Experiences with the higher end / expensive wetsuit brands

[mightyrime]

I have used Oneill for the past 6 years. I love the fit. A mens Large fits just right. But i have had so many problems past couple years with the quality. My 3/2 hyperfreak is 6 months old and the seams are leaking everywhere. My 4/3 epic same problems. The psycho suit i had before I got 1 season out of.

Anyway its not much mor money for the higher end brands like matuse / isurus... etc..

Who uses the top dollar stuff and does it last the much longer? I would like to get 2 solid seasons out of a suit before it leaks... is that unreasonable?

 

[jvri]

Feral.

 

[lashSD]

One word, Feral. Have had 2 4/3's for NorCal temps before moving down here. The first kept me toasty for about 2 years before starting to go out in the knees, but was still comfy enough to wear until I cut it down to a short john. Keep in mind we're talking wearing a 4/3 10 months out of the year, 4+ days a week. Still use the second any time I go north of Point Conception. Have 2 winters in the 3/2 I bought when I moved down here, and plan to wear it through this coming winter with zero qualms. They are definitely more of a pain to get out of than the cheapo rubber. Still worth it IMO

 

[LogFeliz]

7Till8 - once you go custom, you never go back. You might go back to them for free repairs, but you probably won't have to.

 

[cuda]

if it's not that cold where you surf, buy mid range big brands like RC, Xcel and O'Neill during the off season on sale. They are all decent and last a couple to 3 seasons which is about the same as the artisanal suits. If you have to wear a 5/4 or more then it's a different ballgame.

Feral is definitely good but lacks smooth skin so air temp and wind can be issues on some days. They are on par with Matuse. Isurus are pretty sweet but imo have priced themselves out of the everyman market. My O'Neill with the pyropsychobubber is justas, if not more stretchy and warm as any Isurus. Patta up to r3 are great. I find the cold water suits to be a bit too heavy and bulky.. Great warrantees though

 

[ccsurfer]

Bought a 3/2 Matuse Dante last season and within a couple months had to send it back for some leaky seams. I take pretty good care of my suits so I was not stoked, especially for the price (it's their cheapest suit at $325). It's comfortable once its on, but the entry system is way overcomplicated with no noticeable advantages. My friend bought one of their more expensive suits around the same time and is pretty happy. Personally, I had better luck with mid-tier suits from Vissla and Ripcurl. Still have yet to try Feral, which seems to be a favorite among many.

 

[pepperedolives]

Moonsuits are totally the way to go if you want a custom. Can’t recommend them enough, it’s night and day. Especially if you have a body type that doesn’t fit the standard sizes like me (super tall and lanky), it’s worth the money.

 

[Hatin2perl]

There are few threads that exist on similar topics. Below is an example in case you are curious.

Wetsuits not made to last! Anyone else experiencing this more now than in the past?

I have a psycho 1 techno better wetsuit. I clean it out every session with fresh water. I blow dry it with a homemade PVC piping System with a blow shop vac. All this care and after just one year the chest panel is coming apart!

jamboards.com

Isurus is super expensive, but they lasted significantly longer than 1-2 years. And their customer service is more than fair in my view. Ultimately I do think for the pre-cut wetsuits, how it fits and molds to your body is one of the major factors in my view.

 

[Oldmanparker]

7Till8 - once you go custom, you never go back. You might go back to them for free repairs, but you probably won't have to.

Until they cut it incorrectly. They offer free alterations but now you have a cut up suit. You can take material away but can’t add it. My cut up suit leaks. The other one made too tight I’m afraid to have altered.

O’Neil psycho freak and top end I feel are made to be disposable after a season.

 

[Oldmanparker]

Going to try ryo and isurus