Making your own wetsuit

[pwhole]

Thanks for the tip - I've been needing something like that for ages for lots of things (like my fishing rod holdall), and it's not expensive, so sod it - I'll order some.

 

[Pitlamp]

Latest in this saga - I re-ordered a wetsuit identical to pwhole's from Decathlon, this time in size XL. It fits like a glove - am really pleased with it.

But . . . . am I missing a trick regarding fastening the zip across the chest? I locate the open side of the zip into the zipper but I'm really struggling then to close the zip. Anyone else found this difficult / fiddly? Or is there a knack to it? Any advice gratefully received! 

 

[pwhole]

Amazing - it seems XL is the 'average' size to go for then! I'm sure you're taller than me though, but if it works that's good news. I also found that zip part the most difficult to overcome, and after 'practising' at home I just about got the hang of it. But on my first trip out I lost the plot and had to get Tim to zip it up for me - oh, the shame. To be honest the most difficult bit is taking it off again after you've got the top part off and then finding your arms are pinned to your sides and you can't get them out! I'm now wishing I'd taken up those gymnastics classes all those years ago.

I did wonder whether having the fastener 'on' permanently at the inner end and zipping it closed would be a better design, but the trouble is then I suspect the fastener would be endlessly getting snagged on stuff, or maybe just gets pressed into bone too much. But it's intended for diving, not caving, so impacts should be minimal anyway.

 

[Pitlamp]

I've not really had a problem getting in and out of the suit - just doing up the zip. I'm sure I'm missing something here . . .  For someone used to using a drysuit with a waterproof back-mounted zip (easy when you know how) I'm finding this chest zip particularly fiddly. Can't imagine it being any easier in a howling icy gale with frozen fingers on some Dales fellside.

 

[braveduck]

I used to rub a candle on my wet suit zip ,the wax would get into all the nooks and crannies and keep it
running smooth for ages .

 

[pwhole]

It's more getting the fastener to engage with the zip in the first place that's the issue - it's very high up on the chest so it's quite a tricky spot to exert some force but with dexterity. It's a Zen thing

 

[Pitlamp]

I've finally cracked it. The trick is to hold both sides of the fabric with the RIGHT hand (once the two halves of the zip are engaged together in the zipper) and pull gently to straighten both sides of the zip. Then, with your LEFT hand underneath your right arm, draw the zipper across. This might sound obvious but it isn't when you're used to traditional wetsuit zips.

I agree with pwhole, it'd be much easier if the zip was fixed the other way around - indeed many other brands of wetsuits with chest zips do make them this way. This video gives an example - but I mainly posted the link as it might be useful for anyone else wanting to know the optimum way of getting in and out of chest zip suits. (NOTE: my advice about doing up the zip on the Decathlon suit is different from what you'll see when he does up the zip in this video.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0s-YzhaYEs

I'm pretty impressed with the Decathlon "Oliain" wetsuit so far; it's much more comfortable than any "purpose made" caving wetsuit I've ever had. Sizing is slightly weird though; I'm fairly skinny yet the correct size for me is "XL". As mentioned in an earlier post, one of my concerns was lack of ventilation when you get hot. In fact it's quite comfortable to wear with the zip open and your head out of the neck seal, which allows at least some cooling potential. Now I just need to look into topcat's P-zip information (many thanks for emailing that to me TC!) and the job's a good 'un.

Word of advice; the first suit I ordered (size "LT") had to go back for a refund as it was far too small. After several days having heard nothing I had to email them; they claimed they'd not received the suit. Fortunately I'd sent it back Royal Mail signed for; I emailed them a photo of the receipt from the post office, with the tracking number clearly visible - then I got my refund 2 days later. So if you do have to send anything back to Decathlon, I'd strongly advise using this "signed for" option.

 

[pwhole]

Oh god, now I'm going to have to put it on again to practise! But that's OK, I'm missing it, having only used it once since I bought it, and it being a very flexible 'business expense' too - thanks for the tips. I'll try it out and let you know how I get on. Or get in

 

[Pitlamp]

I had to persevere before I sussed it out. Facing a mirror helps. Then do it again not facing a mirror!

Go on - go for it . . . . ! 

 

[pwhole]

Luckily the sun has finally come out so I'm going for my daily walk first to see if I can find anything interesting in the woods. I usually do

 

[Pitlamp]

Well?   

 

[pwhole]

Good grief! It's far too warm to be putting wetsuits on indoors! That took a while to remember the correct sequence and I was sweaty as hell by the time I remembered. And I should have taken my socks off! But yes, I pretty much got it with the zip, though it took a few goes - the top side kept popping out of the fastener before I could pull it tight. It is annoying to not have it already on, but I wondered if maybe the reason it's that way round is that it's less likely to rip the neck panel if it's pulled over the head too roughly? I'm sure they must have tested it the other way around.

 

[Pitlamp]

I just found that the price of the Oliain wetsuit from Decathlon has changed from ?129-99 to ?199-99.    I think they're manufactured in France, so this is probably the fault of all those people who were conned into voting for Brexit.

Having said that, I've caved (and cave dived, in combination with other neoprene garments) a lot in the suit since I bought it and I do like it, so I'd be tempted to fork out even this much for a replacement. Some of the very similar competition would set you back >?300 if you were daft enough to spend that much on something that may not last too long if caving seriously in it.

Incidentally Decathlon does also sell what looks like an equivalent Oliain 4 mm / 3 mm suit but with a back zip for only ?69-99. (I don't get on with back zips though.)

 

[pwhole]

Wow - in that case I'm glad I got it when I did! And I'm still waiting - one use only. But surely soon. As soon as we're allowed I'm going to go down the Lower Bung Streamway and just sit in it for an hour

 

[PeteHall]

I know you don't do Facebook, Pitlamp, but I've picked up a couple of virtually new wetsuits for about ?30 each recently on Facebook marketplace. A Warmbac Speleopro and a Beaver Icelandic Ultra.

There are loads of people selling virtually unused kit on there for very cheap, usually not the latest model though. Presumably, they have tried diving abroad, bought all the kit and then given up after one or two UK dives...

 

[Pitlamp]

I'm not a Yorkshireman - but you've got me interested! 

 

[scratch]

All our Eldon and other clubs around in the late 60/70's were made by Paul Deakin measured by Eileen Hartle at Hartle Tours in Buxton and you did not carry a tube of glue, you glued when dry or when an arm was coming off.
In the late 60's at the PSM I saw a French caver's wife with bell bottom wetsuit trousers (French Style)

 

[JasonC]

Had a chat with the father over the phone just now and he told me that the wetsuit kit came with all the pieces pre-cut. You got given a list of measurements to take, which you sent off, and then the wetsuit company did all the cutting. So you just had to do the assembly. So the old instructions in the attic are probably just that, assembly instructions, and not a pattern.

I can remember making my first two wetsuits in the mid-70s.  I'm fairly sure the neoprene came marked-out bu not cut, so all you had to do was cut and glue... and if you wanted something that had a chance of lasting, sew up the seams with nylon line, and tape.

Cutting wasn't as easy it sounds, due to the need to get nice square edges.  Obviously a nice sharp craft knife is the thing, but being young and stupid, I just used scissors which meant you got little steps in the seams every few inches, which were a point of failure.

The great debate amongst my friends was smooth vs sharkskin, and one-piece vs two-piece.
I favoured a smooth one-piece (where you get hole under your crotch) and my mate went for a sharkskin two-piece (where the crotch strap detaches itself).

Sharkskin was reckoned to be harder-wearing, but the smooth was easier to patch when it went....

 

[Mark Wright]

Mine was a 1979 Christmas present from my mum and dad. A two piece sharkskin. I really enjoyed the building experience, though that could have been the glue. 

 

[Fulk]

Hmmmmm . . . well I remember making my own wetsuit way back when. I also remember that unlined wetsuits were awkward to get on, but if you sprinkled the inside with a good dose of talcum powder it made it so much easier to get it on. So one day I went into a branch of Boots the Chemist with a friend who was going to buy some talcum powder to put inside his wetsuit. I said, casually, conversationally, to the assistant, ?You know, he wants it to put inside his rubber suit?. Well, I don?t know which was the dirtiest look ? my friend?s or the Boots assistant?s.