Backzip vs Frontzip - Most hydrodynamic?

[scuba_mc]

I'm in the market for a new drysuit and was considering a frontzip suit. I love the look of trilams but worry about struggling when swimming against current etc. so looking at frontzip neoprene options like the BARE XCS2

My current drysuit is a 5mm backzip neo, it fits me like a glove and is although not as easy to swim as a wetsuit it's not far off.

My question is can a front zip drysuit ever be as hydrodynamic as a backzip? Most frontzip suits I've seen, including neoprene frontzips look very baggy. I'm sure some will say this is a sizing issue but it seems as if backzip suits look "smoother" with less wrinkles when worn than frontzips.

Other questions:

Does a telescoping torso help make the suit more hydrodynamic? Do gaitors apart from keeping air out of your boots make the legs more hydrodynamic?

 

[Asteve]

On my last trip some one ask why the Zipper was in the back of a wet suit, the answer that we all agreed on was it was to harder to take off, with the zipper in front (arms). I do not know if that is the case with a dry suit.

 

[decompression]

Wow, really over thinking this......hydrodynamics are affected by so many variables that the placement of a zipper will have almost no noticeable affect. The reason the zipper is front or back is cost.


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[RJP]

Ensuring that the suit fits properly is far more important in determining how much drag you experience than where the zipper is placed.

As mention right above, a back zipper is cheaper because it is a shorter zipper. So zipper cost is less and installing it is less labor intensive. My experience is that it's harder to get a back zip suit that fits as well as the same suit in front zip.

For the most part, a baggy suit is a "fit" issue rather than "zipper" issue.

For the most part, trilam suits will have more "wrinkles" because it is a thinner material.

Trilam:

Neoprene:

PS - you like "the look of trilam"? Better to think about the functional differences between the two? You say you have a suit currentlt - what don't you like about it? What are you hoping to achieve by getting a different suit?

 

[scuba_mc]

Wow, really over thinking this......hydrodynamics are affected by so many variables that the placement of a zipper will have almost no noticeable affect. The reason the zipper is front or back is cost.


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Ok so the extra torso material required for a front zip suit will not add to drag? I guess this is where the telecoping torso comes into play?

---------- Post added March 30th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ----------

RJP - Current suit was my first DS, bought it second hand, it's old and leaks a little, it has enough patches and aquaseal on it - time for my first brand new suit. I like the idea of being able to self-don even though I'm able to zip up my back entry suit; it's something I rarely do for fear of damaging the zip.

 

[decompression]

Yes. Not noticeably.
Material for tele torso is tucked up and controlled but a fastex fastener.


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