Latest in Wetsuits - what to buy?
- more force 4
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Latest in Wetsuits - what to buy?
My O'Neil mutant is nearing the end of its days, with death by a thousands cuts from fins and barnacles, and just good old old UV brittleness. Can't even remember when I bought it - its my 'new' one but I guess it must be at least 5 years old, it owes me nothing!
So, whats good on the market? I keep hearing about nearly-dry wetsuits....
So, whats good on the market? I keep hearing about nearly-dry wetsuits....
- JL
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Try Here: http://www.coastalbc.com/ads/surf.htm I bought my last couple hotline from http://www.cleanlinesurf.com/categories ... -Wetsuits/
Thermals are good.
- juandesooka
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- Atomic-Chomik
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wetsuit
Flashbombs Ive found to be the best. Outlasted my excells significantly. Warm and dry faster.
- downwind dave
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- more force 4
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NPX questionable....
I have been an Assassin NPX proponent, they fit super nice, easy to put on and take off which is huge in my books....I am on my third one....hence no Excels or Hotlines for me....til now Silent Sports has not been very good warranty wise with the suits (they sent me another suit for $200 saying that was their cost, then they sell them for $225 regular....) and I have had tears, many seams failing, glues letting go. Emails request info, pictures etc. and then go unanswered.
Also not so happy with the 6:4 Zealot, for that little bit of extra warmth the hood is a pain and tight in the neck and it is a bitch to put on reaching for the neck bib and the hood leaks.
Just based on the warranty issues I won't buy another NPX, the factory email was never responded to either. Pricing was from $220 on sale to $325.
Also not so happy with the 6:4 Zealot, for that little bit of extra warmth the hood is a pain and tight in the neck and it is a bitch to put on reaching for the neck bib and the hood leaks.
Just based on the warranty issues I won't buy another NPX, the factory email was never responded to either. Pricing was from $220 on sale to $325.
Wish less, sail more!!
Vancouver Island Windsports
Chinook /Takuma /KA Australia (Tribal) /Aztron
You're either in or in the way....
Doing things the hard way since 1963....
Vancouver Island Windsports
Chinook /Takuma /KA Australia (Tribal) /Aztron
You're either in or in the way....
Doing things the hard way since 1963....
- HiyoSilver
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I, too, am in need of a good winter wetsuit as my leaky 4/3 is just getting too cold... brrr!
I'm wondering, as this is my first winter season on Van Isle:
-would a 5/4 wetsuit be sufficient around here, or would a 6/5/4 be better?
-is HTO the only or best shop on the island to buy westsuits? Are there other options? ~I do prefer to buy in person to make sure it has a good fit!
Thanks
I'm wondering, as this is my first winter season on Van Isle:
-would a 5/4 wetsuit be sufficient around here, or would a 6/5/4 be better?
-is HTO the only or best shop on the island to buy westsuits? Are there other options? ~I do prefer to buy in person to make sure it has a good fit!
Thanks
hmm yes, it is warmer, no question....but I would suggest they are not as safe ...or safe at all if you are more than a few tens of meters off shoreabetanzo wrote:buy a drysuit
the drysuit might not appeal to all and its really a 'damp' suit after a session but it's like night and day in the winter
if you stay out of the water a fair bit, the 5:3/5:4 is fine, just wear a removable hood/liner in your helmet and a neoprene based rashy helps a lot, the 6:4's are hard to combat, esp if you don't wear it often, you fight neoprene all the time and get tired. I don't like mine but wear it when really cold, no rashie. Usually 5:3 with rashie if to 4 degrees, with open palm gloves. 6mm booties or wool socks help in booties a lot but I hate the spongy feel, lots warmer tho! Also I have a bright orange wind breaker, super difference and you can ditch it when having to rescue as it too is a problem swimming
To each their own
Wish less, sail more!!
Vancouver Island Windsports
Chinook /Takuma /KA Australia (Tribal) /Aztron
You're either in or in the way....
Doing things the hard way since 1963....
Vancouver Island Windsports
Chinook /Takuma /KA Australia (Tribal) /Aztron
You're either in or in the way....
Doing things the hard way since 1963....
- juandesooka
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5/4 is fine for west coast van island winter
coastline is the other shop in vic.
re: dampsuit...thanks for saying so Adrian...I have a SurfDry, but always damp at end of session...possibly leaks from seals, but maybe also just sweat. Was a little disappointed, as it isn't the hoped-for hop in my car dry and drive home. I find the new wetsuits are really semi dry anyway, very well sealed. Half my kite sessions my suit still has dry patches inside. Nice warm fuzzy material too ... both xcel drylock and ripcurl flashbomb.
coastline is the other shop in vic.
re: dampsuit...thanks for saying so Adrian...I have a SurfDry, but always damp at end of session...possibly leaks from seals, but maybe also just sweat. Was a little disappointed, as it isn't the hoped-for hop in my car dry and drive home. I find the new wetsuits are really semi dry anyway, very well sealed. Half my kite sessions my suit still has dry patches inside. Nice warm fuzzy material too ... both xcel drylock and ripcurl flashbomb.
- abetanzo
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I've heard about some crazy old drysuits that end up being unsafe but I haven't experienced anything like that with the new OR Soul drysuit... even with a zipper not quite closed or a slash from a surfboard fin.. there was only a little leak not like a major submersion..
the death bag apparently was when someone's neck seal failed (older drysuit)... but I figure if you keep your gear in good working order you're not gona blow out your neck seal!
but as for being fully dry... yes they do keep you fully dry... just not when you crash at high speeds or sweat your bag off! and remember it's like a bag over your body so no matter what you're gona perspire a bit!
I've used it for sailing & wading in the rivers & shallow scuba diving to clean the bottom of the boat and am really dry in it... kb'ing though after an hour's session there might be a little dampness near the seals but I can peel off the suit and drive home!!
the death bag apparently was when someone's neck seal failed (older drysuit)... but I figure if you keep your gear in good working order you're not gona blow out your neck seal!
but as for being fully dry... yes they do keep you fully dry... just not when you crash at high speeds or sweat your bag off! and remember it's like a bag over your body so no matter what you're gona perspire a bit!
I've used it for sailing & wading in the rivers & shallow scuba diving to clean the bottom of the boat and am really dry in it... kb'ing though after an hour's session there might be a little dampness near the seals but I can peel off the suit and drive home!!
Last edited by abetanzo on Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.