Front Zip or Back zip?

[Glide]

I'm getting a new wetsuit. I have always had back zips. Whats the word on front zips? There must be something to it. Most of the manufactures offer it. I tried on a Patagonia. Once I squeezed through the opening the suit fit well. Same with O'Neil and Rip Curl. It seems like after streching the suit so much at the opening to get in would trash the fabric prety quick. Can anyone coment? Thanks

[billie_morini]

Glide,
I love my Quiksilver Cypher chest zip suit! As a beginner, I used a 4/3 back zip. Once I became almost intermediate, I bought the aforementioned suit in a 3/2. It's the best thing! Very little water enters the suit and you don't get that cold wake-up dousing down your back. So little water comes through the suit that I'm plenty warm in places that I needed a 4/3.

I have a hell of a time getting out of it, though. Sometimes I've had to drive home in it and get my wife to free me. Many guys are more flexible than I am and do not have this problem. But, the chest zip benefit outweighs this embarrassment

[tony g]

As mentioned above the chest zips are great for keeping most of the water out. Yes they are a little more difficult to get on and off, but you will develop a system and learn to get one arm out quickly and then it is just peeling the wetsuit off of you so that it is inside out when you have it off. Yes the extra stretching may cause them to eventually wear out, but it is worth not getting water down your back when paddling out. When you put the wetsuit on reach into the neck area and grab the suit under the arm pits and flip the top of the wetsuit inside out and getting into it is a breeze!

[Wave4Surf]

A zipper at the front of ur wet-suite is of course easier to close. I don't see why u shouldn't buy it.

[zandvoortsurfertje]

I agree with Wave4surf and if you stretch your suit before you put it on it will fitt better due to the effect of having a bit more space!!

[billie_morini]

I'll add this about the front zip suit I love so much:
I've never been able to get out of it easily, but the in-water performance more than makes up for this.

[Wave4Surf]

I've never been able to get out of it easily,...

I thought it was ever so easy to get out of these things :S

[Johno]

Av got 3 chest zippers absolute bitch to get in and out of but the more you were them u find a tequneque to get them off easyer,

just make sure its tight and a good seal round the neck coz I dont think any chest zippers have neck tighting ajustment so if its not tight will flush and fill every time you duck dive.

Try some on see what is the comfesist and best fit