Author Topic: Help deciding which wetsuit?  (Read 7883 times)

SlatchJim

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2019, 08:19:48 AM »
The last 4/3 I had during my longboarding years was a billabong, very flexible and warm.  Too warm for most of the year in So Cal, but fine for trips up north to Pacifica and Bolinas with my brother. Had it for about 8 seasons of periodic use.

The problem with an old review like mine is that wetsuit technology has advanced far beyond my ability to keep up. Today my outlet Ripcurl 3/2 works just fine for everything south of Point Conception for sup.  Everything matters more in cold water + prone surfing.

TallDude

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2019, 08:49:04 AM »
1) Go to Frog House
2) try on everything, even Oniels which I've gotten my last 3 from them
3) tell them what you really want and they will find it for you even XXXL's
4) Enjoy a good price, they usually discount their suits as long as it's not this years newest/hottest etc.
5) Smile and enjoy
The guys at Frog House are the essence of roots surfing. When I was a grom I would hang out at Rick James surf shop in San Clemente. Midget Smith shaped there. We would kick back in the chairs they had, reading surfer mags, smelling the resin and wax, and bug them for stickers. It was on the way home form school, so it was part of our routine. My older brother ordered a custom board from Brotherhood boards / Russel in Newport. I went there with him and picked it up. That was about 1972. They along with almost every old name surf shop are commercialized now. Frog House is still a holdout core roots surf shop. I always sort of cringe buying from Jack's surf shop, knowing the owners are the furthest thing from surf minded people. It's almost refined swap meet shopping, but cheap. One of my best friends owns a surf shop, he only shapes, glasses, and sells boards. I'll spend my board money at his shop, but for a wetsuit that will only get used maybe 20 or 30 times thru winter, I want a great price with a decent fit and more warmth than my current 3/2.
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

JimK

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2019, 08:52:00 AM »
I gotta agree with Osprey & Stoney The Hyperflex suits give you great bag for the buck and they fit very well
If I can be of any help I can get you the ZONER DEAL on these suits

Been using them for years love the performance, Price and quality of not only the suits but the people at Hyperflex (LOTS of good products)

JimK
Extreme Windsurfing

TallDude

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #18 on: February 14, 2019, 09:36:34 AM »
I'm a like-to-try-on before I buy person, so I'm less inclined to online shop for something like a wetsuit (unless it's a re-buy). Jack's outlet policy is that they don't give refunds, only store credit. There wetsuits are 40% to 60% off and of the 4 stores I went to, they were the only one to have a selection of 3XL's in stock. So my only two options at this point are:

Keep the Quicksilver Blue/Grey Syncro or pony up another $100 bucks for the Xcel Infiniti.

The QS is more fitting and has better stretch. It feels very similar to my RipCurl E bomb. For those SoCal mornings where the water is cold but the sun comes out and makes you want the peel your wetsuit down to your waist, the blue top helps reduce the overheating. The seams are only partially sealed too. It is a jump to 4/3 so I'm sure it will be warmer then any suit I've ever own.

The Xcel is less fitting like a ski jacket, but much warmer feeling with the micro-fiber liner. It might be how their sizing works, but I need the 6' 7 length, but the 235 lbs fit. This would probably fit a guy up to 260 range. It still fits pretty good. They claim the zipper is waterproof, and all the seams are sealed and taped. If I lived on the East Coast or up North this would be my choice for sure. 

Still on the fence???, but leaning towards staying with the QS. 
« Last Edit: February 14, 2019, 09:40:03 AM by TallDude »
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

JimK

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2019, 09:44:07 AM »
TallDUDE

We have a liberal retrn policy Exchanging for the size you need or 100% credit as long as the suit is returned in NEW condition (of course if it wasn't we'd take care of that too)

Let me know if I can help

JimK
Extreme Windsurfing

Tom

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #20 on: February 14, 2019, 11:00:34 AM »
I recently bought a Vissla 3/2 back zip and am very please. I've never been a fan of excel/oneil/billabong/ripcurl. They seem to all be the same except eash has a different panel layout so some will fit one better than another.

Vissla uses premium neoprene are are relatively inexpensive.

TallDude

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #21 on: February 14, 2019, 01:37:56 PM »
Well I put on 4/3 QS and walked around with it on for about 20 min. It was comfortable and warm. Then I put on my RipCurl E-bomb which is not completely dry from yesterday, and compared the two. I can definitely feel the thickness and warmth difference. My RipCurl feels like a 2/2 in comparison, but very similar in fit.

I cut the tags off the Quicksilver 4/3, so I'm committed now. The fit and the total cost of $120. out the door made it a keeper. If I have any problems with wear and tear or performance comments, I post about it.   

Thanks for your suggestions and recommendations. I think I need a Frog House shirt, and pickup some wax and a leash.
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

Bean

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #22 on: February 14, 2019, 01:43:24 PM »
Nice, at a 120 clams, how could you go wrong...

PonoBill

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #23 on: February 14, 2019, 02:47:51 PM »
Material quality is everything in a heavy wetsuit. I prefer the O'Neil Technobutter stuff, mostly for flexibility. Cheaper neoprene feels so much stiffer, especially if you're using your arms as you will for paddling.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

TallDude

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #24 on: February 14, 2019, 04:48:58 PM »
Material quality is everything in a heavy wetsuit. I prefer the O'Neil Technobutter stuff, mostly for flexibility. Cheaper neoprene feels so much stiffer, especially if you're using your arms as you will for paddling.
The Xcel was a 4/3 like the QS, but it felt stiffer. I could really feel the material fold in my arm pits. Like my RipCurl, the Quicksilver has a lot more curving seams with different materials at the areas that need to allow for movement. The Xcel seemed a more basic seam pattern with less flex panels.
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

eastbound

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #25 on: February 14, 2019, 05:44:01 PM »
the new xcel drylock x is the first mainstream suit brand using japanese limestone neoprene--some say it's the best

so i gave it a shot vs the oneill tb3, and opted for the oneill tb3

flexibilty, warmth, and no water absorbtion--so weight stays light





Portal Barra 8'4"
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Starboard Pro Blue Carbon  8'10"
KeNalu Mana 82, xTuf, ergoT

TallDude

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #26 on: February 14, 2019, 06:13:56 PM »
Another player in the wetsuit field is Janga. http://janga.pt/en/category/1/guys.html

Timmy Patterson sells these at his shop, but nothing in my size. I would have rather buy from him because he's a friend and it's a local shop. These Janga look more fitting for the pros and groms. Crazy colors and patterns. They use Japanese limestone neoprene as well.
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

Subber

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #27 on: February 14, 2019, 06:15:53 PM »
the new xcel drylock x is the first mainstream suit brand using japanese limestone neoprene--some say it's the best

so i gave it a shot vs the oneill tb3, and opted for the oneill tb3

flexibilty, warmth, and no water absorbtion--so weight stays light

Similar to that, I use triathlon wetsuits out of neoprene.
No water absorption so little to no evaporative cooling,
and super flexible.  Also, good float, but the triathlon wetsuits typically
only have 2mm arms, maybe 3mm back but 5mm front -
so they are more like a 3/2.

They also don't have knee pads and will wear out a bit quicker,
but they are lighter for the warmth.
Jimmy Lewis Black & Blue Noserider 10'1"x31"x4.25," 164 liters, 24 lbs, 1 box
Pearson Laird Surftech Longboard 10'6"x23"x29.75"x18"x4.375," 154 liters, 24 lbs, 3 boxes
Takayama Ali'i II Surftech 11'x21.375”x28.5”x17.25”x 4.25,” 162 liters, 26 lbs, 3 boxes

surfcowboy

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #28 on: February 14, 2019, 07:24:18 PM »
Love it man, glad you made the call.

Any new suit is pretty damn good. That’s why I would caution the guys against buying one to keep for a few years.

Every year they get better and foam doesn’t age well overall.

New $100 suits are like $400 suits from 5years ago.

Bean

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Re: Help deciding which wetsuit?
« Reply #29 on: February 15, 2019, 03:47:05 AM »

 


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