Xcel accessories

I'm definitely not loyal to any one brand. I look at each item and get the best I can, regardless of brand. So my stuff is a mixed/match.

I have the same O'Neil boots and they're great, except I wish they had another inch of upper. I feel like they're a little short, but they're still warm as can be, and my feet never get flushed or balloon up with water. Ever. Water sometimes goes up my leg (which is why I wish the boots had a higher upper), but never down into my boot.

My gloves are the Rip Curl 5/3 lobster claws. Tips of fingers get a little cold, but I've never had a glove that was perfect. These are much easier to get in and out of than the Dry Locks, and fit my hands well. https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/PROD/WGL4EF.html#.WmN4GUtG1ZI

Can't say enough good things about my current Xcel Drylock 5/4 TDC low pile core. Warmest suite I've ever had, and still like new in it's second season. I'm pretty cynical about all the high tech mumbo-jumbo, but this technology is the best I've seen to date. The low pile is lighter and more flexible, but still plenty warm: https://www.xcelwetsuits.com/whats-new/post/tdc

 

I have a hell of a struggle to get in and out of my Drylock 4/3 hooded. It is MT and normally I use Xcels Large. I bought it because it fit me well when I bought it, but working out at the gym 3 days a week made it increasingly harder. So bad news with the good news , I suppose.

 

Just got a pair of Xcel Explorer boots for winter and love them. Fit me very well and the grip is nice. Run ya $45 in the shop.

 

Yes--with your mom.

 

Anyone have experience with winter gear from Body Glove? My all-time favorite 3/2 wetsuits have been the MT body glove vapors that I wore non-stop when I was living in California. I found that Body Glove fit me by far the best of any brand (and lasted, I still use both suits almost 10 years later). But here in the winter I rarely see anyone in body glove gear. Anyone use their winter stuff?

 

Yes--I have a 4/3 Body Glove, not sure which "model", but it has been a favorite of mine for about 10 years now--still works well!!

 

Years ago I had a buddy that loved them... seemed to work well, I don't know why they wouldn't...

Way back The body glove gloves where my favorite, until xcel became popular, now their gloves are my fav

 

The new xcel wetsuit material , guess they’re calling it high and low pile tdc, is incredibly warm in my opinion. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with xcel products and there customer service too. They’ve done several repairs on suits over the course of my surfing life for no cost, even when outside of warranty(all my fault or from over use). This keeps me coming back to them, and I think they have the best gear, without a doubt.

I just bought 5 & 7mm drylock booties this year and both fit true to size for me and when compared to previous xcel booties. I believe they were 2017 versions because they were on sale on xcels website but I honestly couldn’t tell you the difference bw the 2017 and ‘18 versions. Do you know what’s new for the ‘18s.

 

My Xcel boots (7mm) and gloves (5mm) are top-notch and fit well. They were given to me 4 years ago in slightly used condition. Haven't tried their wetsuits.
Smell issues with boots are remedied with 50/50 mix of vinegar and water.

 

Vinegar and water cures smell issues with a lot of things... Just makes 'em smell like a pickle.

 

I don't want a pickle,
I jus' wanna ride my motorcycle!!
(Arlo Guthrie)

 

I bought a BGlove suite one time and the legs were like 3 inches longer than a Rip curl in the same size. I sent it back and now I only use Rip Curl

 

lol nice one

 

My xcel infinit comp 4/3 and my 5 mil tdc claws from last year got numerous holes and tears. The wetsuit was patched, but the legs balloon. The claw gloves which I used 30 times or less, are leaky and I cannot figure out how to fix them. I do like my tdc 5 mil booties, but that’s it.

Not a huge fan.

 

In my experience, "comp" anything does not hold up... comp glass jobs, comp foams, comp leashes (except for small wave boards). And I don't wear Xcel boots or gloves... at least not in the thicker varieties, which is when you need solid performance out of your gear the most.

Everybody's different, though... everybody's body is different, the way we move is different, and our body mechanics are different... So there's different wear and tear points and patterns for everyone.

 

The suit actually isn’t that bad. It got me by all of late last fall through spring and this fall. The claws are what bother me most. The tdc ones aren’t cheap and shouldn’t be getting as tore up as much they have. I think the lifespan for any of gloves I’ve had isn’t good...but especially these. Just put a patch on with some contact cement, hoping it helps. Just got a pair of hotline 5mil fingers. Never again will I go five fingers in sub 40 degree water temps....What’s your go to for gloves/mits?

 

I have always like xcel gloves, they always seemed warmest. Every time I try another brand turns into a bad experience... although usually I have found that you get about a year/season out of a pair of gloves- maybe 2. Then they start to leak.

Usually the seems start to leak- a good fix is wetsuit cement, similar to contact cement- or I have found that in a pinch liquid electrical tape (from HD) works well as too... just doesn't stay on as long, usually you need to reglue after a few uses...

Something I have found with gloves is that when they are made entirely out of the wetsuit material that's slick on the outside (like the chest portion of your suit) they get really cold quickly... and fill with water. Although they may last longer, it's not worth the lost warmth. A good example would be when the first flash bomb ripcurl gloves came out...

 

My gloves are the Rip Curl 5/3 lobster claws. I like that the seams are sealed on the outside of the glove, and that the wrist is only 3 mil. There's a little gusset where the wrist meets the hand of the glove, which I think is brilliant. I beat my gloves up getting them on and off... not so much just surfing in them, so any glove that slips on and off easily last longer for me. The tips of fingers get a little cold, but I've never had a glove that was perfect. These are much easier to get in and out of than the Dry Locks, and fit my hands well. https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/PROD/WGL4EF.html#.WmN4GUtG1ZI

 

The boots I just bought this winter that are feeling extra tight have their new liner; looks more like dark cheetah spots opposed to the infrared they've been using for the last few years.

 

Thanks, this may be my next purchase. After 5 winters, my Xcels are wearing out.