Correct fit of Santi telescoping drysuit

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Bubblesong

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help? The Santi trilam drysuit fit will not allow top portion of suit to fold down over bottom at waist, and it feels QUITE snug. But instructor says this is a good fit? I thought Santi telescoping was supposed to be a bit looser so it folded , then the crotch strap held it in place while letting person reach in different directions. This is quite snug to bottom an waist and no possibility of folding?
 
Got a picture? Supposedly worth a thousand words.
 
Should have, will type to post one tomorrow.
 
The bottom line is not what the folds of the suit can do or not do but whether when properly suited up can you go through all the contortions? I THINK what you said about the crotch strap is correct, but without a picture, I can't be sure. I generally make sure my crotch strap is connected, but I don't think it would make a huge difference if it were not. Anyway, with your suit and intended undergarment(s), can you do these things reasonably comfortably?
  • reach across and put your left hand on your right shoulder and visa versa (length of arms/torso)

  • reach back and put either hand between your shoulders at the base of your neck (length of arms/torso)

  • reach both hands in the air without feeling tension at the groin or in the legs/feet (length from head to toe)

  • raise either knee to 90 degrees (mobility in legs) raise either foot to the knee of the other leg (mobility in legs - important for putting on/off fins)

  • squat on hands and knees and then put your elbows on the floor and touch them to your knees. (length of the back panel).
 
The bottom line is not what the folds of the suit can do or not do but whether when properly suited up can you go through all the contortions? I THINK what you said about the crotch strap is correct, but without a picture, I can't be sure. I generally make sure my crotch strap is connected, but I don't think it would make a huge difference if it were not. Anyway, with your suit and intended undergarment(s), can you do these things reasonably comfortably?
  • reach across and put your left hand on your right shoulder and visa versa (length of arms/torso)

  • reach back and put either hand between your shoulders at the base of your neck (length of arms/torso)

  • reach both hands in the air without feeling tension at the groin or in the legs/feet (length from head to toe)

  • raise either knee to 90 degrees (mobility in legs) raise either foot to the knee of the other leg (mobility in legs - important for putting on/off fins)

  • squat on hands and knees and then put your elbows on the floor and touch them to your knees. (length of the back panel).
Thank you for this list. What we were told was just lay on tummy reach back and touch foot. Will try your suggestions next try on time.
 
Thank you for this list. What we were told was just lay on tummy reach back and touch foot. Will try your suggestions next try on time.

I wish I could take credit, but they're lifted from someone else's post somewhere on SB. There are threads about how to determine if a drysuit fits.
 
@Francesea curious how this has played out for you. Any pics?
If I understood you correctly, there is no material left to fold at the torso, to which I can only assume your crotch strap is then fully extended? If that's the case, I would be more concerned about the contortions you need to do to put your head through the neck seal. The telescoping is designed mainly to assist with that. Once in the water the suit hardly telescopes at all due to the suit squeeze.
 
So glad you asked @THX723 , There was no telescoping the first try-on (Medium) because it was so very tight, and the crotch strap was nothing but an indignity.
We decided to go back and argue some more, and same salesperson insisted we weasel my hubby back into medium, but I Finally asked to see LDS owner.
We got Large undersuit as well as large drysuit. Nope, still too tight to pull down telescope over tummy. He is 5’11, 190lb.
The LDS owner not only put my hubby in an XL, but expressed amazement he’d gotten into the medium at all. I don’t know what the sales person was thinking, hope this isn’t a sign of things, because I want to be able to buy local, and if my hubby gets misdirected over a rental, can we risk a purchase?
Well we will finish the dry suit class and then consider if we’d rather stick with wetsuits.
 
Well I'm glad the LDS owner knew better. Seemed like an isolated case of an ill informed sales person.

Are you guys planning on off-the-shelf sizing or made-to-measure (MTM)? Going with MTM would certainly rule out the 'opinion' factor from the sales process, but your wallet also gets a bit thinner.

Good luck with your class. Diving dry is definitely different and may not be for everyone. There are pros and cons. However most who do end up diving dry will agree the pros far out weighs the cons.
 
In the New England area, and traveling to Great Lakes, there is so much more fun drysuit diving, so I am hoping to open up our options.
As for buying, custom doesn’t help as much with yo-yo dieters like us, so I’ll look for an off the shelf that can go 30 lbs either way.
First I am going to try rentals of different brands, because it is too expensive AND takes up too much space to make a mistake in comfort.
 

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