Ive a West Edge at the moment and w.r.t heat, its excellent, and the outer liquid seals are the business. The flexibility isn’t bad at all but it has started to flush (prob cause Ive lost some weight). I reckon with a rashie on underneath it’ll be sweet in Dec/Jan. My 2 brothers have a Pulse and I tried it out the other week, and it’s a different story without the liquid seals!

Still wearing my 3/2 and freezing my nads off. I bet DaveJ is still in his shortie.

i'm still in a 3/2 and still ok for a 3hr session. carry my own inbuilt insulation though

I went to a 5mm this weekend and cursing it!!

Id still be in my 4mm but I have to send it off for repair, Id say she would have been good for another month give or take with a thermal rashie

Actually had it out for the first 40 mins last weekend, but the offshore wind was causing a bit too much of chill factor, so back in to the 3/2 for the last hour of the session!

I have to say that the Xcel Polypro hooded rash vest is the business. I have worn it twice now and both times it made my (falling to bits) 3/2 bearable. Also, it is nearly dry inside after taking it off. Highly recommended.

still in my 3/2 and getin a 2 hr + sesh might as well milk the last few goes out of it although im startin to feel somwhere between and

Just to throw another spanner in the works, my brother bought a 4/3 quicksilver in France last week, and reckons thats all he's gonna need for the winter. V flexible, and has 4/3 distribution in opposite areas to normal - he's well happy with it. Dont think they are available in Munster, so it could be off the web purchasing - he got his for 280 in the Quicksilver outlet in Biarritz

I've had an Elasto 2 (4/3) for 2 yrs and now got a replacement of the E Bomb this year and will stick with Rip Curl unless somethin superior turns up. No suite matches it for flex and you could be in the middle of the artic with a hurricane blowing and its like snuggling up to a roasting fire with a pint of Guinness, sealed arm and leg ends to prevent water and the neck is comfy as! Try it you won't go back! The 3/2 is a ripper also!

My problem with Ripcurls would be how long they last for. They are great suits, warm and flexible, but I want a suit to last longer than half a year. My summer suit that I got in April is in bits, every seam is coming apart, it is only by constantly repairing it that it lasted as long as it did. My 6/4 Fireskin last winter was the warmest suit ever, but it ripped across the arm, all of the liquid seams inside went brittle, and the suit became useless and had to go back. Hopefully the next generation of suits will be a bit harder wearing.

The liquid seams do seem to split/rub on the ripcurls and oneills, I personally think that taped seams are still more effective and last a lot longer, but do take more manufacturing time than the liquid seams, and I think this is the biggest reason that most manufacturers have moved to liquid seams.

Xcel has taped seams inside, but the tape seems to be almost rubbery. I have seen a suit that is 2 years old and the seams are all still absolutely perfect.

I had a good chat with the European Xcel distributor yesterday, and found out that the Hawaiian fella who designs the suit is from an engineering background, is not really concerned with how the suits look, just how they work. He has also designed the suits that the Navy Seals use, which is a pretty good recommendation. He also values customer feedback where ever possible.

I have a problem with the fit of my suit (even though going by the size chart it should fit perfectly) which didn't become apparent until I had used it, and they have been good enough to offer me a whole range of options to keep me happy, including having a new suit in a smaller size. Very impressed with the customer service, if it continues and the suit proves to be durable, I can't see me buying any other suit for the foreseable future.

fair point about rip curl, some of me mates have been pretty lucky with theirs and not had a problem with seam rips but I can see my e-bomb going back to the shop for some seam replacement or repair in the not too distant future, no leakage yet but its early days

good info built up on this forum

dont mind that stuff ultan , tell about the hot girls in Oz, the oiled, bronzed, scantily clad girls passing out energy drinks in the lineup and helpin ya out of those toight wetsuits after a good long session....

ps oneill pyscho 2 are as good as whats out there.

Have worn my new Psycho 2 for 4 weekends of surf now and the neoprene just above the right knee has stretched and started to leak. I've given the suit more TLC than any I've had before, inc. being extra careful with putting on/removal of suit and religiously rinsing after each session and it's still showing signs of wear of tear already so I'll be returning it to the shop tomorrow.

It's a pity because I really like the suit, great flex in it, not overly warm (found F-Bomb sauna-like by comparison) and dramatically reduced shoulder fatigue compared to my Salomon.

Its a shame O'Neill dont put decent knees on their suits.

I sound like a broken record, but if you get a chance have a look at the xcels. The knee patches are extremely thick and seperated so that if they ever do go that they could be repaired relatively easy.

My replacement suit is the Inifnti OS, which has a similiar zip/neck system as the psycho.

Picked up my replacement ripcurl fireskin 6/4, tried it out and nearly died through overheating. A seriously hot suit, but its bound to rip again after a few surfs.

Thank christ Im no alone, looking forward to it on cold morning's in Feb though