Matuse Wetsuits

[8bills]

Looking to get a new 4/3 for the winter and was thinking about either a Matuse or Patagonia... Anybody got any reviews? I hear they're sopused to be super warm and comfy but I have heard some complaints about durability...


Thanks for the input,
John

[rgnsup]

I cannot comment or review those..but why wouldn't you just go with a brand that is known for their wetsuits such as Xcel, West, Quiksilver etc.

[aka pumpmaster]

I was thinking the same thing. There are tons of brands that are just as good but way less money.

[Aguaholic]

I wouldn't........

[Wavetucker]

If you want to spend a ton of $$$$$$ on a wetsuit get the new Rip Curl H-Bomb....it's supposed to have it all...not yet available til Nov. and price has not been confirmed???:confused:

[JMD]

Looking to get a new 4/3 for the winter and was thinking about either a Matuse or Patagonia... Anybody got any reviews? I hear they're sopused to be super warm and comfy but I have heard some complaints about durability...


Thanks for the input,
John

I have heard nothing but amazing things about the Matuse wetsuits. They are just really expensive. From reviews I have read and people I talked to I would go Matuse over Patagonia. Also I am not sure if Patagonia even makes a 4/3? A 4/3 Matuse is supposed to be like having a 5/4 but actually feels like you are in a 3/2....hard to explain on the net.

[jGray]

If you want to spend a ton of $$$$$$ on a wetsuit get the new Rip Curl H-Bomb....it's supposed to have it all...not yet available til Nov. and price has not been confirmed???:confused:

I think the 4/3 of the H bomb is over a $1,000 thats what i was told.

[aka pumpmaster]

And very limited quantities. My guess is K-coast may get a few and that's it.

[JMD]

No offense to anyone who loves Rip's suits but I hate them. Talk about short shelf life...


Anyway my number 1 suit right now is Hotline. Made in the USA, last forever, worm as hell with useing less rubber, stretchy, price is about right. Check them out great suits. I for one want to try one of those Matuse suits thought just to expensive right now.

Had to plug. Just stoked on their suits: http://www.hotlineonline.com/

Wow, have not been to the site in a long time. Check out the clearance prices on suits...

http://www.hotlineonline.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=dhooker&Category_Code=outletmw

[wbsurfer]

I think the 4/3 of the H bomb is over a $1,000 thats what i was told.

just so you know the h-bomb is trully a 3/2 but it has different heating levels 1st one is like bieng in a 3/2 next is like being in 4/3 and finally the next level is like warmer than a 5/4/3 since it was tested in the arctice circle. thats what i learned from the rip curl website.

[Xtreme*Liquidshredda]

yo man i like any suit i can scruch my d*** into! but whatever i only go out when its atleastly head high

[JerseySurfRat89]

No offense to anyone who loves Rip's suits but I hate them. Talk about short shelf life...


Anyway my number 1 suit right now is Hotline. Made in the USA, last forever, worm as hell with useing less rubber, stretchy, price is about right. Check them out great suits. I for one want to try one of those Matuse suits thought just to expensive right now.

Had to plug. Just stoked on their suits: http://www.hotlineonline.com/

Wow, have not been to the site in a long time. Check out the clearance prices on suits...

http://www.hotlineonline.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=dhooker&Category_Code=outletmw


do you honestly like the suits??there nice and flexible.??..i mean at 99 bucks for a 5 4whats the catch?

[Shakagrom]

I find Xcel to be plain, simple, and consistent. I would definitely go with Xcel. I don't know the price comparison but I do know that it's not outrageous.

[ocprobro]

I work at a shop and the ripcul H-bomb comes in 3/2 and 4/3. We are only getting 4 of the suits in 4/3. K-coast isnt a dealer. Liquid is da only one on the eastern shore. :)

[South Bethany]

I cannot comment or review those..but why wouldn't you just go with a brand that is known for their wetsuits such as Xcel, West, Quiksilver etc.

I think Matuse pretty much only makes wetsuits. never tried one, what i've read is that they have mind blowing flexibililty, comfort, each is custom fit for each customer (you send them like 20 measurements, then they build the wetsuit) the trade off for such light materials is they lack durabililty and have to be taken care of meticulously. Out of my price range for sure.

[Driftingalong]

And very limited quantities. My guess is K-coast may get a few and that's it.

I don't think there are any H-Bomb distributors setup in MD or DE yet. You'd have to go to VA or NJ.

[Driftingalong]

just so you know the h-bomb is trully a 3/2 but it has different heating levels 1st one is like bieng in a 3/2 next is like being in 4/3 and finally the next level is like warmer than a 5/4/3 since it was tested in the arctice circle. thats what i learned from the rip curl website.

The site states that "As a general rule, you should be able to wear a H-Bomb wetsuit that is 1mm thinner than your conventional non-heated wetsuit(and feel toasty warm at the same time)."
There are 3 different settings for the battery, but it more relates to how long you're going to be surfing. i.e. 1½ hrs, 2 hrs or 2½ hrs.

[JMD]

do you honestly like the suits??there nice and flexible.??..i mean at 99 bucks for a 5 4whats the catch?

Hell ya.

I actually only used to use Rip Curl and Excell, I also have a few O'niels. A few guys from CA where crazy about the Hotline suits. I like to try a lot of different things when it comes to equipment and I never heard of Hotline.

Ever since I started using the Hotlines I never looked back. I am still using the same 3/2 from 3 years ago durability is probably the best I have ever had. Flex is on par with any suit out there. The difference I notice in them is that in a 3/2 it is as warmer my 4/3 Rip Curl so i am able to rock a 3/2 later into winter before I start thinking about busting out the 5mil.

The deal with the 99 bucks for the 5/4 is because it is clearance, check out the prices for the normal line. They are around $300 - $500. Hotline usually does a huge weekly sale during holiday season and prices are cut massively but this is not the sale.

maybe they are just lower tech suits from last year or the year before, so that is why they are marked down so much and are in the "clearance" section.

No matter what you can't beat 99 bucks for a 5/4 when I saw that price my jaw dropped.

[dirtythirty34]

I work at a shop in oc and we are the only ones getting them in town. K coast is a dealer also but I do not believe they are getting any in. The 3/2 is going to retail for $1000 and the 4/3 is $1100. We had a demo tour come in and show us all the gear, cool idea but it needs to be refined before its giong to catch on

[aka pumpmaster]

Yeah i heard the Rip Curl has a pretty detailed manual of how to get into the thing because the heating elements are so flimsy.

[dirtythirty34]

It is just like getting into any other chest zip suit, fold down the entry part and step in. As for advantages of the matuse and patagonia suits. They say that they are a more envrimentally green suit, they say that they use a geoprene that is derived from limestone. However rip curl suits are made from a limestone neoprene. they dont advertise it as much because truthfully it is not too much better for the enviroment It doesnt stretch as much as the other suits however it does not retain as much water therefore lighter in the water. For the price I would either go with a ripcurl or excel. Ripcurl has a great warranty service also.

[wbsurfer]

Yeah i heard the Rip Curl has a pretty detailed manual of how to get into the thing because the heating elements are so flimsy.

yes you are right they are very strict rules on how to get in it so you dont damage the elements. but i tried one on and it was nice for the price of it but if your gonna spend $1000 and up on a suit it should be. also they are still being fined tuned as what i've heard from just hearing around. finally there are not that many shops that carry them so if you want one you gotta hunt that shop down.

[Fletcher]

Some of these suits you guys are talking about are a little over kill. What about the Oneill Psycho, the Xcel Drylock, or the Rip Curl F-Bomb. They all come in a 4/3 and are perfect for here in the winter. These suits are priced from $379 to $400, and would blow your mind in comfort and warmth. To step it up, check out the Oneill Psycho Freak, the 3.5 starts at $499 and the 4.5 starts at $534.

[scotty]

Some of these suits you guys are talking about are a little over kill. What about the Oneill Psycho, the Xcel Drylock, or the Rip Curl F-Bomb. They all come in a 4/3 and are perfect for here in the winter. These suits are priced from $379 to $400, and would blow your mind in comfort and warmth. To step it up, check out the Oneill Psycho Freak, the 3.5 starts at $499 and the 4.5 starts at $534.

fletcher, in your opinion why is the Oneill PF worth $150 more than the hooded 4/3 Xcel drylock (won wetsuit of the year award from the manufacturers association). How is the Oneill better? I'm seriosly thinking of buying the Xcel hooded drylock for this winter.

[Fletcher]

The main difference between the two suits is the xds technology in the suit. It's kind of like a layer of air pockets throughout the suit, which makes it suit amazingly warm and flexible. The 3.5 mm suit is supposed to be as warm as a 5mm and the 4.5 is supposed to be as warm as a 6mm. But i agree with your choice to buy the xcel drylock, it's a great suit that is perfect for our conditions here, and like you said it is a lot cheaper. Don't forget about the Rip Curl F-Bomb, this suit is also all you need and the price is good. But if you have the extra cash flow the Psycho Freak is a step up suit.

[Ricky Data]

do you honestly like the suits??there nice and flexible.??..i mean at 99 bucks for a 5 4whats the catch?

Hotline's are really warm. The coastguard uses them in NorCal, I think. Anyway, the catch is that they're only selling XXS and XS for that price, maybe you could find an XXL, but you won't find a normal sized suit for 99. I mean, it's still worth it to pay full, or wait 'til their sale around xmas.

[scotty]

The main difference between the two suits is the xds technology in the suit. It's kind of like a layer of air pockets throughout the suit, which makes it suit amazingly warm and flexible. The 3.5 mm suit is supposed to be as warm as a 5mm and the 4.5 is supposed to be as warm as a 6mm.

I might be closed minded about this, but i cant imaging buying a suit that warm without a built in hood. Even the 4.5 mm Psycho Freak is hoodless right?

[Fletcher]

I don't think that you are closed minded at all. Like I said, the F-Bomb and the Drylock are my two tops choices for a killer winter suit, with a reasonable price. These two suits do come with an attached hood and the Psycho Freak does not, that is the only, but big , pitfall of the suit. I sell all three of these suits at the shop, and would be stoked to help you out. By the way, waves are looking good for thursday pm and friday all day.

[JMD]

Hotline's are really warm. The coastguard uses them in NorCal, I think. Anyway, the catch is that they're only selling XXS and XS for that price, maybe you could find an XXL, but you won't find a normal sized suit for 99. I mean, it's still worth it to pay full, or wait 'til their sale around xmas.

Hell ya pluse check out the team riders you will notice a **** load of Mav's guys and cold water pros in that list. No WCT guys but does that really matter? + they are 100% made in the USA. Really amazing suits that most people don't even know exist. They also have really, really good customer service and you can order directly from them, unlike some of the top brands where you have to go through a distributor.

As a side note. Hotlines are made smaller so if you are a large in say ripcurle you will probably be a medium in hotline. You have to make sure you check that "size chart" they have listed. I bought a suit once and have to send it back for a smaller size.

[GnarActually]

i live in south jersey, you think i can get away with a psycho 2 or xcel drylock 4/3? im stepping my game up this year n buying really good suit. also i hate going from a 2/3 to a 5/4/3, and i dont want to have to a buy a 2/3 4/3 and 5/4/3. also-is a psycho 2 warmer than a psycho 1? the only difference i noticed was that psycho 2 is glued on both sides. anyone know about the hyperflex amp 5/4/3? ha this is a lot of questions
but im pretty much bankin on winning a wetsuit from all the surfshops online that are having contests for them....please win!

[smitty517]

Good article in this months Surfers Journal about Matuse and other "custom" wetsuits that use Yamamoto neoprine (supposed to be the best). Suits are crazy expensive (600 plus).