This season's most exciting wetsuit technology

If you’re surfing through the winter, you’re going to want to find a wetsuit that keeps you warm enough to survive the cold water. However, usually the warmer/thicker the wetsuit, the less stretchy it becomes. In recent years, wetsuit brands have been creating innovative solutions to this dilemma. Now, wetsuit technology is more exciting than it’s ever been before.

We caught up with wetsuit buyer Will, to hear about the technology he’s excited about this season. If you’re in the market for a new wetsuit, you might want to consider stretching your budget for one of these high tech suits.

Insulation innovation

The surf’s great this time of year, but the water temperature is still dropping, so staying warm in your wetsuit is essential. Going for a surf can take a lot of preparation and planning, but if you’re only able to stay a short amount of time in the water because your wetsuit doesn’t keep you warm enough, it can be frustrating.

Will loves the Xcel Mens Comp X 4.5mm/ 3.5mm Hooded Chest Zip Wetsuit because it has an infrared smart-fibre lining that runs from the chest to the ankles, and has a mineral called Celliant infused into the fibre. It is clinically proven to increase thermal energy that penetrates the muscle and body tissue to promote blood flow, increasing warmth, energy, endurance, and recovery.

The Rip Curl’s Men’s Flashbomb Heatseeker 5/3mm Zip Free Wetsuit generates its own heat when it is stretched keeping you super warm. This flex energy neoprene combined with smooth mesh panels that absorb solar heat and reduce wind chill is what makes this wetsuit so technically advanced.

Another super exciting bit of tech is Billabongs graphene fibres featured in lots of Billabong wetsuits including the Mens Absolute 5/4mm GBS Chest Zip Wetsuit. These graphene fibres are infused in the lining at the front and back panels which adds incredible strength and heat without adding bulk.

Super stretch

Xcel’s wetsuit is so good it’s worth another shoutout. The entire exterior of the Xcel Men’s Comp X 4.5mm / 3.5mm Hooded Chest Zip Wetsuit is Channel Flex, a lightweight, hydrophobic gridded material that breaks up the tension by reducing fibre and water weight, further adding to the stretch and creating a wetsuit that hugs your body and fits like a second skin.

The O'Neill Women’s Psycho Tech+ 5/4mm Chest Zip Wetsuit is the ultimate package, bringing together all of O’Neill’s best features and offering superior warmth and stretch through the layers of TechnoButter 3 Air Firewall, which is so stretchy, they’ve added an extra 0.5mm of neoprene to the suit, just because they can. The neoprene in the firewall contains far bigger air bubbles than regular neoprene. More air in the neoprene = more warmth. This wetsuit also features the technobutter X (TBX) which is a super stretchy outer layer of neoprene that sheds water and protects the body from windchill, therefore, keeping you dry and warm.

Quick-drying

Quicksilver’s latest innovation is the WarmFlight thermal fleece lining in the Everyday Sessions 5/4/3mm Chest Zip GBS Wetsuit that is super-fast drying. The mid pile polypropylene creates warmth and an increased layer of water close to the skin. Quicker drying time between sessions.

Special features

Mystic have been creating unique wetsuits with boardsports such as foiling, kitesurfing and windsurfing in mind. The Mystic Men's Marshall 4/3mm Chest Zip Wetsuit has an Aquaflush leg system to ensure water flushes out of the suit easily and integrated shin pads for protection. Both are great boardsports features to have.

 

Shop all wetsuits here.