has a detachable hood right? if so, i would pass. probably a good 'catch all' suit if you are on a tight budget but the hood is a weak point. if you have the $$ get a dedicated winter suit.
I think those are pretty decent, but for RI winters and that thick of a suit I would go with 7mm gloves and boots. I have an excel 654 I have worn about 2 weeks ago and was obviously really warm, but the stretch and quality of the suit seems really nice. Its an infiniti. I hav experience with hyperflex too, 654, and have surfed a couple times in february with it and was nice and warm (this suit is for sale, size lt, $125).
I got the same suit for RI. It is fine when its new, especially with new boots (7m) and gloves (mitts). I have never had a problem with the hood seals leaking. They seem pretty tight. But its peak warm life is probably less (two winters maybe depending on how much you use it, this is my 3rd winter with it and I can tell its not going much longer into December).
I dont really understand the concept of a 5/4 wetsuit with a detachable hood, personally. A 5/4 is something i dont start wearing until the water hits 50 and bottoms out in the upper 30. I may peel back the hood on a sunny day while talking in between sets, but at some point in just every session its getting put back on and most sessions it just stays on. Detachable hood 5/4 sounds like a central / northern California thing with a lot of days of 48-52 degree water and blue sunny windless 60 degree days. Not east coast conditions, and definately not Rhode Island! BRRR!
Good luck with your new suit. I've read many raves abount the Mutant, but agree with mitchell's view. I know it's tough finding a good fitting suit at your age knowing you will out grow it by the next season. My son out grew his new Xcel Infinity XZip 2 543 after using it about 10 times last winter. It's a size 14, PM if anyone is interested.
I'm actually more comfortable when I go from my Rip Curl 4/3 with hood tucked in - to my Rip Curl 6/5/4 with hood attached. Even tho it's overkill this early, I have a ton more movement in my neck in the 6/5/4.
I have a mutant 4/3. Be carful of the zippers as they break of easily.I soap mine up every time I put it on. Mine is pretty shot now but lasted a good year and change.
I got a deal on a Patagonia R4, used to have an xcel 5/4 which was great. The patagonia isnt as flexible but is by far the warmest suit ive ever worn by a longshot, hope it holds up bc now i cant afford food it cost so much
Got a deal on one too... $200 or so off ebay and had only been used a couple times. Plenty flexible for me. It does seem kind of heavy though. I had a run in with my fin in my last session and now it's in the shop. They have a pretty solid warranty - even though this repair isn't technically covered they aren't charging me.
For me Surfing in VB and the Banks the mutant is perfect. A 4/3 with hood booties and gloves typically works well enough for hardest part of the winter here with water in mid 40s (typically). Being that I can take the hood off in water 50+ and air temp 50+ I can use a Mutant most of wetsuit season. Its a great suit for my area, but I dont live in Rhode Island, I would think that a 5/4 with a detachble hood might not be needed, but being 12 you will be outgrowing suits and in RI you can proabbly wear a 5/4 without a hood in spring and part of summer. Bottom line: Mutant isn't the best wetsuit in terms of "tech" but its the most versatile suit built due to the zip on/ opff hood and regular wetsuit neck. My Mutant is two years old and in great shape.
The mutant is a great suit itself. The hood kind of sucks tho. Mine is always flushing and feels way to big. My suit is a medium and I even tried buying the attachable hood in a small.
To NJGOOFYFT, Forgot to say that I got a 16 so it could fit me for two seasons. I dont know if you've ever been up to warm winds surf shop in Narragansett, but they're pretty good.
cheaped out this season and bought an amp 3 hyperflex 6/5/4. hard to get into because the chest zip. ortherwise just as flexable as my old drylock xcel and hotline suit. question is whether it'll last more than one season.
i went with a hooded 5/4 hotline for the past 4 seasons as my go too. if your living in rhode island (where i surf) i'd recommend going a step up and add an extra hour to session by gripping a hooded 6/5/4. remember most often the wind is blowing and it can be your worst enemy
I had a 5/4/3 o'neill mutant for NY winters and I held up fine for most sessions throughout the winter... usually my hands and feet would go well before my core (even with the occasional suit flush through the hood). Sadly the suit's zipper on the hood just broke and I think I may need to upgrade. You can buy a replacement hood, but you might as well put the money towards a new suit. Can retire it with the non-hooded attachment as a stretched out fall and spring suit.
The Xcel Infiniti Comp X-Zip2 is amazing. I was hot in 52 degree water and felt like I was wearing a 3/2. Super flexible. I also wear a separate hood that is connected to a vest. I think that extra piece trumps the detachable hood option for a wetsuit
