Latest on wetsuits.....

Brilliant sustainability from Ripcurl.

https://www.ripcurl.com/au/explore/recycle-your-wetsuit.html?utm_source=...

donweather wrote:

Brilliant sustainability from Ripcurl.

https://www.ripcurl.com/au/explore/recycle-your-wetsuit.html?utm_source=...

Wow, that’s an excellent move

yeah, I was hoping there might be a little cash-back deal.

asking too much.

My 2020 Dawn Patrol is just about cactus.

Its a good thing, I have looking for ages to find somewhere that will do this.

Agreed, a little cash sweetner or a voucher for ?% off your next suit would give it a bit more traction imo.

Still, a great initiative.

Sorry why would ripcurl give away sweeteners for this? It’s costing them money as it is for return postage.

Surely the benefit to the environment is the sweetener here for all of us? What else am I missing here?

Same scheme operates out of Coles and Woolworths supermarkets with clean soft plastic. Drop off bins are prominently located out the front.

What with the two compost bins in our garden and recycling bin (council) we could probably go 6 plus months before we would need to use the council’s hard rubbish bin and even then it would be 1/2 empty.

Redcycle for soft plastics do good work. Terracycle (Ripcurl partners with this) have been around a while but haven't had the "shop front" presence. I'd be happy to pay a nominal amount to stop it all ending up in landfill.

donweather wrote:

Sorry why would ripcurl give away sweeteners for this? It’s costing them money as it is for return postage.

Surely the benefit to the environment is the sweetener here for all of us? What else am I missing here?

Those wetties need to be replaced irrespective of the cost of posting them back to RC. If they can get the sender back into a Ripcurl suit rather than a competitor then it's more than worth it for them.

I'd just feel better about it if they could assure me that my beloved suit, which served me so well, doesn't get recycled into a yoga mat for SUP riders.

Thats what I reckon Zen.

I'm brand agnostic but if Rip Curl gave me a %-off when I recycled the suit I'd be a customer for life.

https://coastlineswetsuits.com.au/collections/mens-wetsuits/products/cla...

Udo buyer beware of Coastlines wetsuits....recently bought a 3-2 premium and a 4-3 premium .......both have torn in the neck seal and the 4-3 hadnt even been tried on...sent it back but still havent heard anything...would have sent the 3-2 back cause it had gone in the same spot...shit rubber.....but i had already cut the arms back so i couldnt......looking at that photo above and looks like the one the model is wearing is tearing in the same spot....rubbish

Be careful what you put your name to rabs

Grabbed a Project Blank 3/2 steamer on special recently as a backup to the other backups. I think it was $170 or so delivered, internal taping, recycled lining?
Had a few go outs in 12-13C water (northern Tas).
Pretty impressed at how toasty it is, no leaks although I did get a flush getting under a set the other day.
Build quality seems on par with Needs which I have never had any issues with.
Neoprene seems pretty light compared to the Needs equivalent. Dunno how it'll fare in the longevity stakes, time will tell.
Check their size chart if you're going there. I went a size up on Needs.
I'll grab one of their LS yulex springys if the price is right ...backup for backup.
Can't fault for the price.

With those coastlines wetties not one shot of the internal lining. I reckon you get what you pay for.

simba wrote:

Udo buyer beware of Coastlines wetsuits....recently bought a 3-2 premium and a 4-3 premium .......both have torn in the neck seal and the 4-3 hadnt even been tried on...sent it back but still havent heard anything...would have sent the 3-2 back cause it had gone in the same spot...shit rubber.....but i had already cut the arms back so i couldnt......looking at that photo above and looks like the one the model is wearing is tearing in the same spot....rubbish

I can not believe no one picked up on that tear. Oh my.

How embarrassing for Bugs, looks like a used car salesman.

https://www.thecoastline-magazine.com/magazine/ben-kennedy-coastlines-we...'s%20behind%20the%20name%20Coastlines%3F

Pretty sure Stu Hawkins started Coastlines back in the 80s in Mount Maunganui in NZ. A fair bit of rubbish in that article

You thinking of Bodyline wetsuits ?

Na not them. But they came from the Mount too. Stu's son works at Rip Curl these days

https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.au/collections/sale/products/mens-...

Looking at a second hand Patagonia R1 steamer.
85% Yulex, 15% synthetic rubber.
What was the final word on warmth vs flexibility vs durability??

$200

Yulex is fine for warmth. Flexibility is good enough for me. Durability so far is on par with limestone neo.

Thanks Blackers, appreciate it.

AndyM wrote:

Looking at a second hand Patagonia R1 steamer.
85% Yulex, 15% synthetic rubber.
What was the final word on warmth vs flexibility vs durability??

$200

Just beware, Yulex ain't Yulex.

First generation Yulex was made from the Guayule plant (hence the name) and was fairly stiff. I wouldn't recommend buying any suit using that iteration of Yulex.

Second generation Yulex retained the name yet was made from hevea rubber. It's still all natural but the stretch and warmth properties exceed guayule.

Not exactly sure when Pata changed over to second gen Yulex. 2018? 2019?

They don't differentiate the source of Yulex in their materials list so as long as it isn't older than that you're good. Second gen Yulex is unreal; every bit as good as neoprene.

blackers wrote:

Yulex is fine for warmth. Flexibility is good enough for me. Durability so far is on par with limestone neo.

My thoughts too, my 3x2 has been fine. The seams leak a bit more than my 4x3 Need but its my summer Vicco suit so doesn't worry me.

Thanks guys.
I’ll certainly pin down a date of manufacture.

OMFG
https://www.funkysealwetsuit.com/mens-wetsuits

haha^^ ..awesome..

udo wrote:

OMFG
https://www.funkysealwetsuit.com/mens-wetsuits

Holy fn sh*tballs

Lol. You will have every sea snake try to hump your leg.

https://www.funkysealwetsuit.com/product-page/polka-dot

excellent^^ Jumbo fish lures - great idea...
https://tamarmarine.com.au/product/tassie-devil-13-5g-10-lure-pack/?gcli...

Whale oil beef hooked !

I’ve already ordered the pink hibiscus one lol

quiksilver highline 4/3, easily best wettie ive ever had

Will be time to buy new steamers soon . I`m considering Isurus , most likely an evade , but those of you that own an Isurus did you just go off your normal size in whatever brand you had or did you have to guess from their chart ? Before you say contact them I have done that but no response back . Its been a few days but I`ll give them a week or so since I`m in no rush . Also considering an Xcel drylock x .

I've got the same size- seems similar sizing to me, but I'm a regular M.

Every single M wetsuit from any company fits me perfectly.

Can I just wave the flag for the humble O'Neill Hyperfreak 3/2, please? After 10 days of stormy SW winds, water temp has dropped to 14.5C, but I'm warm and dry, and it is ridiculously flexi. Chest zip.

freeride76 wrote:

I've got the same size- seems similar sizing to me, but I'm a regular M.

Every single M wetsuit from any company fits me perfectly.

Cheers thats good to know as was unsure with the stretch of them as it seems on their site they have a lot of give . I`m LS . I find Billabong a good fit but the two Quiks I have are tighter . The bong is way past its use by - inside lining falling apart and leaky as but thats after two full seasons . Rip Curl I can`t get on most of the time . The Quiks are the two worst wetsuits I have ever owned . Bought purely on price the synchros were too good to pass up at 150 each now both falling apart one after a season and one only just put into rotation now is also following suit .

Island Bay wrote:

Can I just wave the flag for the humble O'Neill Hyperfreak 3/2, please? After 10 days of stormy SW winds, water temp has dropped to 14.5C, but I'm warm and dry, and it is ridiculously flexi. Chest zip.

Is yours the normal or the fire ? I`ve been hearing some bad things about the oneills both online as well as from mates . I`m liking the talk of yamamoto neoprene as well as the compression talk of some of these other manufactures . Has me really leaning toward an Isurus .

MarioM wrote:

Island Bay wrote:

Can I just wave the flag for the humble O'Neill Hyperfreak 3/2, please? After 10 days of stormy SW winds, water temp has dropped to 14.5C, but I'm warm and dry, and it is ridiculously flexi. Chest zip.

Is yours the normal or the fire ? I`ve been hearing some bad things about the oneills both online as well as from mates . I`m liking the talk of yamamoto neoprene as well as the compression talk of some of these other manufactures . Has me really leaning toward an Isurus .

Mario - the Yamamoto Isurus uses is what sets their suits apart I reckon. I might be wrong but the only other manufacturer that uses the same neoprene is Seventh Wave and I hear their suits are Rolls Royce's as well. You won't be disappointed.

Well I`ve heard back from Greg at Isurus and he recommends an MS which kind of throws me . Even after I`ve given him a guide on broad shoulders / chest in a short arse body and giving him my short arm spring suit size which is MS . I did forget to tell him about my long arm spring which is a large . I may have to do a shitty thing and go try some suits on to see what an MS steamer feels like . He also tells me a zipperless will be roomier than the chest zip also which makes sense . Returns no issue as long as all is how it was sent .

Can highly recommend feral wetsuits.

I have 2 Isurus steamers MM, 2mm and 3mm both zipper less, fantastic suits and Greg is easy to deal with IMO

Weirdest update. My Isirus 2/2 steamer has done 3 full season. I commented here about their superiority way back and still stand by that from a new suit owner. BUT the last month(so end of season 3 winter) it's like the suit switched off overnight. Usually a suit feels overstretched, lining starts to go or the neck gets loose and overall just feels done but still warm. This suit feels fine in the carpark, maybe a bit stretched but very much in tact, then within the first 30minutes surfing I'm cold to the bone. At first I thought it's the coldest day ever or the water temps are lower than usual but alas every session it happens!
I wonder if there is such a thing where whatever tech is used just expires/collapses (like a surfboard loosing it's flex, for sunblock its happen too ) . Could it be water is creeping in but not escaping and the heating properties are done? I'm truly perplexed by the sudden change... 3 Years were fine as most suits last me 2 to 3 seasons and the surfing in Isirus suits were way more comfortable in regards to stretch and comfort and on par warmth until the sudden change. Except for now scrambling for a new suit whilst having soup.

For those interested, I will get another(if on sale) but am looking at Patagonia R1(which is on sale)

Check your Body Weight - Betcha down a KG or Two.

Oooh, great theory! Same weight but if anything half a kilo swapped from muscle to body fat (IE dad bod due to baby 2 years ago) The switch from great to cold is almost overnight. Weirdest thing!