Seems like it's come a long way. I haven't bought a new winter suit in several years, but I just got all new gear and I'm really happy with how it's designed. Dropped about $550 for the full winter regalia... all Xcel. Infiniti 5.4 hooded, 5mm claw gloves, and 5mm boots. Got it all for Christmas and tried everything on today. Looks like they're applying a lot of the old dry suit tech to wetsuits now. The wrists and ankles on the full suit remind me of the tight, grippy material they used around the openings on dry suits. And the fit of the suit in those areas is better now, too. Same with the gloves. That "drylock" system seems like it should work really well. I'm impressed with the "chambered" core panels, too. Brilliant. Those tiny pockets of air should help insulate the core. We'll see how it works once I have a chance to get it wet!
The new Oniel Pyshco Freak 4 Mil (actually 3.5 mil) looks like a freaking space suit! It is so warm. It is "supposed" to last 3 seasons with every day use. The price tag on the thing is $499.00, but it is leaps and bounds ahead of where wetsutis were even 5-6 years ago... It is amazing how far things have come. feel like I am in a sauna out there! But that is a good thing. Anyone who says they hate being too warm is crazy!!!! I love being out in the winter and having to dip under water to cool down. I was a loyal Quicksilver Cell guy, but since they discontinued the model, I went over the Oneil, and I am very happy.... Wait until 2020. Wetsuits will do the duckdiving for us!
x2 I've got the same suit and I'm a huge fan. I wear the 3.5/2.5 from December until March in VA. Super stretchy and super warm! So much, that I wear a cap instead of a hood so I don't overheat. This one has taken me (comfortably) into water temps in the mid-30s. I can't imagine ever having to use the 5.5 south of CT.
Sweet cant wait to get one. Nice to hear how well they work. Oniel and excel are both awesome. I've been using an Oniel Phsyco Zen for years.
