That’s the suit that I tried, and the difference is palpable, mostly in the shoulder area when paddling, but by no means performance-hindering.
However, it seems the Hyperfreak Fire only comes in “4/3+” which has an extra half millimeter of neoprene, making it a 4.5/3.5. the TB4 lining provides steamer-level warmth without the weight and stiffness that some thicker linings have, and the medium fit me great. The neoprene on this suit is awesome – while it isn’t quite as stretchy as Rip Curl’s E7, above, or the Quiksilver, below, it’s super flexible and feels a bit more capable of taking a beating. The O’Neill Hyperfreak Fire is a new wetsuit O’Neill is debuting this winter season, elevating its popular Hyperfreak with a new Technobutter 4 lining designed for increased stretch and warmth, as well as liquid seam sealing on the outside of the suit. 5mm of neoprene, key pocket on right calf. Sustainability: Recycled lining and use of oyster shells/eco carbon black in neoprene.įeatures: Extra. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice Warmest Wetsuit/Best Steamer The O’Neill Hyperfreak Fire clocked in as the pound-for-pound warmest suit included in this test, according to the author. If you want to shell out a little less cash for similar quality, the E6 is also a great solution and more widely available (find it on Backcountry and Amazon).Ĭheck Price on Cleanline Surf Check 3/2 Price on Amazon If warmth is less of a priority for you than high performance, I’d suggest looking at the suits from Manera and Quiksilver, below. I just didn’t test it.) It was also a decent bit heavier than other stretchy/high performance suits I tried (3.54 lbs to the Quik Highline’s 3.03), which speaks to its warmth. (That said, there is a chest-zip version available. And if you’re a fan of zippers, this suit doesn’t have any. This suit clocks in at $520 for a 4/3 without a hood, making it the most expensive wetsuit on this list.
This wetsuit is a crossover steamer/high-performance suit, with steamer level warmth and the stretch (but not the lightness) of a high-performance suit. I wouldn’t be surprised if the optimized fit was a byproduct of Rip Curl’s super stretch. The fit was surprisingly good – laid flat the suit looked somewhat boxy (which usually doesn’t bode well for my lanky frame), but it fit like a glove. While sitting in the lineup, I noticed it wasn’t quite as warm as the O’Neill Hyperfreak Fire. However, that doesn’t do much while waiting for waves. The lining is said to generate heat while you paddle, which I’m pretty sure I could actually feel. Pulling it on for the first time was an experience in luxury, with a super-cozy fleece lining throughout the entire suit, and very stretchy neoprene.
#SBART WETSUIT FULL#
Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice Best Overall Wetsuitįeatures: Full fuzz lining, zip-free entry, key pocket on left calf. The Rip Curl E7 Flashbomb Heatseeker ranked as the best all-around wetsuit. Want to avoid getting your ears drilled? Read our earplugs review here.
Read our review of women’s wetsuits here. Most Durable Wetsuits: Manera X10D/ Dakine Cycloneįor booties, check out our guide to the best booties. Warmest Wetsuit/Steamer (Value Option): Vissla North Seas Most Sustainable Wetsuit: Patagonia R-Series Warmest Wetsuit/Best Steamer: O’Neill Hyperfreak Fireīest High-Performance (Stretchiest) Wetsuit: Quiksilver Highline The Best Wetsuits for Surfing of 2023īest All-Around Best Wetsuit: Rip Curl E7 Heatseeker Flashbomb Read on for our top picks, and scroll to the bottom of the article for info on how we tested, as well as buying advice. I asked the top wetsuit makers in the biz to send me their warmest and stretchiest 4/3 wetsuit (no manufacturer paid for placement in this review), and I put them all to the test in the chilly waters at my home break of Ocean Beach, San Francisco. They’ve even come a long way in the past couple years as new technologies and stretchier, eco-friendly materials have become a priority for wetsuit manufacturers.Īfter a couple of hard years of supply chain disruptions wreaking havoc on the wetsuit supply, the time was finally right for a full-blown, no-bs, apples-to-apples wetsuit test. Wetsuits have come a long way since they replaced the wool sweater in the 1950s and ’60s as an inventive way for surfers to keep warm in cold water.
0 kommentar(er)
