I haven't tried one, but I have a friend who surfs the Great Lakes who swears by them. Price is a bit too steep for me.
I read the article about that guy in Men's Health a month or so ago. Pretty interesting but I'm not too sure I would buy one without being able to try it on.
Interesting- had a guy try to sell me on one of these while checking the surf a while ago... he said something like once you get one you'll never go back... but he did not mention all the technology that is listed on the website... idk its a lot of $$$ to try out a suit that I have never heard of... when i see Slater wearing one, maybe then I would give it some thought... or if I was rich and could afford a new $600 suit each year.
I looked into the Isurus suits last year after Surfline ran a feature on them. Came very close, had even contacted them for sizing, but in the end just couldn’t spend that much on a wetsuit. In searching for info about Isurus I got an education on upper level wetsuits (there is a massive wetsuit thread on Surfer’s web site). It’s the Yamamoto neoprene that supposed to make them special. Isurus uses it, as does Patagonia (sometimes referred to as “Patagucci”), and Matuse. Supposedly it’s more comfortable and warmer because it absorbs less water. From what I read, Patagonia and Matuse have been having a lot of seam problems. They do fix them, but people weren’t real thrilled about spending that much money for suits with issues. One name that kept coming up was Boz Wetsuits (pronounced Boss). They’re handmade in Peru with Yamamoto neoprene, and have been around for 30 years or so. And they’re priced comparable, or even a little less than the usual suspects (Xcel, Rip Curl, O’Neill). A guy in San Diego sells them out of his garage. People were very happy with the suits, and raved about “Harry,” the guy who sells them (he repairs the suits too). So two weeks ago, after exchanging several e-mails with Harry, I took a chance and ordered a Boz suit (ordered it on Friday afternoon, had it Monday morning). It’s a Thermo Boz 3/2 with a front/chest zip. When I pulled it out of the box I thought, “hmm…I guess this is going back.” Not that there was anything wrong with it, but it didn’t look like anything really special. But I did venture to try it on. I was sold. Very, very comfortable. Snug but a stretchy silky feel, unlike any suit I have. I know it sounds cliché, but like a second skin. The chest zip set-up is clunkier than some other suits, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take. The suit is that comfortable. I’m in the Delmarva area, so I haven’t used it yet, but shouldn’t be long. I’ll post my impressions. The web sit is little clunky too. <http://www.wetsuitsboz.com/cat/index.html>
I ride for heated wetsuits and they carry the wetsuit. one of the greatest wetsuits i have ever used. unfortunatly the price is VERY steep however you are paying for the number one water resistant material in world so i think its worth it
isurus I have been surfing in Isurus for 18 months and been very happy with these suits. My Isurus 434 hoody suit is definitely warmer than the other high end 5/4/3 wet suits that i have worn. The Yamamoto neoprene and air bubble sandwich material has a much higher insulation R value than regular neoprene. I surf longer than most everyone in the lineup in winter on a cold day. The Isurus triathlete shoulder cut works better. too. It has an extra panel, that fits better and strokes easier, less binding on the shoulder, paddles faster. The suit feels light and flexible. It is really easy to surf in. Its durable. The yamamoto neoprene is just better and more durable. I have been surfing the 434 hoody for 18 months and its still works good, cuffs and seals are tight. You can feel the difference. Its worth the extra bucks, take care of it and it will outlast other suits, in my experienceT
My name is Matt Patton with HeatedWetsuits.Com. We were featured in an article in Men's Journal Magazine with the Jim and the Isurus team last month. After hearing about their company being paired with ours for the article, I called Jim and placed an order for our first test suit. A few months later we placed a wholesale order and now carry them in our online store. They are sick! Few things to note. My review is below: First off, the Isurus wetsuits are made of a premium Yamamoto neoprene that people notice the first time they put their hands on an Isurus Wetsuit. You don't even have to put this suit all the way on to realize that it's a better wetsuit than anything you usually see in a surf shop. "Baby's Butt Soft Neoprene" is the best way to describe how soft this stuff feels to the touch. The Airprene Neoprene that you've seen in the chest and back of other top quality suits is also used in the Isurus suits, but in a much larger way. The Airprene covers the entire core, all the way to the crotch to make sure your body holds its warmth in the core where it counts. The 5.4 I-Soldier has the Airprene all way to the ankles for those sub 50 degree water temps. The suits use the "Compression Technology", which is becoming very popular in professional sports. There are 14 different sizes available to make sure you have a suit that fits perfectly. BEWARE! The first 4 times you put your suit on, you will STRUGGLE getting your arms through the sleeves. Your friends will laugh at you. But, after a few times in the water, the suit starts to form to your body and really take shape. By ten uses, the sleeves have that "Like a Glove" feel and fit perfectly to your forarm and arm shape. I've worn the I-Elite 3/3, the Hooded 4/3 Elite, and the 5/4 Hooded I-soldier. The suits are the most flexible, warm, lightweight wetsuits I've ever worn compared to others of the same thickness. You will stay dry on the paddle outs, through duckdives and most of your session. If you get thrown over the falls, you typically will still get a flush, but other than that the suit keeps you very dry. The Hooded Suits have a very comfortable hood. The texture on the inside feels similar to the Fireskin found on the RipCurl suits or some have even said a Shamwow Microfiber cloth. No suction or air pockets, just a really warm hood that feels good on or pulled down. Compared with other top of the line wetsuits, the biggest difference I notice is the flexibility and weight of the Isurus wetsuits in the water. I never thought I would want to surf in a 5/4 wetsuit here in North Carolina. Our water usually gets down into the low 40s, and even in past winters, wearing a 4/3 with 5mm boots, gloves, and hood, I usually want to move up to my step-up board or something a little thicker to compensate for the extra rubber and weight. This is not the case with an Isurus wetsuit. I surfed in the I-Soldier 5.4 this winter with Xcel Drylock gloves and boots. The 5.4 I-soldier feels lighter than my hooded 4/3 Xcel Drylock. I immediately quit wearing my 4/3 drylock because I could wear a 5/4 Isurus with much more warmth and even less weight. I couldn't believe how agile I was able to be in a 5.4. I am now able to surf my 6'0" all winter long without feeling bogged down a bit. The biggest con, as we've noted before is the price. But, it's a premium top quality wetsuit, even more so than the wetsuit of the year and other mass produced wetsuits you've seen in the shops. If you just put your hands on an Isurus suit, you will know almost immediately why you are paying the premium. It's different...in a really good way. There are not many East Coast retailers. We're located in Wilmington, NC. Shoot me an email if you want to put your hands on an Isurus wetsuit. If you're not convinced after you get your hands on one, don't wear it and send it back to us. We'll refund your money!
Any issues with durabilty? I heard the yamamoto rubber tears pretty easily from rubbing on the ground when you step on the suit to get your legs out. Friend of mine has to stand on a towel when taking his off after he founds holes in the legs of his matuse from pebbles (he believes). ~Brian www.greenlightsurfsupply.com Shape Your Surfing Experience
xcel chesty's run about $200-$300 and come in 3 colors and like 4 thicknesses. I've been wearing them for almost a decade and that is only 3 suits. Do math. Why even shop? Want to drop $600 on a wetsuit because some guy gets to wear them for free in your favorite surf video? I'll never understand....
I have only been wearing my Isurus suits since November, so I can only really give you a few months of data. But, I have worn the crap out of the I-Soldier 5.4, using it for spearfishing, kiteboarding, surfing, and SUP through the winter. Kiteboarding wipeouts will put a serious beating on your wetsuits, not to mention rubbing the wrecks and reef while spearfishing. I am religious about rinsing it with fresh water and hanging it from the waste, but I've seen no tape peeling or seams coming apart. I definitely have stepped on plenty of gravel and pebbles at the boat landing, trying to get the suit off as fast as possible to get warm. The Isurus I-Soldier is still dry as can be in the water; no holes, leaks, or weak spots yet as far as I can tell.
Wetsuit companies claim they use certain materials by giving a creative name. Google 100% yamamoto neoprene wetsuit and see what comes up. That should give you an answer on who really uses what. One another thing. there are different dergrees of yamamoto neoprene. Some more fragile than others. Isurus wetsuits are generally well received by there followers.
