Hi Guys,
Would love to hear you thoughts regarding the following wetsuits...
I'm looking for a wetsuit for SUP surfing for cold conditions of minimum 15 degrees Celsius (59 F), currently I own a BodyGlove CT Slate 2/3 which is great but in our coldest days it a bit cold to wear.
Since we are standing most of the time I'm looking for a suit with chest windshield.
I search and narrow down my list to the following suits:
1. Quiksilver Syncro 3/2 - www.quiksilver.com/syncro-3/2-back-zip-gbs-wetsuit-AQYFL00003.html
2. RipCurl Dawn Patrol 3/2 - www.ripcurl.com/us/mens/wetsuits.html
3. RipCurl E-Bomb 3/2 - www.ripcurl.com/us/mens/wetsuits.html
I wished I could afford the Rip Curl flash bomb with the lining inside...
Hope to hear your thoughts..
Cheers :)
Too bad, since the flash bomb is really killer warmth-wise... but a bit more stiff, so I cannot use them as I am already too large for my XLS suits.
With Rip Curls, Avoid the Dawnpatrol, the seams are not as waterproof as the *-Bomb series. Avoid also the "pro" models (non sealed seams)
I use only rip curls, and am satified with them so I cannot comment on other brands.
Try to get previous year models on sale on internet shops.
Note that you can use a fleece top (polypropylene, not lycra) under the wetsuit for a poor man flash bomb, works quite well.
40 years ago, we used thin wool vests under our wetsuits...
Thank you for your comment.
As I'm looking at the technical features of the E-Bomb and the Dawn Patrol I see that they both have the same spec.
Both have the E4 Neoprene, FreeFlex Neoprene, Mesh Skin, E4 Tape, Glued & Blind Stitched Seams, Stress Point Tape.
So what is the real different?
The FlashBomb even previous year is not in my budget... :(
There is a big differnt between the E-BOMB and the Flash-BOMB... E5 new Neoprene, E5 Flash Lining and Tape and all kind of new goodies.. the zip free seems to be the cheapest at $379... while the back zip $420...
I'm total lost here I don't want to get a suit that is not an upgrade from my Body-Glove which the only complain that I have is that I wished it would had a windshield in the chest to keep me warm while its windy...
I have the 3/2 dawn patrol and have been happy with it so far, it had the furry flash lining for the back which is nice... I think this model has improved from previous years as it has sealed seams...mine is the front zip one not the back zip...
Select to expand quoteMoshe said..
As I'm looking at the technical features of the E-Bomb and the Dawn Patrol I see that they both have the same spec.
Both have the E4 Neoprene, FreeFlex Neoprene, Mesh Skin, E4 Tape, Glued & Blind Stitched Seams, Stress Point Tape.
So what is the real different?
I think the e-bombs are 100% E4 Neoprene, and the dawn patrol have E4 only in the arms & torso (At least it was this way for the E3 models).
You are right, down patrols now seem to have glued seams too.
Thanks..
Hope to hear additional thoughts regarding the Quiksilver...
I found it a bit funny that the taking the E-Bomb is spend more money but not getting a better value then the Dawn Patrol but if I would spend a bit more I will be able to get the Flash-Bomb...
So its either go with the expensive or the budget...
Moshe, It really depends on the coldness of the water. I have not worn a wetsuit full body in like 20 years, I prefer wetsuit shorts and wetsuit shirt it gives me more freedom of movement, so I may not be the best for advice but here goes.
Australian suits.
Quicksilver. Very good wearing, reliable and very flexible rubber. Good for mobility, would work well on a sup with the flex. More a long time warmer water wetsuit. 3/2 cold south coast.
Billabong again another great suit a bit more focus on warmth than the quicksilver. Very reliable strong suits that are good for all day riding. Comfortable and warm. Good all round suit.
Rip Curl. Very pricey suits but backs their materials 100 percent. Has a much colder range for victorian winter conditions. Quality suits but Invest for like 6-8 years. If looked after should last daily user 4-6 years. If you buy the premium wetsuits then the pricepoints are actually worth the money for the research and tech. More focus on warmth than stretch. Not as stretchy as billabong or quicksilver.
Westsuit. Built in the west. Good for the bigger guy. large torso similar to billabong, good suits at good pricepoint.
Peak-middle of the pack budget brand. For many years produced by billabong or rip curl in the same factory. If you can find one that fits you good buy. However if you are going to be supping everyday then maybe you might look for something better.
Body Glove- US brand good for cold water. PRicey over here but popular with the cold water lovers. Medium to high stretch. Lots of rubber.
Oneill- Again another good US brand. Quality cold weather suits for the US medium stretch comparable to billabong.
Note we also have a wide range of Triatholon suits, ORCA etc,
Bodyboard specific suits, Dune, Attica, Zion, Cheer and Reflex that might work as well.
Mike stewart used to make a great heater overshirt for your wetsuit that warmed you up super quick and stopped windchill (Science wetsuits).
Not to mention windsurfing, kiteboarding etc.
You may be better off getting a overjacket light shell over your wetsuit to cut out the windchill.
Pump.
I would recommend all major Aussie wetsuit brands and for the top ones the top of the line ranges are actually worth investing in.
Rip Curl started with two victorian surfers making wetsuits out the back of their mini van in Victoria.
moshe, check out " NEED ESSENTIALS" read the story and testimonials. I have one after my son bought the 3:2 and was happy with quality and price. You just need to click on Europe.
15C isn't cold.
IMO get an O'Neill, and wear a polypro vest underneath if you get cold. I've had stacks of wetsuits over the years (and I currently rotate through about 8 depending on activity and season), including the brands you mention. But IMO O'Neill last longer, are more flexible, and are pretty warm. They prove to be cheaper in the long run because they seem to last an extra year. Most wetsuits only seem to last me a couple, but you can get 3 out of an O'Neill in my experience - depending on how often you use it and how much care you take of it of course. Many of the wetsuits with thick welded seams are inflexible, and the weld starts to come off in key areas within a few months. The O'Neill welds are better all round IMO.
Thank you @pumpjockey02 for the detailed reply.
It is so strange in my country Billabong and O'Neill considered as not lasting suit (at least from the last couple of years).
RipCurl and Hurley considered as the leading brands both for warmth and for durability.
Quiksilver are in good place in the middle... recently people here are getting XCEL and GUL.
I guess that the water temp in my country are not as cold as you guys have in AUS and again my Body-Glove CT is OK it is just the wind that gets me cold.
I don't want to carry extra jacket or get a 4/3 wetsuit, the reason for getting a new suit is that I will have additional suit to rotate between them I will still use my BD.
The prices right now are very good for the basic level wetsuits (Dawn Patrol, Syncro) because they are last year models and they are at a price range of 150 USD which is a bargain.
@Area10 - As for the O'Neill which model are you referring to?
Select to expand quotecolas said..
I use only rip curls, and am satified with them so I cannot comment on other brands.
I must add that before settling on Rip Curl for my full suits because their cut was suiting my body shape well (and now that I live 2km away from the european factory, I have them customized to my size), I have used Quicksilver, Billabong, O'Neill wetsuits, and still use them for less size-critical shapes (spring suits, short/long johns, ...) and they are also quality brands.
Also, you may check the "vintage" lines of some brands. I have a quicksilver longjohn that is full smooth rubber on the outside, really effective against windchill, I guess to look like the suits of 30 years ago. It will be less durable for prone surfing, but should be OK for SUPing.
Select to expand quoteMoshe said..
Thanks..
Hope to hear additional thoughts regarding the Quiksilver...
I found it a bit funny that the taking the E-Bomb is spend more money but not getting a better value then the Dawn Patrol but if I would spend a bit more I will be able to get the Flash-Bomb...
So its either go with the expensive or the budget...
I've got a 3/2 Quiksilver Fuseflex, and to be quite frank it's a piece of junk. I'm kicking myself for not taking it back under warranty as I believe Quiksilver do have a good warranty history. The problem with it is the glueing of the seams, it just fell apart in places and I've resorted to repairing it myself. I had a mate with the same wetsuit and it fell apart too. I'll be replacing it with a Patagonia as my Patagonia springy is fault free after a year of use.
Select to expand quoterobbo1111 said..Moshe said..
Thanks..
Hope to hear additional thoughts regarding the Quiksilver...
I found it a bit funny that the taking the E-Bomb is spend more money but not getting a better value then the Dawn Patrol but if I would spend a bit more I will be able to get the Flash-Bomb...
So its either go with the expensive or the budget...
I've got a 3/2 Quiksilver Fuseflex, and to be quite frank it's a piece of junk. I'm kicking myself for not taking it back under warranty as I believe Quiksilver do have a good warranty history. The problem with it is the glueing of the seams, it just fell apart in places and I've resorted to repairing it myself. I had a mate with the same wetsuit and it fell apart too. I'll be replacing it with a Patagonia as my Patagonia springy is fault free after a year of use.
Unfortunately I have to agree, my Quiksilver stuff has not lasted, it was cheap at the time....and I used it a lot but the rubber windguard stuff perished really quick. Other brands that I have used last longer, my current O'Neil 3/2 is great but plenty of ripcurl in past and my current Ripcurl gear doesnt seem to wear out. 
Hope this helps.
Thanks a lot guys, I think I will go with Rip-Curl dawn patrol, it is the best value for the money... I hope I will find a Flash-Bomb from last year at a good price...
I come from a background in apparel production and there are always compromises with manufacturing.
Rip curl to me have the most flexibility, but at the expense of durability... Patagonia are warmer for the weight, but less flexible.
I have had a custom suit made by Carapace from Yamamoto neoprene (supposedly the best stuff out there) and whilst it's warm etc, there's not much flexibility at all to the point where I don't like wearing it / am not comfortable in it.
Ideally find the suit that has enough stretch to keep you happy and is GBS (glued and blind stitched) and fully seam sealed (taped). The taping will help the suit last longer, because glue will eventually fail. This is where price point comes into it. A fully taped suit will usually be in the high end of the range, partially taped in the mid end (e bomb's for eg) and the cheaper ones have no seam tape.
Fit is the most important factor of warmth and overall comfort.
I'm also not a fan of laser seam welding, a/ it's not flexible, b/becomes brittle quickly, c/ looks cheap. But has been marketed as higher perfomance because it's lighter weight.
Most don't realise nearly all of the main brand wetsuits are made at the same place. (Incl patagonia).
Also FYI,
Back zip easiest to get on/off.
chest zip more flexibiliy at expense of ease of getting on/off.
If you have big shoulders/solid build back zip is way to go. if slim build chest zip will be easier.
Select to expand quoteHaydos3228 said..
If you have big shoulders/solid build back zip is way to go. if slim build chest zip will be easier.
Note that for us with some beer/wine/your-favorite-food belly, back zip can be hell, as the added ventral tension pulls on the zip and makes getting in/out a nightmare.
When I discovered chest zips, I never went back. Even with wide shoulders: I am 4" larger in the chest than the XL size, but I used a LS rip curl E-Bomb, (before being able to get XLS Rip Curls) and am still using a L Billabong short john, both chest zips.
I avoid zipless suits: noticeably harder to get in/out with no noticeable flexibility gains.
Avoid velcros: the hooks part get stuck everywhere and can drive you mad
Thanks guys, noted!
My Body-Glove is chest zip it's cool but I guess I will buy a back zip this time...
Will update on my purchase...
I also have wide shoulders but prefer a chest Zip. Some of us just don't have the flexibility in our shoulders to make back zips easy, and since I often paddle alone, if the back zip sticks then I'm having to cut myself out of the suit! Chest zips are shorter so there's less to get caught up, and you can always see what's happened if there's a problem.
As for which O'Neill to get, I have the upper range models in 2/3mm. But if you aren't entering the water often it won't make too much difference of you get a cheaper model, and they often last better. I've been so impressed with them that I now have O'Neills in 2mm sleeveless, 2/3, 4/3 and 5/3 (our water goes down to 4C in winter, with air temps as low as 2C). A thermal top underneath your suit is a godsend in cold weather. The Billabong ones are so-so, with the Excel ones rather better, and O'Neill again, very good. There is also a Rip Curl thermal vest which has the fluffy stuff on it that is extremely warm indeed, although a bit thick. As with outdoor clothing generally, layering under a wetsuit is the way to go if you really want to be warm. In the depths of winter I'll often wear two thermal vests. Or even three maybe if it's snowing and strong winds.
For that extra warmth under a suit, a fleece top makes a big difference, polypropylene as Colas said.
When worn on there own fleece shirts are much warmer than Lycra rashies, which work like a Coolgardie Safe, an evaporative refrigerator, when wet and there's a breeze, making them colder than nothing at all.
I use a Ronstan Skiff Suit long john, then in winter I put a Quicksilver 2mm Wetsuit jacket over the top.
A double layer over the torso standing up keeps you toasty and the total cost was about $150 less than what you're looking at with greater flexibility both with paddling and wearability over the course of the year.
In winter the water temp is closer to 12 deg here and the system works just fine.
Matuse use Yamamoto neoprene off memory.
Excellent quality and could suit if the fit is right...but it won't be as flexible as O'neill / Rip Curl / Quik
_________________
My rip curl is chest zip and my other suits back zip...I have a barrel chest and big shoulders...
I find the chest zip easy to get on but really hard to get off when wet, the back zips are easy for me; on and off.
