With lots of wetsuits designed for hot looking young 16 to 20 year olds some of us (me for instance) look a little silly trying them on.
My last couple of suits have been bodyline cause they seem to fit larger people good (no fluoro colours though lol)
Wondering what some of you other supsters are wearing ??

Kool...just need something lightweight but warm, flattering but functional, and of course something that makes me look like I'm still 16 or 20

Tee Hee you are right some of them are quite stretchy (didn't realise quite THAT stretchy)

The new wetsuits are great.. They're soooo stretchy..

DJ

My advice is DO NOT try on the new Rip Curl E3+ wetsuit if you don't have the $500 to spend.

Once you put this on you will spend the rest of your Winter dissapointed with your choice if you don't buy it.

Don't believe it? Go and try it on, but be warned unless you want to spend the dough DON'T DO IT!


Disc: I have had all sorts of wetsuits given to me for free over the years, I pay for Rip Curl.

If your keen to try something different, check out ION wetsuits. (yes I am a team rider).

They are a Kite/Wind surfing and SUP specific wetsuit. Build differently to suit your body in different poses than Prone Paddle Surfers.

www.ion-products.com/

But like most things, check everything out.

JB

I'm no expert but I know that Billabong's design block is stockier than Rip Curl.
So Billabong would be a better option purely for the shape.

Anyone in the surfing business will tell you that there are 2 wetsuit companies in the world (apart from the Japanese!)

Oneill and Rip Curl. They are the only companies actually spending money on materials research and when they find something good they lock it up for 2 or 3 years. They are both wetsuit companies that make clothing, not the other way around.

Buy another brand and all you are really getting is old technology no matter what they call it.

The Japanese on the other hand have access to the best Neoprenes as they mostly come from Japan and hand make their suits, they are amazing but you'll be looking at around $2500......


Disc: I have never worked for Rip Curl but have worked as a buyer for a major 'surfing' (not surf) retailer.

I personally wear ripcurl and pretty much always have - because they FIT ME. I certainly can't afford the real exxy ones but I tend to buy the middle of the range price wise. I think the most important thing is to get a suit that fits well and then I suppose buy the best that you can afford. In my experience though the really expensive ones tend not to last very well so in NZ where the water is generally not too tropical you will be wearing your suit a lot more than we do on the goldy so be prepared for your steamer to not last forever if you buy the u beaut flash top of the range models. I have heard great things about oneill suits but they just dont fit me well but you should definately give them a look and West suits are becoming quite popular over here as well. Another thing you might wanna keep in mind is that the real super duper light weight suits tend to show off everything when you wear them cos they are so thin and flexy so if you aint afraid to show off the bod go for it.

hmmm perhaps thinking out side the square, I've after many many years have been converted to xcel wish i did it sooner !!!!!! 4 stars

Brooko said...

West suit is by far the best suits for big fellas excellent quality and fit big guys well!

Just on that - for big gals, I found the largest womens wetsuit I could get was Roxy (Quicksilver). They actually bring a W16 into OZ. Got a Cell 3/2, it fits me fine at 5'11" and 'solid'.

O'neill would have been nice, but no-one has bigger than 14, it seems the importer doesn't bring them into Oz. The Womens Rip Curls are made for tiny girls, not even close to fitting in height let alone weight!

doggie said...

Brooko said...

West suit is by far the best suits for big fellas excellent quality and fit big guys well!

Great after sales service as well. Im going from Ripcurl to West this year.

O wow they got heaps of choices & cool graphics too
http://www.westsurfing.com/wetsuits