2021 Winter Wetsuits Buyers Guide +$550

“The Highline Pro is a 1mm sealed full suit featuring best in class handmade Japanese neoprene. With only 9 panels, the suit is specifically tailored to be as light and flexible as possible while keeping you warm.”

Kinda wild that we can list two suits that are $900 or more. This one, from Quiksilver, and the Vissla one to the right (or below). The Quiksilver Highline Pro is an amazing suit, wildly light and flexible it feels like cheating when you’re putting it on. Am yet to use it in the water yet, but will ideally run it this winter. 

It’s expensive though, so you definitely want to be sure about buying one before laying the cash down (it’s a new board basically). If you happened to have one, hit us up and let us know your thoughts.

Warranty:
Entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. (not super clear on their site)

“The “Shonan” VISSLA wetsuit by RASH Japanese Manufacturing Company is made from the highest quality kobe limestone neoprene. The fit, flexibility, thickness, water-permeability, and stretch are designed to keep you, the surfer, the warmest and most comfortable for the longest period of time. “

I need to know if anyone has used this Japanese suit from Vissla, it sounds amazing! Three-dimensional specs, custom made to your body!

They are crafted one at a time, hand made in a small factory near the beach by Japanese craftsmen who are core surfers. They use three-dimensional cutting and patterns developed over decades to make the best fitting most comfortable wetsuit for performance surfing imaginable.

Warranty:
• 1 year from original purchase date on all seams.
• 1 year from original purchase date on neoprene.

“The Flashbomb Heat Seeker is our most technically advanced cold water wetsuit. Combining the new super stretch E6 Flash Lining and our unique Flex Energy neoprene that generates heat when stretched, plus many more superior technical features the Flashbomb Heat Seeker is our warmest Flashbomb ever.”

While they own the stretchiest, most comfortable suit ever made, Rip Curl has stepped it up in the toast stakes with the Heat Seeker. This is built to be the wetsuit you wear on the coldest day of the year and are still toasty warm. If you surf with polar bears and penguins, this suit (or thicker versions) should be your go to.

Warranty:
*3 yr warranty on all stitching
*12-month warranty on all materials

O’Neill is the original wetsuit company, the company that popularised the wetsuit. Jack (O’Neill) even invented the legrope!

Hard to go past these guys when out and about choosing between all the winter wetsuits on offer. O’Neill has been making top quality suits since they started and this new series of suits – Blueprint –  reads pretty solid feature wise, and is their first with recycled materials.

Running with what I think is the best chest zip (Fuze) closure on the market, the Blueprint should be wildly easy to get on/off – even with torched shoulders. It’s also got (recycled) TBX3 which is stretchy and oh-so-sweet against your skin. Then there’s liquid tape running on all external seams to double up on the GBS ensuring there are no leaks here. The big thing to notice here is the Blueprint, like Billabong’s suits, has Graphene running through it…

Warranty:
12 months from date of original purchase (more here)

“The Tumo is named after the Buddhist meditation Technique where naked Monks sit in the snow, underneath a wet blanket, and dry-it-out with their own body heat. So jump into the coldest environments. The Tumo wetsuit has you covered even if you don’t meditate.”

Matuse has been in the wetsuit game for sometime now. Known for their clean appearance and high-quality materials we’ve been wanting to get our grubby mitts on some tester suits for ages. The Tumo is the top end of the bracket in the wetsuit matrix for Matuse and comes with Hydrasilk (feels amazing against the skin), Satin Seal Tape and Hidden Air Chambers (which stores radiant heat from body and improves the suits ability to slow down heat loss)

If you’d like to read more about the Business of Matuse, hit this link.

Warranty:
1 year limited warranty

“Featuring Xcel’s all-new Channel Flex Exterior for a weightless feel and unrestricted warmth. Celliant Black High Pile with Hollow Fibers, in the interior from chest to knee, is the next generation TDC with enhanced heat-retaining minerals.”

Xcel is the hidden gem in the wetsuit world, whether it’s because there’s no CT’er running them front and center or what, but they’ve constantly been putting out some of the best fitting suits on the markets for years.

A great suit for those wanting a warm, stretchy wetsuit that’s built to last. While there’s plenty of bells and whistles in the materials, the design itself is rock solid with liquid taped seams, an easy to use chest zip, and great attention to detail finishing.

Warranty:
*1 yr from original purchase date on all seams.
*1 yr from original purchase date on neoprene.

“On the outside, the Furnace Natural utilizes 100% recycled Superflex jersey infused with CICLO® fibers, reducing plastic microfiber pollution and plastic accumulation in landfills. Continuing to fuse function and sustainability, Yulex® pure stretch eliminates the need for neoprene and brings lightweight flexibility to a natural rubber core.”

With a mix of Yulex and CICLO, the Furnace Natural is the most sustainable suit that Billabong makes. And it’s great to see brands making the move away from regular neoprene (and even away from Limestone). By all reports (STAB) this is a fantastic suit, and one that we’ll be reviewing this year.

On top of the natural elements you also get the heavily marketed Graphene lining, zipperless entry and external welded seams (previously known as liquid tape)

Warranty:
*3 yr warranty on all stitching
*12-month warranty on all materials

Patagonia has really stepped up to the performance plate in the last year or two, the improvements in rubber performance alongside being Yulex is amazing. The R1 is stretchy, warm, well-made AND has environmental considerations built in. I won’t go into detail about the Yulex rubber being better than neoprene, or recycled jersey being better than virgin but safe to say, it makes a very caustic product much more friendly for mother earth.

The R1 is the go-to suit out of the R range, imo, and is perfect for north of Sydney up to the Gold Coast, any further and you’ll burst a bubble from overheating. And while you’re still reading be sure to hit up the Patagonia site to learn more about Yulex and why it’s awesome, along with more info about their suits. It’s definitely something to learn about and become more informed as we move towards new materials for wetsuits.

Warranty:
No time limit on returns, though they ask that returns for fit or colour be made in a timely manner.