First of all, this is not a ‘wetsuit buyers’ guide’.

Yes, we’re as guilty as the next mag of selling a bunch of advertorial, getting the brand’s PR department themselves to write how awesome the wetsuit is ‘20% lighter! warmest ever!’ etc, then flog it to you as content… Sorry about that.

So this time, we’ve done it a little differently.

We’re actually trying to be both objective and subjective, to do honest, earnest wetsuit reviews. What’s good, what ain’t. Usually, you won’t see too much of this, as mags are scared of upsetting the advertisers… I guess this is one of the upsides of not really having any!

Seriously though, we hope this wetsuit test might help you make your purchase. For all the tech and features and all that crap, the key thing to bear in mind is the wetsuit fit. So you’d do well to try one on in an actual surf shop.

The wetsuit test was done in April in SW France, which started off warm and sunny and ended up cold and miserable. Most of the evenings these were tested I had my log fire lit, which shows you how far the humble 3/2 has come now, doesn’t it?

Featured Wetsuits

Billabong Xero Furnace 2mil €369
Hurley Fusion 302 €250
Ion Onyx 3/2 €150
O’Neill Hyperfreak 3/2 €190
Patagonia R3 Yulex Nexkin 3.5/2.5 €400
Quiksilver Ignite 3/2 €230
Rip Curl E4 Flashbomb 3/2 €374
Xcel Infiniti Comp 3/2 €250

Please feel free to comment with your own wetsuit reviews, feedback, insight and hard luck stories.