easier to introduce water if I got warm. ( in the dark ages, we put fish in there too, LOL)

If I really have to, on solid ground, I can get it off by myself. On a boat it is "please get behind me and pull down my top."

[scubagirlj]

ditto-front zip, no matter what thickness, makes you kow who your friends are-as noted in other post,many of us have gotten stuck in them while trying on at DS-kind of embarrassing

[SteveR]

I bought a new Henderson Thermoprene 3mm front zip shorty for local dives when the water is 75 degrees or warmer at depth.

I ordered a 3mm full rear zip el-cheapo suit for tropical dives and when it gets a git too cool for the shorty.

I also bought a 5/4 rear zip jumpsuit on sale to see how cold I can go with it before I sink a ton into a thick wetsuit or an entry level drysuit for the really cold stuff.

[scubastud]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

man, some of you guys are crazy...

around here, if its 78 or warmer, its board shorts, rash guard, and 3-5 dives a day... 78 or less, 3 mil shorty or full suit...

Gotta agree with this... but will add if night diving, I will wear full skins even in bathwater warm waters... jellyfish stings are not fun.