I've searched the forum archives and can't find the answer I'm looking for. I live in Long Beach, NY and currently pursuing a 6/5/4 wetsuit for long, warm winter sessions. My current 5/4/3 ripcurl just doesn't keep me warm for long enough. I'm looking for advice from 6/5/4 user's or anyone with some good input. What they use and what they recommend? I've tried on ripcurl and oneill's latest top 6/5/4 model and stretch, fit great, but pricey. $400++. But still considering them. I really like the looks of West's Lotus 6/5/4. It has limestone neoprene. I've heard it's stretchy, but stretches too much over time. http://www.degree33surfboards.com/west-hooded-wetsuit-6-5-4-p/1mlch14.htm I always buy Hyperflex gloves and booties and they work great for me. I want to see how their 6/5/4 Amp suit stacks up too. Heard good things and great price. Heard tons of good things about Xcel, but longevity can be an issue? Any help much appreciated!!!!!
that because ripcurl makes terrible wetsuits. 5/4/3 is all your need. I find ripcurl to be the worst wetsuits on the market; by means or their neoprene and seams. Get yourself an xcel 5/4/3 and your be plenty worm....if your looking for a little sum thin sum thin a little cheaper go hyperflex amp 5/4/3...or if you really want but totally unnecessary a 6/5/4 by them.
I have a 5/4/3 Flow by HyperFlex and I have to say its the warmest suit I have ever owned. I have stayed out for up to 4 hours with not a chill. I am to the point where I am sweating in the suit. I have there new 5.5mill gloves . I am not a glove person but there gloves are so warm and comfy they changed my take on them . As for there boots I wanted to get there 7mils but they were out of my size so I had to get rip curl but I am happy with them as well. If you can take the extra rubber of the 6/5/4 go for it. I think you will be very happy and surprised by there 5/4/3
I wish I would get one free suit a year them LOL In all serious they make a great product, they have great customer service and there based outa NJ. Cant really say anything more . I am never gonnw throw money away on brands like West, Rip Curl , Xcel, they just dont perform and hold up as good.
I have the west lotus 6/5/4... its warm. I only wear it when the water is less than 45, and the air is below freezing. Its hard to get out of, sort of a weird closure system. Its pretty stretchy as far as 6mm of rubber goes, nothing compared to how stretchy my 5/4 oneill is though. Your main concerns, however, seem to be warmth and price, and this suit has both of those going for it.
Ive got a hyperflex 5/4/3 this year.Awsome suit.Nice and toasty thus far (even thou the water temp is around 49.)I also picked up 7 mill boots.Its worth the extra$$$$$$$.
I have a 2010 Hyperflex AMP 6/5/4 size LT never used with tags still on i will sell for $250. Great deal you cant get them for under $270 online plus shipping. Hit me up with a PM if anyone is interested i am going to post it on ebay in the next few days.
i have the new xcel 5/4 drylock and that suit is unreal. one of the best suits ive ever had for the winter. i would suggest you give it a try.
i used to wear a 6/5/4 quiksilver cell prior to having an xcel 5/4/3 (stolen of course). The xcel was just as warm and much more flexible. However, I've only ever surfed north of Jersey and DelMarva once in the winter. As far as the geography I surf in, a good 5/4 is all you will need, even in the frigid cold. If you really wanna be warm, and got the 600 bones to cover it, check out patagonia's hooded 5/4/3 with merino wool lining...the merino wool is what does it for those, supposedly you can survive in the harshest of winters in that thing.
second that...the XCEL drylock is warm beyond belief... as far as hyperflex goes my one experience was not good...bought a pair of 5 mm gloves last winter and they were so cold and leaky from the word go i gave them away to a kid after wearing them 3 times.
actually your a retard. ripcurl is expensive cause they make good suits. dont rip, dont fill up with water in the legs like hyperflex, just as good as exel if not better
Rip Curls is expenssive cause of who wears them . Every little grom wants to where what the pros wear. I has a elasto 5/4/3 is lasted on winter I shelled out over 350 dollars for it to last 4 months before seams started ripping and leak Flock that. After that I started using hyperflex suits and can never be happier. I have hyperflex suits rangeing from 6 years old which is my 3/2 fullsuite to my brand new 5/4/3 Flow. My oldest suit still feel jsut as good as it did when I first bought it . Good strech , No leak not even on tear. Only thing that is wrong with it is the lableing is coming off the arm . I know guys who have had rip curl suits and all they do is ***** about how they always got to repair them and how the seam leak . I am not talking about a suit that has been threw 3 or four winters. I am saying maybe on winter old. There was a kid out at the north end of OC a few weekd back with a new 5/4/3 f bomb complaining that it has less than 3 months of use and it falling apart already. You all your buying when you get name brand suits is the name and paying some sponsers paycheck. The only exeption to this is Patagonia. There suits are worth paying for and are made with recycled japanese neoprene and the wool lining is really warm but itchy if your not use to it
