I'm looking to get a new wetsuit for this winter. I live in South Jersey (atlantic city), so water temps get to about 36-40. Here's my dilemma - i am looking at the xcel infiniti drylock 5/4/3 and the quiksilver cypher 5/4/3, both hooded and I'm just not sure which one to get. Anyone have any pros/cons for either of these suits? I've been wearing a Billabong 4/3 for several winters but it's time to upgrade after having froze my butt off a few days last year, plus the suit is just getting old. Any help from you guys is appreciated.
I'd personally lean towards the excel... but wetsuits are so good anymore its more about which brand fits you better, as long as they are in the same price range. Any way you can try em on?
i would recommend you read the wetsuit review thread that is stickey'd to the top of the page here. but that said, i would lean away from the excel simply b/c i can't stand the drylock thing. it feels like my circulation is being cut off to my hands & feet in those things. if that's not an issue for you, then it'll be a great suit, but try it on first to make sure that narrow cuff opening isn't going to bother you. the quiksilver isn't a bad suit either though, but historically quik doesn't make that great of a suit, compared to other big name wetsuit manufacturers.
I just got a Rip Curl E-Bomb 5.5/4.5 from Surfside Sports for $289 using the "surfline" discount. It's a brand new suit and is regularly $340. Haven't gotten it in the water yet, but I tried it on and it feels super nice.
ive got the cypher 5\4\3 and i find it runs a bit long on me in the large and im 6'0. other than that love it.
I've got the cypher 5/4/3 and must say Quiksilver has stepped up their game when it comes to their wetsuits. Nicest 5 mil I've owned. I have never used the Drylok so i can't comment on that. Other suits I have: 6 mil O'neil Psycho 5 mil ripcurl E bomb 5 mil West Lotus (sold this to get cash for the cypher) 5 mil ripcurl Elasto (got rid of this a few years ago) 4/3 O'neil Mutant Again, the cypher is the newest of them all but it's by far the best neoprene and best tech.
one more... Anyone familiar with the RIP CURL EBOMB CZ 5.5/4.5? Any thoughts on that suit? Too much to take in at once....
as rip curl makes the only suits that really fit me, i picked up one of those for this winter & i'm pretty stoked on it. obviously, w/ the water as warm as it is still, i haven't worn it yet, but if it's anything like the previous e- & f-bomb suits i've had in the past, it'll be a fantastic suit that keeps me warm for several seasons & holds up well. i went w/ the e-bomb 5.5/4.5 over the flashbomb 5/4 b/c i figured that it would be warmer (b/c it's thicker), yet more flexible (b/c it's more elastomax) than the flashbomb. it might not dry as quickly, but i'm willing to trade that for warmth & flexibility. i haven't tried it on yet (i know my size well), but it seems super stretchy, more so than the f-bomb 4/3 that i'm currently wearing, & definitely more so than the old f-bomb 5/4's rip curl used to produce. it's certainly not 3/2 stretchy, but what 5mil is?
thanks... Just wanted to thank everyone who gave me their input, it's definitely greatly appreciated. My buddy has the xcel drylock, and to be honest i'm skeptical of the cuffs with having to constantly put them over gloves and booties, plus trying to squeeze my big a$$ foot (sz 14) through them over and over! I'm really considering the cypher and the e-bomb at this point, and i'm leaning more towards the e-bomb. I found the cypher for $240 and the e-bomb for $289 (which went UP to $305 with the Thanksgiving sale - guess I'll wait until I can use that discount code!), so the prices are very comparable, and at that point basically negligible. Any other comments/opinions please feel free to add them!! Thanks everyone...
... Found the Rip Curl e-bomb 5.5/4.5 for $271 @ cleanlinesurf.com. 20% off just about everything store wide. I think it's about time to pull it....
im looking at the e-bomb 543 as well as the billabong SG5 543...both about the same price just cant pull the trigger on one yet...anyone have billabong booties or gloves? just wondering how they compare to other brands. I have excel infinity gloves and boots and looking to upgrade those as well. Side not i looking to sell a hooded vest if anyone is interested
Have an ebomb 5.5/4.5, i'm happy with it, they had them for $260 today at SS in OC today for black friday!
If you want an xcel or hyperflex suit or gloves/boots check out departmentofgoods.com. They have a lot of gear for super chrap. I just got a new pair of drylock boots and gloves for $50 with free shipping, can't beat that.
... How do the xcel glove fit, and how do they hold up in the cold? I recently bought the Xcel drylock infiniti round toe booties in size 13 and they are way too small - my toes curl up. (if anyone is interested in them, send me a message - i need to get rid of them). I'm looking at the rip curl 7mm fbomb booties, but the gloves i'm not too sure about. Any advice?
In regards to billabong equipment..... (fart noise)... that is all......\r\n\r\nXcel equipment is deffinitly where its at. It is deffinitly always best to buy the wetsuit that fits best so I would try all the brands that you can to see what works for you, but I would deffinitly reccomend the xcel suits. I also have their boots and gloves in both 3mm and 5mm and they are amazing. Special emphasis on the 5m gloves, my hands sweat all threw the winter.
