For some reason I didnt see the "no wet suite surf naked" option in your poll... You should really consider adding a few more options.
IDK, I like mine, I have one of both brands you mention and have had em for years and got more than my monies worth. I take good care of them by rinsing in fresh water right away, get as much water out of it as I can and then hang dry in the shower. Helps keep them from getting old and crusty. Getting close to buying a new 3/2 though, another Ripcurl Dawnpatrol or the Flashbomb or whatever. Should last me another 5-7 years.
had an oneil 4/3 super freak for two seasons ish surfed about 5 out of it because when i wasn't fighting fires i was in the water 7 days a week for 8 hours a day in and around Santa Cruz and the PNW. One stitch is getting a little bunk but the seams are holding up great. I bought a ****ty ass excel on whiskey militiat (4/3 infiniti dry lock whatever) and after the 1st two months surfing it once a week or so in north carolina the seems were coming off. They wouldn't honor the year warranty because i bought it on whiskey militia. Bad quality product, and bad customer service policies on the end of the company in my opinion.
just venting about my disappointment w/ "liquid tape" on o'neill and rip curl. That sh!t always cracks and starts jabbing me within the first year. Seam warranty is one year on both brands. Lately, when I send the year old suites in for repair, they just sent me back a brand new suit...cool, I guess, but I still hate liquid tape. Neither brand fit me worth a sh!t, so, next suite, I'm thinking of trying custom.
Yeah good to try different brands if the others don't fit right, I believe a perfect fit will also make your suite last longer. I'd try Patagonia if it wasn't so retardedly priced. Seems like quality stuff but I can do so much more with that money.
trevey, you gotta find a bro in a shop and lie about where you got the wetsuit and I love excel, I havent found a better suite, for me at least
my current suite is an o'neill psycho 3 in Large. It looked/felt right and all the shop guys were all in agreement that I wasn't going to get a better fit than that...but, now, the neoprene has streched to the point where my torso and arms are loose/ballony and the ankle cuffs ride up so far, my booties barely stay inside them. Yeah, if I could get one snug enough from the start, I like how lightweight o'neill neoprene is. But, now, I see they've completely changed their sizing ("Large" is no longer an option...wtf?), so I'd have to deal with the hassle of going in and trying wetsuites on all over again. ugh.
