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Best wetsuit?

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 10:11 am
by cow
is it ripcurl?

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 10:12 am
by Dr Rev
Billa Bong !


Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 10:16 am
by cow
Rev. S Boy wrote:Billa Bong !

sure?
Re: Best wetsuit?

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 10:19 am
by drowningbitbybit
cow wrote:is it ripcurl?
No. RipCurl rip.
The seams have been made very poorly over the last few years (something to do with them using wetsuit glue which doesnt like heat) so they fall apart.
If anyone wants to disagree then come and look at my ripcurl wetsuits (I have two... both fleshed)


Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 10:26 am
by Dr Rev
cow wrote:Rev. S Boy wrote:Billa Bong !

sure?
Yep, i have my Oscilator suit for two years, no problems !

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 10:38 am
by FiLo
billabong foil
and o'neill

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 10:54 am
by pault
Yeah my O'Neill wintersuit has been given a real beating by me and it's still in good nick.

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 12:02 pm
by Bewilderbeast
Rev. S Boy wrote:cow wrote:Rev. S Boy wrote:Billa Bong !

sure?
Yep, i have my Oscilator suit for two years, no problems !
Couldn't agree more!
I've got two 3/2 foils and a 5/4 Solutions. No problems so far and they've all see a lot of use!

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 12:07 pm
by soops
My cheapy gul 3/2 full length is doing ok so far and it was a bargain but hasn't been used that much yet
My shorty o'neil has had much more of a battering and is still in great nick

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 12:11 pm
by Phil
best suit is the one that fits the best.
pointless having a £270 wetsuit if it doesnt fit and flushes out
but stay well away from rip curl they are utter xxxxx

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 12:44 pm
by Bewilderbeast
Phil wrote:best suit is the one that fits the best.
pointless having a £270 wetsuit if it doesnt fit and flushes out
but stay well away from rip curl they are utter xxxxx
Yep, it does all boil down to the fit.
Do what I did and get yourself round the shops and try a load of suits from different manufacturers and find the one which fits the best. Or get one tailor made from someone like snugg, doesn't cost that much extra really.
Oh, and ripcurl suits really do suck


Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 1:25 pm
by Driftingalong
Phil wrote:best suit is the one that fits the best.
Very true, but I would add in that it's got to last as well.
I haven't tried a lot of different brands, but I do really like XCel and O'Neill.

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 2:00 pm
by Johno
I have got to diss agree with every one I,ve got a ripcurl 3/5 classic its fits like a glove is very comfy and keeps me tosty warm, an only £80 in the sale.
The seams are also guranteed for 2 years

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 2:24 pm
by drowningbitbybit
Johno wrote:I have got to diss agree with every one I,ve got a ripcurl 3/5 classic its fits like a glove is very comfy and keeps me tosty warm, an only £80 in the sale.
The seams are also guranteed for 2 years
And how often have you used it? A good wetsuit should last a couple of years of almost daily use. RippedCurl dont.
And as for the guarantee, Ive used it, and it was repaired - but I was without my winter wetsuit for over a month. Not ideal.
I wont be buying RippedCurl ever again.

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 2:45 pm
by libby
Yep with everyone else on the crapness of ripcurl suits, Brents used to rip all the time, they always repaired it but thats not really the point, they should be made to last in the first place...
I have a gul 5/3, cheap but does the trick, an O'neil 5/3 which i've been really impressed with, a West 3/2 which is good but has stretched too much and a bodyline spring suit which is ace.

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 6:43 pm
by Surfing-Innovation
Fit is THE most important thing - it's a pain in the arse if you're tall and skinny, because nothing seems to fit that well!!
My O'Neill 3/2 (bought at the end of summer - bargain at £90) is a MS - so it's a bit short on the legs, but that's no biggie in the summer - it fits great everywhere else and has lasted the last 2 years without any problems!
My relatively new 6/4 Billabong Solution Gold is a size S - tight as hell to get into, but super snug fit once on - BUT - the seams are already coming away in a few small places (after only a couple of months use), so although it's really warm, it isn't going to last the pace. Thankfully, I got it from the States, so it was less than half what they go for over here......
My old winter Gul didn't fit well and was bloody cold!! My old summer O'Neill fitted nicely and lasted well.....
You pays your money and all that .................

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 7:08 pm
by Otter
Id' go O'Neill, Boz or West myself. I've got an O'Neill Heat 4/3 and an O'Neill Hammer 3/2. Both work great. I've used O'Neill exclusively since, well for a long time, and I've always been pleased. My bud has an Excel he's extremely fond of, and I know folks with Boz that swear by them, as well as the West brand.
Make sure it's a proper fit, otherwise, might as well trunk it...

Posted:
Fri May 11, 2007 7:49 pm
by bluesnowcone
personaly i dont mind what wetsuit it is aslong as it will last me at least 2 years and still keep me warm

Posted:
Sat May 12, 2007 2:50 am
by Broosta
I've had 2 Gull suits that were fine back in the day.
1 Spartan - ok I spose back then.
4 O'neills that were good, but the last one was not quite a perfect fit for me - slightly too long, but all were well made.
1 Qicksilver that was good for fit and build quality.
3 Rip Curls, 1 was replaced free cos seams went (1st version Elasto), the replacement(2nd version) went same way after 1 year but they refused to replace again, and the other was a Classic which lasted 3-4yrs no probs - all really good fits for me.
2 Xcels, still got and using, fits are perfect and build quality so far so good after 1yr for 1, and 6 months the other.


Posted:
Sat May 12, 2007 12:49 pm
by Laguna
Xcel Infinity hands down