**Official wetsuit review thread**

thanks man...i'm really not to worried about price because the suits get the use and it is worth it to me...

 

-The rip curl flash bomb is cool - dry to the touch in 15min and supposedly it works as they say it does. $400
-Buell Wetuits - up and coming, will be a big brand soon, they make suits for nike 6.0, volcom, rusty ect and are chest zip (the closer is magnetic which is a nice touch) , superior neoprene and awesome taping. also lots of color combinations if you want to look like your in the 80's or just want a little flash of color. I bought the 3/2 and 4/3 and while i haven't used them yet since the water is still warm where i am i tried it on and its extremely comfortable suit and best fitting suit i ever tried on. 3/2 = $360 www.buellwetsuits.com
-Quiksilver cypher DST is a very warm suit. quiksilver is starting to make really quality wetties. The cypher DST has poly fleece lining on the chest and legs and air chamber on the back that traps air to give you insulation. more pricey, maybe you can find last years model, google it. price for a new 3/2 = $425
- Xcel, i haven't worn one in a while but while they are good suits and keep you warm they are extremely heavy.
- Billabong SGX ZERO is supposedly an innovative suit for billabong this year featuring an extra neck seal and new warmer neoprene and yada yada yada. wouldn't be my 1st choice. price = $440
- O'neil, eh. I used to be all about O'neil but O'neil just is being as innovative and focus on their marketing of their suits each fall making it seem like they are totally redesigned form last year and are so much better but they really haven't changed that much in 5 years, sure they have the RG8 but thats just a psycho 1 chest zip. the psycho freak isn't worth your $$$$
*all suits i mentioned are chest zip*

....for some reason i know way to much about wetsuits.


Oh,
- Patagonia suits. very very warm. the entire suit is lined with merino wool. not the most flexible or highest on the market, but not the worst. their R2 (2mm) is equivalent to a 3/2. if you don't mind dropping a cool $550 then go for it.
-Matuse makes great suits, a little cheaper than patagonia, but if i were to drop the big bucks i'd go with patagonia over matuse

 

thanks man for the great info....i was just on the patagonia website looking at what they have

 

I've got a ripcurl dawn patrol 4/3. It's a good bargain suit and it's warm. Goes for about $160. It's worth it

 

If your wearing that with good gloves, booties, and hood, how long will it last you into the fall/winter?

 

Anybody tried out a ripcurl flashbomb yet ? Or at least checked one out in a shop ? Impressions?

 

I purchased an Xcel 5/4 Drylock last winter. The suit is super warm. It rarely allowed any water to enter the body of the suit and when it did the cool water was more than welcome cause more often than not i was sweating. The only complaint i have is that the hood allows too much water to enter when duckdiving, even when cinched tight. i'm not sure why this happens. i now wear ear plugs with my hood on just to prevent the annoyance of constantly pulling on my hood to try and drain the water, especially when scratching for the horizon during bomb sets! the suit cost me about $450. worth every penny.

 

I think i'm gonna get a 3/2 rip curl flash bomb....did a bunch of research and seems to be a good suit....anyone on hear own one?

 

I have a RipCurl F-Bomb 6/5/4. Absolutely great suit. Surfed in it for 2 year while I have been in Alaska. I can surf this suit in the dead of winter for hours comfortably. That said I'm moving back to Eastern NC and want something thinner. I like RipCurl because of my experience so I'm really interested in the E-bomb and the Flash Bomb but also wanted to hear some opinions of the new Hurley and O'Neil suits. Or any thing else that might be good for that area. Thanks.

 

Got my SGX at a deep discount at Swell. The neoprene is FAN-FRICKIN-TASTICALLY soft, comfy,stretchy,etc. The big drawback is its not very windproof. If you're floating around alot, it gets cold! Great suit for cool water(60 and up)+warm weather. Dries pretty quick. Super quality materials and construction, but I wouldn\'t pay $450. P.S. Beware neck flushing-BRRR!

 

I have a 5/4/3 Body Glove Vapor Slant Zip, its a good suit and helps me get through the cold winter in Jersey. The only problem is, is that its super stiff and very hard to maneuver in.

I just bought a 3/2 Quicksilver Cypher FuseFlex, its the craziest wetsuit I've ever had. It super light and feels like a 2 mill. In the water its warm like a 4/3.. Super stretchy. Overall, its a great suit.

I also have a 1 mil Body Glove Vapor long sleeve shirt, great for those windy summer days to wear with some boardys.

 

i have the5/4/3 billabong synergy, so if there are any girls reading, i recommend this wetsuit. i'm not sure how valuable this review is because it is my first wetsuit, but it keeps alot of water out and is really flexible. Its also very soft and comfortable. i kept reading how thicker wetsuits hinder movement. I was very surprised how much it did not interfere with my movement the first time i wore it.

 

2 seasons ago I got the Quicksilver Cypher 6/5/4 with something called HFT - which I think is the fuzzy lining on the inside-it totally feels like fleece on the inside and I don't even get wet wearing it! I would recommend this suit to anyone looking for a cheaper suit that works better then one costing $450! I got mine off ebay from a guy in cali called 'surfs_you_right' for about 250 to 300- BEST suit I ever owned! I NEVER NEVER get cold and its soooo flexible and light that I feel like I'm wearing a 4 or 3mil. plus all the seams are taped on the inside so you don't have to worry about your board wearing on and cracking the tape (unlike those suits that are taped on the outside...) I liked the suit sooo much that I went out and bought the 4/3 hooded cypher that I wore until mid to the end of January! So- i was actually only in my 6mil for like a month or two lol did I mention that the entry is super easy??? Plus its constructed well- so you don't have to worry about tearing it or messing up seams when putting it on- Actually after 2 seasons- the suit shows no wear and the material feels like new!
GO out and buy the cypher!

 

^ Dude that's the suit Slater wears!

 

Just took the plunge on a hooded 5/4/3 Rip Curl Flashbomb. Got it from Jacks online - they sent me a 10% coupon in the summer, and I was shocked that they let it apply to a brand new wetsuit.

Anyway, very flexible and light. Very easy to get on, but a little trickier to get off than my old Xcel 5/4/3 (Infiniti). The Flash lining feels fine, nothing uncomfortable or weird about it. The E3 neoprene has a real nice feel to it. Seems to be the same Rip Curl fit/cut.

Obviously I haven't gotten it in the water yet but I'll post when I do. And anybody who gets their 3/2 or 4/3 Flashbomb in the water, be sure to let us know. My Xcel suit was great, but its time is up. We'll see if the Flashbomb is worth the extra $$.

 

I got his board too brah

haha

 

Anyone ever hear of the Rip Curl insulator? I just tried 5 suits on other day and this fit best. Tried the Cypher too but couldn't fit shoulders into it. Is this like a slim cut? LOL, cause father time is catching up.

 

Are the E Bomb and Flash bomb the next level up? Whats the diff, the website doesnt have a lot on info or specs to compare. BTW, i am looking for a good NJ winter suit. My buddy swears the new 4/3 is warm enough...

 

I wouldnt try to make it through a NJ winter in a 4/3. I'm not too sure on the Rip Curl suits but I think its

Insulator < E-Bomb < Flash Bomb

The flash bomb is their newest technology that supposedly dries faster. Now if you really want to go crazy, grab an H-Bomb. That's their heated suit @ about $1,000.