Sunset Surf » Reviews

Triathon reviews series.

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:54:55 +0000

As one of the UK’s fastest growing sports and one of the most fun, lots of surfers are turning to triathlons as a great way to stay in shape for surfing as well as compete in a challenging and enjoyable sport.

As part of this following on from our successful tried and tested reviews section over the next few months we are going to feature a number of reviews directly relating to triathlons, including wetsuits, tri-suits, bikes etc..

We hope that you will find these reviews as helpful as the wetsuit reviews that we have done as the fantastic feedback has been so positive.

Next to buying a bike the wetsuit is going to be one of the more expensive purchases that you make as a triathlete. The market has changed totally over the past five years and instead of suits being owned by a few and hired by the majority for the occasional open water event we now have the reverse. Of course, this assumes that you are planning an open water event — with one or two notable exceptions you will not be allowed to use a wetsuit in a pool-based event.

Prices of suits range from an entry-level around the £170 mark through to top-end suits that any pro would be delighted to use for £300 and more. If you are on a budget it’s always worth looking into end-of-year or end-of-range bargains in the winter sales or considering an ex-hire suit.

Major races like London actually operate their own hire fleet of suits for those people who are aiming to do just the one event and will let you keep the suit for the entire season for training in for a fraction of the cost of buying it. They aren’t very glamorous suits but they are more than adequate and offer a sensible alternative to purchase for one-off triathletes.

Regulations

You can’t wear a wetsuit under the following conditions:

Swim distance Temperature

less than 2000m greater than 21 degrees C

2000m to 3000m greater than 22 degrees C

more than 3000m greater than 23 degrees C

Wetsuits become ‘optional’ (unless other arrangements are in force, such as at events like London) at 14 degrees C and below this the swim distances are limited with 500m being the maximum recommended distance at 11 degrees C and no swimming should take place at all if it’s colder. Theoretically you won’t ever need a wetsuit in a pool swim but we know of three pools; Wellington College and Eton College (must be something about English boys schools!) and Tooting Bec Lido, where the water is definitely wet-suit legal for almost the whole year!

Wetsuits may be constructed of up to three separate parts (that’s legs, top and hood but you cannot wear just the legs), and you are not allowed to use boots or gloves in a race. The maximum thickness of the neoprene is also limited to 5mm and there are some other highly technical bits about distribution of the various thicknesses but for normal use we can ignore them. Any suit from the major manufacturers listed below will be a legal suit and you can check the official list on the ITU’s website: http://www.triathlon.org

The big investment

A wetsuit is a significant investment, especially when you consider that you’ll probably only use it half a dozen times a year. Like all such investments it’s sometimes hard to justify spending more than a bare minimum but it’s definitely worth it. The more expensive the suit the more flexible it will be and, generally, the better it will fit. Not all wetsuit makers use the same body proportions so do not rely on the fact that two different makes describe a size as Medium – they may be wildly different in fit. Do get advice on the fit of the suit and do be prepared to try on several, and allow time for this. Once bought and worn it’s unlikely that the shop will be willing to take it back if you decide that it is the If you are outside of the ‘norms’ in terms of body size or shape you can opt for a made to measure suit. Getting a made to measure suit means that you can, within the limits laid down by the BTA/ITU, choose your suit to match your swimming style. If you have a good leg kick you’ll need less rubber on the legs, if you have a lousy leg kick and get cold very quickly then you might go for thicker rubber and a thermal lining. The elite, who can literally win or lose a race in transition, might go for special panels so that the suit slides off easier or different zipper configurations. You can also opt for different suit types such as sleeveless or even a shorty but you need to be pretty tough and a good swimmer to get by in one of these in most of the British waters

For the majority of triathletes reading this, however, an off the peg suit will be more than adequate and they now come in such a range of sizes that it will be hard not to find one to fit.

The small investment

If you are on a really tight budget and you’ve just been conned into doing your first, and possibly only, open-water swim then the sensible answer is to hire a suit. Several of the big triathlon shops do offer suit hire for the major events and, as previously mentioned, London operates its own fleet of suits. DO NOT hire a suit from a surf or sailboard shop other than as a last resort. Triathlon wetsuits are very different to watersports suits and are specifically designed to swim in – most other suits are too restrictive.

Another alternative is to go for a second-hand suit or ex-hire suit but there can be problems with this route. Many athletes use petroleum jelly to lubricate the collar and cuffs of the suit to reduce chafing and speed transition. This can, and does, literally rot the suit by weakening the rubber and slowly dissolving the glue that joins the bits of the suit together. The trouble is, you can’t really tell that the rot is there until you start tugging and stretching and then it’s usually too late! That said, many second-hand suits are in good condition and often a bargain. The shops that hire out the suits often sell them off at the end of a season and they are unlikely to have been too badly abused in one year.

The fit

A wetsuit is, as its name suggests, not going to keep you dry! The whole idea is that a thin layer of water gets in between the neoprene and your skin where it gets warmed up by your efforts and then this warmth is kept in by the rubber. And, in terms of fit, that’s one of the key indicators — the suit needs to be tight enough that there are no baggy bits, wrinkles or obvious air pockets (the small of the back is one area you always need to check as are the armpits).

One way of describing the perfect suit fit is that the suit should feel like a surgeon’s glove — not constricting but like a second skin. However, because the suits stretch so much getting this fit is not simply a matter of squeezing yourself into the smallest suit that lets you breathe, your arms need to be able to move freely so that you can swim properly and the body of the suit certainly doesn’t want to pull between the neck and the crotch.

Women, having a different body shape to men, should look for suits that are made for them first. That said, there are plenty of women out there swimming in a man’s suit because, for their body shape, it is a better fit. Wetsuits are, all said and done, just neoprene body bags and, for the sport of triathlon at least, gender neutral. As with choosing a bike, get one that fits right and ignore the label.

Putting one on

There is a trick to putting on a wetsuit which, once learned, makes life in transition so much easier. First, always make sure your nails are trimmed short — long nails rip through rubber and will result in a lot of bad nicks or worse. If you have to have long nails then consider wearing thin gloves when putting the suit on (something like the De Feet Dura Glove is ideal). So, for the trick itself, you need a typical supermarket carrier bag; Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsburys or whatever takes your fancy but the thinner the better. Now, prepare the suit by unzipping and rolling it inside out down to half a leg. Now put your foot in the bag and then slip it into the leg pulling the suit up as you go. Peel the bag off your foot and repeat for the other leg. Easy, wasn’t it! The trick is that the bag acts as a barrier between the clingy lycra interior fabric and your skin and makes it almost frictionless. Now roll the suit up to the crutch and make sure the legs are fully pulled up and there is no nappy gap. Finish off by repeating the bag trick with the arms and then get a friend to do the zip up for you.

To make things easier for removing the suit you can use a little lubricant round the ankles but many seasoned triathletes also cut a bit off the bottom of the legs, usually angled front to back, which makes the home a bit bigger and so stops the suit balling up around the ankle when you pull it down. As long as there is still water inside the suit it will come off pretty easily once the zip is undone. Just get the arms out first and the roll it all the way down to the knees and step out of it. Once you have one leg out you can tread on this to help get the other leg out. In races where T1 is a long run from the water you may decide to take the suit off immediately but do make sure you get well out of the way first as impeding other athletes often leads to abuse and even a possible penalty. Some races, London is one example, make you take the suit off and bag it to stop lots of water getting onto the transition flow while others, IMUK being an example, may even provide neutral helpers to assist in stripping off the suit. Whatever the race, this is something you need to practice.

Looking after it

With proper care and attention you will get several seasons of use out of a quality suit. Indeed, apart from physical damage there’s little that can fail other than the rubber itself or the stitching. Do check the seams, they can usually be re-taped, glued and stitched if they show signs of wear, and if the suit seems to be holding water like a sponge then it’s a sign that the neoprene is failing.

Always wash the suit with clean warm water and dry it in the open air (but not in bright sunlight) after use

After a race where the water was less than clean put Milton in the washing water to remove those lingering odours!

Store the suit flat and, if you have to fold, do it lightly as though you were folding a good suit to pack in a case

For long term storage such as over-wintering turn the suit inside out and store flat in a cool place

If you need lubrication use a water-soluble natural substance. Body Glide is the real deal here but the Body Shop’s Avocado Body Butter is an excellent alternative and the Americans swear by a product called Pam which is a low calorie spray-on cooking oil. NO VASELINE!!

Who makes suits

If you want a custom made suit then there are really only two choices. Snugg, based in Newquay, can work miracles with rubber and many pro suits which appear to be a sponsor’s branded suit have often been seriously altered by Malcolm and his team. They also offer a repair service which can fix pretty much anything from a nick to a completely torn off leg or arm. Terrapin, run by the redoubtable Biddie Foord and based up in Leicester will also craft a suit to your desires and fix most sorts of problems.

The major brands, at least in terms of UK market share, are Orca, Blue Seventy/Ironman, Foor (exclusive to Tri-UK) and Quintana Roo although this latter brand has declined in both popularity and availability quite markedly in recent years. Adding to this quartet are a whole raft of new and non-so-new brands: 2XU, Aquaman, De Soto (T1), ProMotion, XTERRA and Zoot.

Watch this space for the new tried and tested reviews coming very soon, and thanks to tri247.com for help with all this.

Real Wiings

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:53:13 +0000

Well, to be honest when we first encountered real wiiings I was keen on the concept. Paddling might be seen as the laborious part of surfing, a necessary evil, but the better you can paddle the better you can put yourselves into the waves – and the quicker you can get yourself out to the line up.
Paddle power requires fitness, the more you paddle, and the faster you want to paddle, the fitter you need to be. Paddle power is also tricky to build up by doing anything other than paddling – swimming helps but nothing is quite as effective as paddling.
With all that in mind then, the idea of an add-on that assists your paddling power seems like a good thing, so how do they work in the water?
Getting them on can be quite tricky for the first time! ( I would definitely recommend getting them set up ready to go before you reach the break ) However once they are on, they are comfortable and you don’t really notice them, until you hit the water that is!
Once in the water, you can immediately feel the pressure on your forearms from the resistance the real wiiings are creating, the harder you paddle the more resistance you can feel – because the real wiiings grip your wetsuit well, it’s almost like the feeling you get from a Chinese burn – but not in a painful way!
Its actually really hard to tell whether they enhance your paddling power or not because you don’t have a speedo on your surfboard, getting some kind of bench mark proves nearly impossible for you and I – obviously the guys at real wiiings have done their research and the figures that they come up with should be accurate – although I’m not sure how they came up with 70% increase in paddle power.
That said, logic dictates that they must be making a difference – if you can feel the resistance on your forearms, then they must be doing the job.
I noticed that you can really feel your shoulder and arm muscles working when you paddle with the real wiiings on, and I would certainly wear them whilst surf training because they are only going to build your muscles up and increase your overall fitness.
Bottom line – great idea, if you are like me and have quite a slow but rhythmic paddling pace then they should help you get into more waves and get out to the line up quicker. For improving your fitness they would also work well, conditioning your muscles when worn either paddling in flat conditions or even when surf training in the swimming pool.
I personally think they make a difference – I have no facts or figures to back that up other than my own experience with them, and with a list of well known professional surfers putting their names to the product that also adds credibility.
So give them a try! At £22.99 even if you decide they aren’t for you when you are surfing, they are a great surf training aid, so you can’t loose!

What Real wiiings say about them…..
More waves is what every surfer dreams of!
Faster paddle out!
Get into the barrel faster!
No more standing on the shore not being able to get out!
Get out of the churn quicker!
Beginners get onto the face!
Longboarders reach incredible speed!
Easier paddling in the Rip or against the current!
Groms if you don’t have Wiiings its game over!
Time to Fly!
With RealWiiings surfers get a faster paddle out using less effort to get into the surf quicker and make Rips and currents more manageable. Longboarders can reach incredible speeds and beginners will get onto the face with less paddle.
Approved for use in competition, a number of pro surfers worldwide admit that with RealWiiings they become a much better machine in the water.
Word class surfer, Kevin Todd, comments, ‘they work sooooo well. My first session was on a longboard; I caught every wave I paddled for. Then I challenged one of the surfers ten years younger than me to a paddle race and smoked him so bad that he asked me if he could borrow them when he got out of the water. Today I surfed my 5’8’’ twin finfish and they worked unreal again. Espo, you’re a bloody genius!’
Attach RealWiiings micro wings to your wrist. Use the adjustable neoprene strap, designed for ultimate comfort and stability, and pack a punch in the waves whilst paddling. RealWiiings are made of super lightweight floatable Polyurethane to increase paddle power by up to 70% and improve balance in the water. Available in a wide range of colours, including the most popular, original black, each pair comes in its own drawstring net bag, little more that the size of a sunglasses case.
RealWiings are available in the UK from www.realwiiings.co.uk at £22.99 plus p&p and will shortly be available from surf shops around the country.

21 Days later – Mentawais – Mr B Productions DVD review

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:53:36 +0000

Another Mr B special.

’21 Days Later – Mentawais’ follows seven of Britain and Ireland’s finest surfers on a three week boat trip around the Mentawai Islands off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, home to some of the most perfect waves in the world! Featuring some incredible sessions at a variety of epic spots such as Macaronis, HTs, E-Bay, Lances Left, Pit Stops, Bank Vaults and more. Learn about the spots and share the surfers experience as they embark on the trip of a lifetime.

“I think it’s every surfers dream, isn’t it, to spend 3 weeks on a boat with perfect waves, good friends, good times…I didn’t want to go home” - Alan Stokes.

Featuring Reubyn Ash, Lee Bartlett, Easkey Britton, Robyn Davies, Sam Lamiroy, Mike Morgan and Alan Stokes. Also including a host of international professional surfers we met along the way.

This trip was organised by photographer Roger Sharp of Slide Magazine, which is now online at: www.slidemag.co.uk

Check out our gallery for 21 days later also here.

We always like Mr B’s productions, they are down to earth and featuring “local” talent always makes for an appealing film. The familiar accents, the common way of relaxing and chilling out all strike a chord and seem a long way from some of the surf super stars where they seem to be rich beyond belief but without the soul.

The result is the film 21 Days later – Mentawais takes you away almost on an autobiographical holiday. As with all Mr B’s films they are wave packed. Rather than have seperate scenes for interviews and surfers comments, its dubbed over the action, so you get the best of both worlds – you get to hear what the guys think about a spot, whist watching them or one of the others surf it.

As always the footage is well shot, and the camera person (can’t be sexist) gets in a good position to really help you capture the feel for the waves, the perfectness of them, and also the risk to skin on the nasty looking shallow reefs.

Whilst the perfect, seemingly endless waves of the mentawais seem a million miles away from windy september swells in the UK / Ireland its great to showcase the talent that our Islands produce and to show that in really great conditions these guys are ripping it up with the best in the world.

So to sum up.

With this film you get to see a load of great UK / Irish surfers – both male and female, living the dream! Spending 3 weeks in world class surf, ripping up it. The film is a veritable wave fest, I dont know exactly how many shots there are but there is lots and lots
Its another one of those films that by the end of it you feel like you are there on the trip with them.. and then when you realise you are not, its time to start saving!

Well done Mr B, Another diamond job, keep them coming

Sunset Surf A++ Approved.

Available from:

www.21dayslater.com or

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/mrbproductions1

One California Day Surf DVD Review

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:23:18 +0000

One California Day

What can I say, this is a legendary surf film!

I remember when I first saw an advert for the film in The Surfers Path, and I remember thinking that it looked like it might be a good film. Well it was a good film, in fact it was a great film. But why?

Well for a start its ram packed with legends. The likes of Joel Tudor, Alex Knost, the Malloys, Taylor and many many more, including cameos from Greg Knoll, Skip Frye, Tom Curren etc.. Whilst a film containing just great surfers is reasonably sure to be at the least a good film, its not just the surfers and guests in this film that make it great.

The film runs you down the Californian coast, taking to you to some of the great breaks and beaches including San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Babera, Santa Cruz etc.. and some not quite so well know breaks too. California has such a rich and diverse surf history, shaping many of the great surfers today, and providing the rich history of some of historys greatest surfers and icons.

It combines a tour of california, with a history lesson taking you into the past of surfing styles, board shaping and the culture of California throughout the 50′s, 60′s and onwards. One California Day has a fantastic pace about it that makes it one of those immersing films that you just can’t stop watching, but at the same time makes you want to just go and immediately surf!

Definitely one for the shelf or film repository, and whilst I could go on and on, all that is left to say really, is that this is just one fantastic film, featuring a brilliantly put together soundtrack, which is half the battle of creating a good film.

Absolutely no problems giving this film an A+, recommended watching anytime and time and time again.

Want to watch it now? Well then do it! This film is available through our surf film partner thesurfnetwork.com, click the image below to buy and immediatly download to iTunes in high resolution! What more could you want!

One California Day

Build Worldwide

Released: 2007

Running time: 96:00

File size: 1.10 GB

Format: Widescreen

O’Neill Mutant 5/3 mens wetsuit Review

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:39:52 +0000

O'Neill Mutant 5/3 wetsuit

Well winter is in full swing pretty much, and although the sea has yet to drop a few degree’s its still starting to feel pretty chilly out there. I imagine most people will be looking to the winter suits now, and as with years gone by, the suits available today boast some impressive features / specifications..
The Mutant is no exception to this – its feature packed, and O’Neill have obviously spent time thinking up this suit. I like the modular idea they have, allowing you to either have a hooded or non hooded suit at the flick of a zip!
Putting the suit on via the top entry is pretty easy – the neoprene stretches so much that it’s not too tight, although getting the suit off takes some practice.
Once on the suit feels so very light, almost summer suit light. My initial thoughts were that whilst it was nice and light, it wasn’t going to be able to keep me warm enough – WRONG! A combination of super liquid seams, the top neck seal the O’Neill firewall and good arm and leg seals make the suit virtually water proof. Once in the water I was able to withstand long periods without even thinking about being cold, certainly the warmest suit I have reviewed in the winter to date.
The traditional problem spots on super stretch wetsuits has been the knee pads, but like many other manufacturers, O’Neill have invested time and effort in toughening these up, and whilst only time will tell, initial impressions are that they will last, and are improved over earlier suits.
Because of the top entry and the seal system they have developed there is no anti flush system, but because the neck seal doesnt have any velcro to tighten the suit up, it fits and seals extremely well – flushing wasn’t an issue.
The smooth skin chest did the job, and dispite a freezing northerly wind my core was kept lovely and toasty warm.
Its a very comfortable suit to wear, and for me anatomically fits extremely well, which allows me to concentrate on whats important – surfing, not being cold or getting flushed each time I duck dive.
To date, like for like and in the same price bracket the competition is the Xcel Infiniti – the Xcel has a formidable reputation and our previous reviews on these have testified to the quality of the suit. So how does the Mutant compare with the Infiniti? Well I would certainly say its right up there with it and possibly performance and spec aside the modular aspect of the suit could sway the balance.
The suit certainly lives up to the hype – it’s a superb suit, very warm, very light, and the modular bits make it a very versatile suit. It’s not a cheap suit, but then you get a lot for your money.
Overall I would happily recommend this suit to anyone, O’Neill have been in the wetsuit business for a long long time, and its great to see them continuing to push the boundary’s of wetsuit innovation, the O’Neill brand has become extremely popular, but the Mutant still has its roots very much in pure surfing rather than surviving on just a well known brand.
Completely Sunset Surf recommended – you won’t go far wrong here

Press Release
O’NEILL RELEASE THE MUTANT WITH HOOD
BE PREPARED FOR ANY CHANGE IN CONDITIONS WITH THIS COMPLETELY NEW CATEGORY OF MODULAR SUITS.
This mutated two-headed monster is designed not just to be modular, but is also completely unrestricted, bone dry, Velcro-less, and easy on/off. We have seen the future, and it’s scary. Free-floating Zippers and shoulder Fluid Seam Seals minimize bulk and flush
HIGHLIGHTS:
100% Stretch (70% Ultraflex DS™ / 30% Fluidflex™)
Interior Fluid Seam Weld (100% Sealed)
Patent Pending Modular Closure System
Detachable Crew Neck and Hood Closures
LSD (Lumber Seamless Design)
Firewall Chest and Lumber Panels
Krypto Padz (Ergonomic Neoprene Knee Panel)
External Key Pocket with Loop
FEATURES:
Wind Resistant Smooth Skin: Chest & Back
Strategic Seamless Paddle Zones
Plasma Interior Wrist & Ankle Seams
Glued & Blind-stitched Seams
Style code for 5/4/3mm :2213
Sizes: S-3XL,MS,MT,LS,LT.
SRP: £260.00
Web: www.oneill.com
UK/Eire: +44 (0) 1730 811460
France : 0800 916 652
Germany : +49 (0) 8152 988776
Email: wetsuits.uk@oneill.com

West Pulse Mens 5/4/3 wetsuit Review

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:38:59 +0000

West Pulse 5/4/3 wetsuit

For a lot of people, I think West is probably a bit of an unknown. They are not big in the UK at the moment, although fast picking up pace. The are a big operation in Australia, and are currently pushing their products in the US and the UK market. West are one of the few, perhaphs the only manufacturer to offer a LIFETIME warranty on their suits, which covers any manufacturing defect for the life of the suit. Now we think that has to say something about the confidence they as a manufacturer have in their own suits. The pulse is the budget market of the West suits and at £120 for a Winter suit with a host of features and a lifetime warranty, we would like to know where you can get better for your money! So on paper its all good, but are the suits any good in the water……..
Out the water.
The suit feels thick, possible due to the fact that the majority of suits we have tested have all been 100% superstretch neoprene which does tend to make them lighter. However the suit is really easy to get on with its regular length zip. The fit is nice on the arm and the legs and having superstretch neoprene around the arms makes it a nice flexible suit where you want it.
In the water.
We really were suprised by the pulse. For a suit that has stitched seams and no back-up system, it relies on good fit, good manufacturing and good anatomical shape to work. And work it does! The tester was really suprised at how well the pulse performed. In the water, it kept our tester really warm, the thermal mesh on the chest lining and the flash panels on both chest and back help to keep the cold away from the wearers body. You do feel like you have a thick suit on, but as mentioned above, because the arms are made up of superstretch neoprene it is still nice and flexible. Obviously as you would expect the suit eventually lets a small amount of water through the seams, but in our test situation, this was actually a welcome relief, as the tester was getting really hot! A key point to mention is that although the suit does let minimal water through the seam, with a good fit, its a minor problem as their is no where for the leaking water to go. The wrist and arm cuffs are a good fit and keep water from flushing up through. The knee pads are really thick and touch, and you would expect them to last a long time.
Back out the water.
Out of the water, the suit is so comfy and wind resistant that even with a strong wind you don’t notice the cold. Again with the regular length zip its not a problem getting out of the suit.
Overall.
Well, re-reading the review, we did think we were perhaps singing the praises of this suit a little to much, but then if a suit deserves it, why not? Ok its not got liquid seams and its not 100% superstretch neoprene, but West commented that when they are confident that any technical issues surrounding both of those features are resolved to their satisfaction, they will use them. Look out for that suit! Remember too the price £120! This suit really does live up to the good things we have heard about West products. Its good quality, its a great design, and its a great price. If you want more features the other suit in the West range, the edge, will only set you back £175. Keep your eye on West, we feel that very soon they will be an extrememly strong player in the wetsuit market in the UK.
We are also featuring the pulse in our extended wetsuit review, so remember to keep checking back to see how its lasting.
Press Release
RRP £120

25% Ultraspan
75% Superlight S-neo
Pyrofibre 75% coverage – chest, shoulders, legs and back panels
GBS triple glue and blind stitch
Pre-bent and contoured arm and leg panels
Thermal mesh
Concealed zip and reinforced base
PKK watertight zip
Forte collar closure
Seamless shoulder and underarm panels
Flatlock seams
Heat taped stress areas
Key pocket

Bodyglove Matrix mens 5/4/3 wetsuit Review

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:38:11 +0000

Bodyglove Matrix Mens 5/4/3 wetsuit

A promising suit that is in the middle price bracket.
Out the water.
The suit was anatomically well shaped and fitted in all the right places. It offers a good range of features and the liquid seams sealed the seams well. The cuffs on both the legs and the arms look sturdy and look like they would stand a good test of time. The suit also has the back-up system employed by many of the others, where you have a pull over neck seal which is designed to stop water flushing down the suit, it also has a drain hole at the bottom of the internal back up vest to let water out. The neoprene is super light and soft and well flexible. The suit is really easy and nice to get on especially the troublesome areas – cuffs and ankles.
In the water.
The suit did a reasonable job of keeping our tester warm during a good couple hours of surfing. The suit is extremely flexible and you really dont notice you are wearing a winter suit, this is one of the suits real good points. Its got a good tough pair of knee pads and they are fixed on the suit well. The suit did flush a few times when our tester pulled out of a few waves, but the drain hole in the back-up vest lets the water run out quickly. The wrists let a bit of water in due to their being no specific seals or elasticated o-rings, but the flip side means that you are not restriced in any way. The lack of smooth skin on the back of the suit did mean that after a few hours when the wind got on our testers back it did make it a bit cold. However, this is most likely one of the reasons the suit is so flexible – if your the sort of person who doesnt feel the cold then the advantages of the suits flexability would most likely out weigh the lack of smooth skin panels on the rear.
Back out the water.
The suit was nice and easy to get off, which made changing a no-brainer. And when you got it off you realised what a good job the hollow fibre had actually done in keeping you warm.
Overall.
A nice and flexible suit, stacked full of top of the range features. In practice a few key things for a winter suit like smooth skin panels on the back let the suit down a little. The lack of tight wrist and ankle seals are a mixed bag, on the down side they allow for a small amount of water to seap in, but on the plus side they allow the wrists and the ankles extremely full movement. The hollow fibre provides good comfort and keeps the wearer both dry and warm. At the price its got some stiff competition, but a range of good features help the suit keep it in the running.
Press Release
G-Flex 100% anti snag super-stretch neoprene throughout
SS-1 super-light neoprene throughout
Pre-shaped legs and arms for maximum comfort
Glued and blindstiched construction
Total water barrier with Lycra roll over neck system to totally block out water
New bi-axial heat tape in all areas of the suit for total comfort and durability
G-flex SS1 neoprene, the warmest lightest most flexible neoprene available
Fused kneepads.
This is the top of the range Bodyglove wetsuit, which RRP’s at £210

O’Neill Psycho II Mens 5/4/3 wetsuit Review

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:37:18 +0000

O'Neill Psycho II 5/4/3 wetsuit

The Psycho II has a lot of hype around it. O’Neill wetsuits are widely regarded as extremely good suits, and the Psycho II being their flagship suit ought to mean its a very good suit. When it arrived we were initially very impressed, it really does look the buisness and O’Neill have gone to good lengths to make sure the Psycho II has features to hold it up at the top end of the market. So how did it perform.
Out the water.
The Psycho II is really flexible, and having the dual liquid seams both on the inside and on the outside gives you the impression that its going to keep the water out. Its a back zip entry suit, with a internal back-up rash vest system which is nice and substantial. Its also pretty easy to put on. The only slightly irritating part is due to the amount of velcro on the suit, around the neck area when trying to put the suit on, you find the velcro sticking to every part of the suit! Its only a minor complaint, but in the freezing cold it might be more of a problem. Having said that. how you resolve that issue we are not sure as you need good velcro to make sure the neck area sticks up well.
In the water.
Once on the shape of the suit makes it a really good fit. One area that suits can vary immensly is the buttocks! The Psycho II is probably the best fitting suit around this area we have tried which keeps you really warm. The suit feels like a summer suit in terms of flexability and you can move around with very little restriction. Having the dual liquid seams means you get pretty much no water through the seams, and the back-up internal rash vest system also keeps the water out the top end even when duck diving or wiping out! Having the fleecey lining on the chest also keeps you nice and toasty. The back-up vest makes things a little tight around the neck, but that could be attributed to size and fit. The ankles and writs cuffs are a good fit and dont let any water in the arms or legs of any import.
Back out the water.
Getting the suit off is no problem, as its so stretchy with the super stretch neoprene it slides off nice and easily, and because it lets virtually no water in when your in the water, you are nearly dry when you get it off already, which when your in a bit of a wind is a real comfort as it saves the getting changed chill factor!
Overall.
The suit does live up to its hype to be honest. Its not a particularly cheap suit, but it is built well, and O’Neill have concentrated on important areas to keep the suit performing well, such as the double liquid seams. The suit is not as thick once on as you might hope, and realistically with the stretch you are only getting maybe 4mm instead of 5mm, but the fit, the seams and the anti-flush system serves to counter act this which is probably why the suit is so flexible and still nice and warm.
Press Release
PSYCHO II SERIES
Always pushing for perfection the Psycho II is the overachiever in the O’Neill line up.

Exclusive Stitch less Double Fluid Seam Weld continues to define this series.
Reduced seams and Ultraflex DS for increased performance.
A newly modified Z.E.N. Zip with the Barrier-2 includes an interlock neck seal that pulls over your head creating a flawless, flush free seal.
Also available with the new CODE RED 3-Q Blackout Zip.

• DOUBLE FLUID SEAM WELD
100% waterproof stitch less seams creates insane flexibility.
An O’Neill Exclusive!
• DOUBLE SUPER SEAL NECK
Comfortable smooth skin necks keeps you rash free and dry
• DOUBLE FIREWALL INSULATION
A chest & back thermal lining wicks away moisture keeping you warm
• Z.E.N. ZIP CLOSURE SYSTEM
Now includes a pullover internal neck seal – The Barrier 2
• 100% ULTRAFLEX DS SUPER-STRETCH
Warm, flexible & durable high performance neoprene.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING
Double Fluid Seam Weld is a revolutionary new stichless seam construction that utilizes a non-chafing high grade, silicon-based urethane applied in liquid form to the backside and front side of a glued seam, completely blocking out water without restricting flexibility.
This new stitch less seam technology, combined with our multi-composite
super-stretch neoprene’s make this the most flexible fully sealed suit, O’Neill has ever designed.
AN O’NEILLEXCLUSIVE. PSYCHO II ONLY

Sizes: US: S-3XL,MS,MT,LS,LT,XLS,XLT
RRP for the 5/3mm: £249.95 / €369.00
Web: www.oneill.com
Tell: +44 (0) 1730 811460
Fax: +44 (0) 1730 816302
Email: wetsuits.uk@oneill.com

Snugg Silverback Mens 5/4/3 wetsuit Review

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:36:05 +0000

Snugg Silverback 5/4/3 wetsuit

The Snugg experience! The silverbak is one of the suits we will be doing our long term review on so we will keep you updated as to the performance of the suit and its build quality regularly.
Although Snugg do sell suits off the shelf, when its the same price, you may as well get one custom fitted. As we already mentioned in our pre review comments the most important thing about a wetsuit is its fit. The additional cost for a custom suit is something that you will have to decide for yourself, however we think considering the fact you get a suit that is guaranteed to fit you like a glove the extra is well worth it.
From start to finish – being measured up and receiving the suit took us about 5 working days. The guys at snugg are not new to the business of making wetsuits and can recommend which of their suits would suit you best, depending on where you surf the most, and your style of surfing.
With snugg your taken on an experience, Ok if you go for a custom fit suit, you can’t take it home that day, but the anticipation of waiting for a suit that has been hand made for you exact measurements by people who have been making suits for a long time is comparable to waiting for a present!
When the suit arrived, it was an exciting moment for the Sunset Surf team, as we took it out of its packaging, the fresh small of glue and neoprene soon filled the room. The suit really is a delight to look at, you can see the care that has gone into building the suit, and true to Snugg, it fit our tester perfectly.
Out the water.
Because the suit is such a good fit, it is tricky to get on, but then, whats a few extra minutes putting the suit on, if it will give a lot of extra time in the water. The suit has Aero Zirconium aka internal hollow fibre on the chest area like many of the other suits, but also on the thighs as well. Although the seams are not liquid Snugg tape all the seams, and using the official Sunset Surf hold the arm and blow down it method of testing the seam out the water, proved that taping provides and excellent seal on the seams very nearly if not completely comparable to the liquid seams out the water. The neck has a really nice anti rash system which is so soft around what is a “Snugg” fit around your neck (no pun intended!).
In the water.
Well after putting the suit on, we were almost boiling when we got down to the break. As suspected the suit hardly leaked any water at all through the seams, because the neck is such a tight without being uncomfortable fit, flushing also was negligable. The suit initially rubbed slightly around the arm pit areas, but the did seem to soften up once the suit got wet. The flexability of this suit again is really good, allowing complete free movement. The suit also being one of the 5mm neoprene once on suits, kept our tester really toasty throughout a good 2 hours + surf in some pretty frosty conditions. The thickness of the suit makes up for the lack of flash panels on the rear. And remember this is not Snuggs warmest suit! The suit is really comfy to be in, and you can forget about wearing the suit and concentrate on surfing, which is really the end goal of a wetsuit.
Back out the water.
Again as getting on, the fit made it difficult to get out of quickly, but because you were so warm in it, it was quite a relief to cool down for a bit.
Overall.
With Snugg you do get a lot of suit for your money, but you have to pay a fair amount of money for your suit! Its a whole experience, being fitted up, waiting for the suit, and then getting a suit that you know is the best possible fit for you as an individual. All snugg seams can be re stitched if required as well, so in the unlikely event you have problems, you can take it back to Snugg and they can put them right for you. Overall a really good quality suit, handmade gives it that completely unique feel. We had heard good things about snugg, and the silvabak lived up to them and more. Because of the price of this suit, we have choosen it to be one of our extented wetsuit suits. So make sure you check back regularly to read our updates on how the suit goes through out the season and the coldest bits of winter!
Press Release
The most flexible custom suit available.
The Silverbak has Mega stretch arms,shoulders and lat panels for easy paddling also a mega stretch ‘Y’ flap preventing water entry into back zip.
Aero Zirconium is used in the chest, upper leg and crutch.
Smoothskin anti-rash neck roll.
Mega-stretch shoulder/back panel.
Raw edge wrist seal.
Resin impregnated nylon surface knee pad.
RRP £275

Xcel Infinity Mens 5/4/3 wetsuit Review

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:35:02 +0000

Xcel Infinity 5/4/3 wetsuit

Well, Xcel to those who know needs litle introduction, to those who are not familiar with Xcel they have a very high reputation in the hardcore surfing community as being the best. Along with that reputation, they are also priced to reflect that, coming out among the most expensive suits available. When we got the suit, it did look the buisness, and we think you know where your moneys gone. Nothing on the suit looks like its been spared, the liquid seams are thick and look like they will last a long time. The neoprene is soo stretchy it gives you the impression that its going to be like wearing a summer suit. And with the front zip and internal vest system you think its not going to let much water in.
Out the water.
Getting in the suit is initially slightly testing as its a top entry suit, but once you have the hang of it, its not really an issue at all. The super stretch neoprene make the suit slide on nice and easy. It feels like a durable suit, everything from the cuffs to the knee pads seep quality.
In the water.
Once in, you dont know that you are in cold water. The suit withheld any water penetration at all for quite some time The wrist and ankle cuffs are just cut neoprene but the size makes for a tight fit – which is all good as it keeps the water out. This suit was the warmest we have tested, it was almost too warm for this time of year! Unlikely that we would be saying that if it were March. With the Infinity you get 5mm when on rather than the 5mm when the suit is on the hanger approach some manufacturers seem to go by. The only small downside is around the neck area, because of the pull over front zip it does create quite a lot of tension around the shoulders and arms, which does reduce flexabilty a small amount.
Back out the water.
Again, the top entry system takes a while to get the knack of, but once you have it sussed getting the suit off isn’t a problem. Its actually a relief to get the suit off as going from the water to wherever you are changing you build up quite a sweat!
Overall.
The Xcel suit hasn’t got a hardcore surfer following for no reason. The suit is extremely well built in every area. The neoprene is so thick that it will keep you warm in the coldest of days. Its not a cheap suit, so you would want it to last and its for this reason that the Xcel is one of the suits that is featuring in the Sunset Surf Extended Wetsuit test.

Press Release
Description
The Infiniti incorporates its X-ZIP 2 System and the latest in sealed stretch seam technology with its Synergy S-Seal Seams and 100% snag resistant 300% PLUS stretch Ultraspan Superlight neoprene. Engineered Fit with Less Seams
Construction
Quadruple glued seams with S-Seal bonding over blindstitching on the inside. Pressure Bonded tape on the lower body, legs and hood.