Gallery
Nep status
Reged: 06/08/10
Posts: 629
Loc: Monmouth Co., NJ
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Glad my 4/3 drylock has stretched a bit - it was tight the first couple of sessions.
had to use my new 4/3 drylock yesterday. fuk that suit is stiff the first time out. or it just isn't soft like the xzips. SO much prefer my Flashbomb. it's way more comfy. but fell weird on x-mass eve and the fin on my board cut my forearm. have to send the suit to get repaired. in the meantime using the 4/3 drylock and not liking it. the neck on it sucks compared to the Flashbomb. there's no way in hell Xcel should win "wetsuit of the year" anymore.
I absolutely hated mine the first couple of sessions. It loosens up a bunch. I now love it!
you'd probably love a Flashbomb better. have had many xcels in the past and i'm bumbed having to wear my drylock now. dry time plus comfyness of the flashbomb is rad.
How would you compare the seal of the Flash Bomb to the Drylock? Does the FB leak in any more water around the wrists/ankles without the Drylock seals?
same, just as good, if not better as the drylock in the wrist, ankles, neck, and zipper. saturday & sunday switching between both what really stood out to me is the difference between each suit's neck. the Drylock is cut lower and the material is a lot harsher (slick skin i think). i was getting kind of a neck rash on the drylock. where the Flashbomb neck is taller or higher and very comfy. too things with the Flashbomb that are issues or could be issues are 1) the zipper (the direction to close is annoying) and 2) the taped seams. so far no problems but it's new construction method and only long term time will tell how good they are.
Thanks. I'm considering the Flash Bomb or Drylock as a replacement for my 5/4 so the neck wont really be an issue with the hood, but that's good to know. More concerned about 40 degree water flushing in the wrists/ankles and seams. There must be a leak in the seam on my Hyperflex 5/4 because I get a trickle of ball numbing water in the crotchal region before my body can heat up the layer of insulating moisture between my skin and the suit. The wrists and ankles on that suit also allow a fair amount of flush.
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Gallery Blog
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seacow
Legend (inyourownmind)
Reged: 04/17/06
Posts: 242
Loc: NY
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Anyone use the Patagonia R3 Hooded? What temps were you comfortable down to?
Sounds like most people are getting hot in the R4 and I have a new 6 mil in good shape for the coldest of days.
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heelnipstr
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 07/29/09
Posts: 1448
Loc: Southern Tip, Norcal
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Quote:
Anyone use the Patagonia R3 Hooded? What temps were you comfortable down to?
Sounds like most people are getting hot in the R4 and I have a new 6 mil in good shape for the coldest of days.
have a R3 hooded- hard to say how much it can handle. if it is sunny and 54 plus it is too warm.
when it was new(seams didn't leak) I would guess high 40's it would be fine. after 1 year seams around the knees and 1 armpit leak right through when they get wet, another significant leak in the crotch.
after 15 minutes in the water the suit warms up and I can stay in 51 degree water 2-3 hrs without getting significantly cold.
it was once returned for repairs, not sure if I will send it in again.
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"Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business."
- Tom Robbins
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OBkook
Grom
Reged: 05/01/11
Posts: 125
Loc: Ocean Beach
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Better 4/3: Buell or Drylock?
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best funeral ever
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fdb_23
Nep status
Reged: 06/08/10
Posts: 825
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Buell 4/3- very comfortable suit, not extremely warm
Drylock- stiff and bulky, warm
Buell- will fall apart and get holes in it within 6 months
Drylock- learn to love the smell of your own piss 
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rid
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 11/20/08
Posts: 1068
Loc: Long Beach, CA
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In avoiding the smell, the key is a hangair system/using a fan to dry the suit. washing helps too but getting it to dry helps a lot more. the same goes for booties.
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donniedarko
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 07/26/04
Posts: 2003
Loc: The Coast
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Quote:
In avoiding the smell, the key is a hangair system/using a fan to dry the suit. washing helps too but getting it to dry helps a lot more. the same goes for booties.
+1 best 67 bucks I ever spent
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face the mirror...
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retodd
Tom Curren status
Reged: 02/22/09
Posts: 11187
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Quote:
Better 4/3: Buell or Drylock?
buell
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prjwebb
Nep status
Reged: 02/13/11
Posts: 897
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Buell 4/3 is pretty warm. I wore mine from April in the uk right through until December when water temps hit 12.C. Not sure what that is in F, but due to a couple of small leaks it was feeling cold. Itll get me through next Spring/Summer and Fall though and I'll prob pick up a new Buell 3/2 for prime time summer.
Xcel are warm suits but they are stiff and take days to dry, and therefore stink. I can dry my 5/4 Buell hung in the shower, almost completely, over night.
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seacow
Legend (inyourownmind)
Reged: 04/17/06
Posts: 242
Loc: NY
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Thanks heel,
What year did you get your suit? i hate leaky suits so im not liking the sounds of this. Hopefully they have improved this on the newer suits.
I tried on the Medium in a shop and that merino lining felt pretty nice but the sizing was off.
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freaknut101
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 11/24/05
Posts: 2299
Loc: CA
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Quote:
I tried on the Medium in a shop and that merino lining felt pretty nice but the sizing was off.
sc, if the sizing is off i'd think twice about picking one up. i loved mine but the sizing was a touch off. got the worst rash from it- knees, armpits, neck, etc. i really did like it otherwise and wish it fit
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email: saltwaterplayground@yahoo.com
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VaB
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1638
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
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pata suits leak.
Call the store and ask them. they will tell you. I called.
r3 is a 4/3. a hooded 4/3 but a 4/3. will not handle ny well.
I have an exel. it is very warm but a little stiff. bought a flash bomb and it feel softer but have not surfed it yet.
Also bought a zero, not as soft as sgx but still soft. prob about the same as 4/3 flash bomb.
Haven't used that one either. No surf and travel for holidays..
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silentbutdeadly
Tom Curren status
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 11627
Loc: Tower 13
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Talked to a buddy in the water today that bought an Xcel xzip comp this year and he loves it. Even prefaced it with "I'm trying to say this without sounding like an Xcel commercial"
Anyway, he said very minimal flushing, as stretchy as an Xzip and just as warm as his drylock. Those were his words. He's sold.
He's owned Oneil's, Xcel's and two Patagonias since I've known him.
Looks like I'll be keeping an eye out on Whiskey next summer.
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Thou shall not commit adulthood
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stu dog
Duke status
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 21705
Loc: CA
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Quote:
Talked to a buddy in the water today that bought an Xcel xzip comp this year and he loves it. Even prefaced it with "I'm trying to say this without sounding like an Xcel commercial"
Anyway, he said very minimal flushing, as stretchy as an Xzip and just as warm as his drylock. Those were his words. He's sold.
He's owned Oneil's, Xcel's and two Patagonias since I've known him.
Looks like I'll be keeping an eye out on Whiskey next summer.
doubt whiskey will have them. might be too much of a specialty suit? seems like they have three suits: high, medium, low. the xzip2 falls into that 4th range. unless xcel discontinued the plain old xzip this year  the xzip2 looks to be a rad suit. drylock zipper for zero leakage, same liner, but the stretchy comfortable rubber. i was just concerned whether a 4/3 would be warm enough for socal. guess for most of the time it will be except on those couple weeks per year of upwelling or those early april or may south swells when the water is cold and the lulls are long.
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rice
Duke status
Reged: 07/02/02
Posts: 17773
Loc: CA
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I wanted one but couldn't find one around here and had to get another 4/3 drylock.
The comp looks killer. Only drawback would be a bit less warmth when it's windy, but minors.
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silentbutdeadly
Tom Curren status
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 11627
Loc: Tower 13
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He said every bit as warm as his drylock but yeah I guess you would find out quickly how much the smooth skin makes a difference.
If I was on the Central coast I would want the warmest suit possible.
I guess all relative. I am seeing more attached hood fullsuits down here which puzzles me but what can you do?
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Thou shall not commit adulthood
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rice
Duke status
Reged: 07/02/02
Posts: 17773
Loc: CA
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I had a few smoothie-less 4/3's in Santa Cruz and was fine. My new Drylock is toasty.
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silentbutdeadly
Tom Curren status
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 11627
Loc: Tower 13
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I was just watching the wetsuit videos for this year and they said they are using a new outer fiber that dries faster is this true for those that have this years drylocks?
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Thou shall not commit adulthood
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rice
Duke status
Reged: 07/02/02
Posts: 17773
Loc: CA
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I have the new model and the arm has text saying as much, but I don't really know...?
I rinse it and hang it in a tree, inside out. It's (exterior) definitely not dry for a second session on the same day. Pretty dry by the next morning, though.
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littlewave
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 11/15/09
Posts: 1223
Loc: Orange County
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Buell update:
Had my buell since february, so the end of winter/spring was all I wore it for. Pulled it out recently and found that the magnetic closure on it corroded or something so that one of the magnets no longer worked. I called up Buell and they said to send it up for repair. I also needed the key pocket fixed as the zipper was stuck, and some of the tape on the inside of the wrists and heels was coming undone as well.
So a week later the suit is back and I think, awesome, what a fast turn around!
So imagine my surprise when I pull the suit out to check what they did, and I find that they cut out/off both of the magnets, and cut off the tape that needed to be reglued on the wrist and ankles. They did fix the zipper though.
I just called up and was told that I didn't need the magnet so that's why they cut it off. If that was the case, they could have saved me the hassle and expense of shipping it up there and I would have done it myself, and the same with the tape. And why have the magnet in the first place if it's not needed. And now I can't even glue the tape back down myself as it's been cut off.
Pretty frustrating experience. Although I still like the suit itself, not sure I would recommend them as of now.
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indodreams
Legend (inyourownmind)
Reged: 03/25/11
Posts: 298
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When not in Indo live in victoria Australia.(summer here now)
Winter just gone got a 5/3 E bomb best suit i ever had, super warm and super comfy, now back in my few years old top range billabong 3/2 as waters to warm for 5/3 and to be honest there is not much difference in flexabilty, perhaps there is warmer wetsuits and suits that last longer but i think rip curl are far ahead in flexabilty.
BTW. bought suit online from UK as prices for wetsuits in US and Europe are a fraction of the price as in Aussie where we truely get ripped off.
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stu dog
Duke status
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 21705
Loc: CA
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Quote:
I have the new model and the arm has text saying as much, but I don't really know...?
I rinse it and hang it in a tree, inside out. It's (exterior) definitely not dry for a second session on the same day. Pretty dry by the next morning, though.
the "water repellent fiber" it's on last year's drylock too. i find it neither water repellent or helps with dry time. seen a few guys with oneil's in the lineup where water is beading off the suit. way more repellent than the drylock. Still the drylock takes a long time to dry just the inside which is tougher than the outside. with winter sessions I don't get much chance to hang them in the sun. last night it took over 4 hours to dry the inside of the suit with a space heater aimed directly at the suit. without doing that the inside of the suit wouldn't dry overnight.
Edited by stu dog (01/01/12 07:15 AM)
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c_olden
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 3182
Loc: (48°52.6′S 123°23.6̸...
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First session today with my new Isurus i-Evade 434.
As light and flexible as my faithful old Matuse 4/3,
but a good deal warmer.
Second skin tight, so a bit of a struggle to get in and
out of.(chest zip with hood)
Water temp was 53 today, with a fair bit of wind; but
I stayed nice n toasty.
Probably too much suit for SoCal, but for Winter & Spring
here in NorCal it definitely works.
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"The phone's for you. I think it's the Devil..."
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obelix
Grom
Reged: 09/11/08
Posts: 77
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Any owners of Boz suits out there able to give an update on how their recent suits are?
All reviews I've found are a few years old now, although they do have a pretty good reputation.
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San Gabriel Valley local
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 11/14/02
Posts: 1885
Loc: San Gabriel Valley, CA
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My Boz wetsuits are holding up very well...I'm on my 3rd season with my Thermoboss Comp and it's as warm as it was when I first got it. The external stitching is coming undone in a couple spots but I glued it down and it's no biggie.
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Coque
Miki Dora status
Reged: 08/18/04
Posts: 3709
Loc: Vigo, Galiza, Europe
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Any of you guys can tell me how's the sizing on West suits compared to Billabong's?
I just dropped 42 lbs and a Billabong MT fits me perfect now and i have a really good deal on West suits.
Coque.
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www.worldprosurfers.com
Chano Ailans quiver:5'9 Basura Buceador,5'11 Vato Flyer,6'3 Pinche Photon
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jkb
Nep status
Reged: 02/21/05
Posts: 899
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Quote:
First session today with my new Isurus i-Evade 434.
As light and flexible as my faithful old Matuse 4/3,
but a good deal warmer.
Second skin tight, so a bit of a struggle to get in and
out of.(chest zip with hood)
Water temp was 53 today, with a fair bit of wind; but
I stayed nice n toasty.
Probably too much suit for SoCal, but for Winter & Spring
here in NorCal it definitely works.
What do you think makes the Isurus warmer than the Matuse? To me, the construction seems similar between both suits. How does the Isurus compare to other wetsuit brands (warmth wise) that you've owned?
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c_olden
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 3182
Loc: (48°52.6′S 123°23.6̸...
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Despite being just a hair heavier than the Matuse(my Matuse doesn't have
a hood), the Isurus rubber seems thicker in the torso sections.(both suits are 4/3s)
Neither the Isurus nor the Matuse have an interior lining like the
Xcel Infiniti Drylock and Oneill PsychoFreak2 that I have, but both are
at least as warm as the Xcel and Oneill.(and none of them smell like
cat piss like the Xcel!)
The Isurus and Matuse do not soak up water, and both dry quick. The Oneill and Xcel take a loooong time to dry.
The cut of the Isurus makes it easier to paddle in than the Xcel and Oneill.
Like I said before, the Isurus really fits like a second skin, so initially it's
a bit of a struggle to get into, but once it's on it isn't binding anywhere.
If you're a cool(mid-low 50's) to cold water surfer, check out an Isurus.
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"The phone's for you. I think it's the Devil..."
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lorcar
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 11/20/08
Posts: 996
Loc: flatMed
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Quote:
Any of you guys can tell me how's the sizing on West suits compared to Billabong's?
better to try, as their fit is really weird. I have M with Xcel/Ripcurl/Oneill, but MS with West. Reading this thread though I think someone went a size up instead, so it's
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VaB
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1638
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
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Quote:
Quote:
Any of you guys can tell me how's the sizing on West suits compared to Billabong's?
better to try, as their fit is really weird. I have M with Xcel/Ripcurl/Oneill, but MS with West. Reading this thread though I think someone went a size up instead, so it's
second that. I tried on a west two years ago. Odd fit. I was an xl in xcel and an xxl in west.
need to try those on.
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YakAK
Grom
Reged: 02/22/10
Posts: 59
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If you cold buy ANY suit for chilly 42 degree water. What would you choose? I own an Excel that is now shot. I am thinking about trying something different maybe along the lines of limestone rubber.
Thanks all
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retodd
Tom Curren status
Reged: 02/22/09
Posts: 11187
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Custom Japanese suit
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YakAK
Grom
Reged: 02/22/10
Posts: 59
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"custom Japanese suit"
By who?
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stu dog
Duke status
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 21705
Loc: CA
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Quote:
"custom Japanese suit"
By who?
http://cybersuits.us/contents/infomation/61.html
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retodd
Tom Curren status
Reged: 02/22/09
Posts: 11187
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Axxe , can order through Patagonia
Cyber , Reunion , and Elem are here in Orange county
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rid
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 11/20/08
Posts: 1068
Loc: Long Beach, CA
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Reunion
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feralseppo
Nep status
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 574
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Quote:
Reunion
Looking Good
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rid
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 11/20/08
Posts: 1068
Loc: Long Beach, CA
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jkb
Nep status
Reged: 02/21/05
Posts: 899
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Quote:
Despite being just a hair heavier than the Matuse(my Matuse doesn't have
a hood), the Isurus rubber seems thicker in the torso sections.(both suits are 4/3s)
Neither the Isurus nor the Matuse have an interior lining like the
Xcel Infiniti Drylock and Oneill PsychoFreak2 that I have, but both are
at least as warm as the Xcel and Oneill.(and none of them smell like
cat piss like the Xcel!)
The Isurus and Matuse do not soak up water, and both dry quick. The Oneill and Xcel take a loooong time to dry.
The cut of the Isurus makes it easier to paddle in than the Xcel and Oneill.
Like I said before, the Isurus really fits like a second skin, so initially it's
a bit of a struggle to get into, but once it's on it isn't binding anywhere.
If you're a cool(mid-low 50's) to cold water surfer, check out an Isurus.
Thanks 
The wind always felt like it cut through my Matuse pretty easily. Not sure if you ever felt that, but do you feel the wind in your Isurus any degree more than your Xcel or Oneill?
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quilldogg
Grom
Reged: 12/04/10
Posts: 10
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Found a 5/4 hurley phantom hooded that was used twice on craigslist for 100 bucks. I was never really aboard the hurley wetsuit train, but this suit was too good of a deal. plus i researched it and some people were selling the 3/3 versions for around 700 bucks. Fits perfect and keeps me so warm up here in san francisco. Its got a wool-like lining on most of the suit and then yanamoto neoprene on the critical stretch areas. Its my first 5/4 and really after the first few sessions i feel pretty used to it, besides the hood, dont think ill ever get used to that. if anyone has anymore info on these im curious because i couldnt find any on this model. But hey i cant complain, so far i love the suit
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