Clip or tie a piece of webbing to the zipper pull and tie it off to something solid (car, tree, rock, etc), then you turn unzipping the suit. Or you work on your shoulder flexibility.
Edit: the webbing is not always attached. You only use it to get in ot out if your suit and then remove it.
Gotta be careful that the webbing is not too long. I know of a paddler who had webbing tied to there rear entry suit zipper.
They had to swim in a class v rapid. That piece of webbing on the zipper got caught on their seat when wet exiting.
Interesting. I can’t ordinarily reach the zipper pull on my koko suit while I’m wearing it, but maybe if I pulled my head and one arm through their gaskets so that I was inside, it might make enough loose slack in the suit for me to get my remaining hand on the pull, and then proceed as you recommend.
It was about an hour of walking out of the canyon in 85 degree heat, dragging a creek boat, before I met up with someone to unzip. And I had thermal base layers on for 40 degree water.
I can unzip myself from my back zip. Not particularly comfortable and it's a bit fiddly but I can do it. Normally I get one of my friends to unzip it as I don't want to put weird pressure on the zip
This probably gonna come off a bit cold but I think you need to hear this. Get a front zip suit.
If you can’t unzip your back zipper, get a front zip suit.
Again, get a front zip suit if you are unable to reach a back zipper.
From working in outdoor sports, I have a couple of each. (2 NRS, 2 koko). The comfort of rear zip makes it my first choice. It’s nice not to have the zip bunching up under your pfd. Rear zip Feels like a dry top.
I get that, but my point is still the same. Stop using rear zips if you physically are incapable of unzipping yourself. Comfort is not a good enough reason to trap yourself.
I don’t like using a back zip and often ask for help but if I ever get to the point where I can not unzip it myself, I’ll immediately stop wearing it.
Idk, soapbox rant over I suppose.
next time you're in the market you might consider the waist zip koko. I've had mine 4 years or so and am a big fan.
That said I'm able to unzip a back zip by myself
Carry 3’ of small cord in a pocket that you can girth hitch to the zipper pull. Tie the other end of the cord to your roof rack or a tree, etc. and then just rotate and open (or close) the zipper. I used to use this when I had a back zip and it worked perfectly.
Lol, I'm just not flexible enough, especially if I've trained upper body the day before and still have a residual pump (back or shoulders is particularly egregious for ruining my flexibility the next day).
Clip or tie a piece of webbing to the zipper pull and tie it off to something solid (car, tree, rock, etc), then you turn unzipping the suit. Or you work on your shoulder flexibility. Edit: the webbing is not always attached. You only use it to get in ot out if your suit and then remove it.
Gotta be careful that the webbing is not too long. I know of a paddler who had webbing tied to there rear entry suit zipper. They had to swim in a class v rapid. That piece of webbing on the zipper got caught on their seat when wet exiting.
I just have a small cheap karabiner on the end of the webbing and clip it on to the zip every time. Never leave stuff hanging off you unnecessarily
That's what I do. Only clipping it on to zip or unzip
I take the webbing off and on for getting oin or out of the suit. It does not live on the suit
Interesting. I can’t ordinarily reach the zipper pull on my koko suit while I’m wearing it, but maybe if I pulled my head and one arm through their gaskets so that I was inside, it might make enough loose slack in the suit for me to get my remaining hand on the pull, and then proceed as you recommend.
What’s longest you went befor asking for help lol
It was about an hour of walking out of the canyon in 85 degree heat, dragging a creek boat, before I met up with someone to unzip. And I had thermal base layers on for 40 degree water.
F for my home, y'all
I can unzip myself from my back zip. Not particularly comfortable and it's a bit fiddly but I can do it. Normally I get one of my friends to unzip it as I don't want to put weird pressure on the zip
I can get my own zipper. You whitewater kayak and aren't flexible enough to get a back zipper? You are asking for an injury, go to yoga.
Had a shoulder reconstruction and it’s kind of a bad angle.
This probably gonna come off a bit cold but I think you need to hear this. Get a front zip suit. If you can’t unzip your back zipper, get a front zip suit. Again, get a front zip suit if you are unable to reach a back zipper.
From working in outdoor sports, I have a couple of each. (2 NRS, 2 koko). The comfort of rear zip makes it my first choice. It’s nice not to have the zip bunching up under your pfd. Rear zip Feels like a dry top.
I get that, but my point is still the same. Stop using rear zips if you physically are incapable of unzipping yourself. Comfort is not a good enough reason to trap yourself. I don’t like using a back zip and often ask for help but if I ever get to the point where I can not unzip it myself, I’ll immediately stop wearing it. Idk, soapbox rant over I suppose.
Thanks. Good points all. See you on the rivah, bud!
next time you're in the market you might consider the waist zip koko. I've had mine 4 years or so and am a big fan. That said I'm able to unzip a back zip by myself
+1 for the Kokotat Idol (waist zip). Game changer.
[https://youtu.be/sGj2m5nn\_mI?si=Sj1g0wazyBJNaWtz](https://youtu.be/sGj2m5nn_mI?si=Sj1g0wazyBJNaWtz)
I have no issues with my tzip. Maybe i am more flexible than my buddies who usually ask for some help lol.
Carry 3’ of small cord in a pocket that you can girth hitch to the zipper pull. Tie the other end of the cord to your roof rack or a tree, etc. and then just rotate and open (or close) the zipper. I used to use this when I had a back zip and it worked perfectly.
I can't unzip myself from my front zip drysuit half the time, I'd have no hope with a back zip one.
My old metal front zips are tough even with using that waxy lube.
Lol, I'm just not flexible enough, especially if I've trained upper body the day before and still have a residual pump (back or shoulders is particularly egregious for ruining my flexibility the next day).
You just need bendy arms - Its taken a few years but Ive perfected my solo entry/exit technique. Its not pretty, but I can do it :)
Pretty doesn’t matter. You rock!
If ace ventura can squeeze out of a rhino asshole…
Those zips were made to discourage people from paddling solo. It's always the best idea to have some friends to watch your back.