THE SUIT
Quiksilver used to be seen as the dodgy wetsuit maker of the surf world. Not any more. For a few years now they’ve been running a really solid rubber program, with wetsuits that stand up to a good flogging. The Quiksilver Mens Highline Plus 3/2MM Chest Zip Steamer Wetsuit (their long name, not ours), is their latest offering this winter. This is what it says about the suit on the Quiksilver website:
“Men’s chest zip wetsuit constructed with an F’N Lite 2 neoprene, featuring a Thermal Smoothie on chest and back panels, and finished with a WarmFlight® Far Infrared x2 with Diamond Deluxe thermal lining on body and upper legs.”
That’s a fair whack of made up technical-speak, so we’ll breakdown exactly what this bad boy can do below.
WarmFlight®
Thermal fleece lining keeps body heat in and water out on lower leg & arm panels
Hydrolock
Their thinnest, lightest and most flexible external seam seal
F'N Lite 2
Neoprene features a new surface texture to minimise drying times between sessions
WHAT IT’S GOOD FOR
Quiksilver list this suit as suitable to wear in the 11-14° C range on their website. I’d take that with a grain of salt and say maybe a couple of degrees warmer is best there. Think winter in WA, NSW (north of Sydney) and Queensland. If you’re in Vicco or Tas, you’ll probably be wanting to step up to a 4/3mm of this suit (or at least pair it with booties and a hood).
It’s a great all-rounder, offering a good balance of warmth and stretch rather than being the leader at either. Price wise it’s 10-20% less than other top options from other brands, but more than the likes of the Psyco 1 from O’Neill (link) or the Seven Seas from Vissla (link).
THE IMPORTANT STUFF
FIT & COMFORT
Fantastic fit. I’m a fan of the WarmFlight interior as well (aka Thermal Lining). It feels nice and snug over your body while being comfortable at the same time. The chest zip entry is easy to get into and out of without dramas and the liquid tapes seams are nice and thin so don’t offer any weird bondage points around your body. The only small nitpick I have here is the bulky zipper head. It’s massive. Built for durability rather than comfort I’d say, but not massively noticeable once you’re in it and surfing. 9 out of 10 here.
PERFORMANCE
Yeah, it’s okay. This has enough flexibility in it to keep you paddling around without feeling locked up like a lunatic in a straight jacket. There are better options in this high price point though, even with more warmth too. I’m thinking The Rip Curl Heat Seeker as the best example ($150 more). The O’neill Psycho 1 is on par for a pineapple less. The liquid tapes seams are good though, meaning you’re getting a great flex vs durability ratio. I’d give this a respectable 8.5 out of 10 here.
WARMTH
Mostly toasty. For a 3/2 this does offer solid warmth and it’s hard to fault the seams of this suit, or the entry. Once again, I really like the feel of the thermal lining. It’s comfortable to wear and does offer a good bit of insulation. I’m also a fan of the smooth rubber front and back. If you surf somewhere where there’s a fair bit of wind getting around, it’s a great addition as far as chill reduction goes. Plus, smoothie looks epic, like you’re a DC Superhero ready to go into battle. 8 out of 10.
VALUE
Definitely better value out there. This is the area where I think Quiksilver are really behind the other brands. The Highline 3/2 is a solid suit, but for $550 these days, you need to be top of the pops. The O’Neill Psycho 1 is less and a very similar suit, the Vissla 7 Seas at $330 is way less and also similar in terms of balancing warmth and stretch. If you can get it on sale, then I’d say have at it. But, if you’re paying full price, I’d say reconsider your options (unless the fit really, really suits your body shape). 6.5 out of 10 here.
VERDICT
The Quiksilver Mens Highline Plus Chest Zip Steamer wetsuit is a solid workhorse suit that will keep you toasty through at least a couple of seasons. It’s comfortable to wear, has smooth rubber and thermal lining to keep you warm, and is stretchy enough that you can karate kick someone in the face without being held back. The same violence could also be better extended to waves.
The two things this suit is lacking are 1. Innovation. 2. Value. I think because Quik have worked so hard to make a suit that doesn’t suck, they’ve really pulled back on any risk to deliver breakthroughs in tech. They’ve reached the ‘not sucky wetsuit’ goal a few years in a row now, so it’s time to step up the game and move things up a notch like Rip Curl and Billabong have recently. In terms of value, there are similar suits out there for cheaper. Think Need Essentials, Vissla and even O’Neill’s mid range.
Overall, I’d simply say, yeah, it’s pretty good, but there is better out there and I’d be inclined to go full top end, or look at greater value options.
Overall Rating
- Good balance of warmth & stretch
- Solid construction
- Smoothie for windchill
- Not amazing value for the price
WHERE TO BUY
If you’ve got $550 Australian spare and we’ve convinced to get an Quiksilver Highline Plus Suit, then hit the below links and spend up. Like we said, it’s a good all-rounder that can cover most of what you’ll need from a suit.
Buy an Quiksilver Highline Plus Steamer from :
⋅ Quiksilver Australia
⋅ Quiksilver USA
⋅ Quiksilver Stockists
Alternatively, we’ve pulled together three Winter Wetsuit Buyers Guides if you’re still a little undecided on what to buy:
*Above $500
*$300-$500
*Below $300
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LIPPED PODCAST
If you’re driving, or reading isn’t your thing, then hit the below episode of Lipped where we talk all things wetsuits 2019 with industry experts from Xcel, Rip Curl, O’Neill and Need Essentials. And you’ll also get treated to listening to Tim and Jim take an in-depth look at suits from Rip Curl, Billabong, Xcel, O’Neill, Quiksilver, Need Essentials, Vissla, Patagonia and Hurley.
