Mares Isotherm Zipper problem

[BubblesMcCoy]

Just got a Isotherm from my favorite online retailer and am supper thrilled to try it out. Problem I'm having is just getting the zipper open.

It's a back zip with what looks to be a watertight drysuit style zipper. It's easily the most substantial looking zipper I've ever seen. How difficult should it be to unzip the thing given that it's been sitting on the shelf for a while? Any tricks or tips to get the zipper to give without destroying the suit. I've thought about zipper wax, but unless I can actually get the zipper head to move, I'm not sure that will fix the problem.

[IndyDiver]

The first inch is the hardest.

Seriously, the last half inch or so that it closes actually runs the zipper up onto a rubber end section that seals the end of the zipper watertight. It is a b**ch to get it started off of that section and riding on the zipper teeth.

They are not easy to open the rest of the way either - I had to put a piece of leather shoelace onto the zipper so my son had sonething to hold onto. He doesn't have the finger strength to hold on to the zipper tab and pull it open without it. Hold the tether close to the suit and pull straight back with the zipper tab as flat to the suit as it will go. It will move.

Zipper wax helps with everything except the first part. That rubber jams into the zipper pretty good no matter how much you wax it.

[BubblesMcCoy]

Originally Posted by IndyDiver

The first inch is the hardest.

Seriously, the last half inch or so that it closes actually runs the zipper up onto a rubber end section that seals the end of the zipper watertight. It is a b**ch to get it started off of that section and riding on the zipper teeth.

They are not easy to open the rest of the way either - I had to put a piece of leather shoelace onto the zipper so my son had sonething to hold onto. He doesn't have the finger strength to hold on to the zipper tab and pull it open without it. Hold the tether close to the suit and pull straight back with the zipper tab as flat to the suit as it will go. It will move.

Zipper wax helps with everything except the first part. That rubber jams into the zipper pretty good no matter how much you wax it.

Thanks Indy. After reading up on the isotherm I'm really prepared to love it, hopefully with some work, I can actually get into tonight.

[IndyDiver]

Originally Posted by BubblesMcCoy

Thanks Indy. After reading up on the isotherm I'm really prepared to love it, hopefully with some work, I can actually get into tonight.

Another thing, the isotherm is definately one of those suits that gets easier to get into every time you wear it. It takes about 10-15 dives before it is fully broken in. The body is a pretty good fit (at least for me) right from the start. The arms and legs, however, are impossible to get into the first few times you wear it. I recommend turning it inside out and rolling the arms and legs on - especially the arms.