A couple of weeks ago I made a huge mistake, I mean bigger than normal. Because I'd had some extraordinary luck 3 years ago with the purchase of a 3/2 Body Glove wetsuit on line(still going but ripped around the neck), I thought I'd try my luck again.
I purchased a H2O wetsuit for around $90.00 bucks (plus shipping). What a bargain.....not! Problem was that it was made of the same neoprene that was left over from my first steamer purchase in 1972. Even dry it weighed about 4kg. To top it off After every surf a new rip in the stitching would appear. I made a present of it to my sister who is just starting off Supping on my old 10'2"PSH paddler and only flat water paddling at the moment it makes her sweat more with all that extra weight.
So I bit the bullet and forked out for a Ripcurl Ebomb. After one surf all I can say is F------n amazing!!!!! Not only is it really colourful so when I'm surfing by myself, people can see me when I'm floating face downwards, it actually allows me to spring up to my feet!!! That really helps when you have a crook hip. I can't wait until I get the hip replacement. I might actually go out and buy myself an old man's short board 7'2" x2 3/4"x 23" quad / thruster fish,(At 55 I don't want to work too hard but really miss getting barrelled.) This Wetsuit is the first piece of equipment (including my Power Balance wristband)that actually proactively improves my surfing. It actually took me 15 minutes to cool down after I got out of the water!! I have nothing to do with Ripcurl but I really cannot believe that wetsuit technology has come so far. I reckon that most of the quality wetsuit brands are probably just as good, so don't buy second hand or online, get in there and check them out.. By the way Ripcurl are giving away a hooded towel poncho with each new steamer they sell.
It might be a pimp but bad luck to your paranoid delusions if you think so. I'm super stoked so thought I would share it with anyone looking for a wetsuit. I have one complaint and that is that they (Front opening wetsuits) are hard to get off when you not as supple as you used to be and buggered after a 3 hour surf. Ah well at least I didn't have wetsuit legs full of water!!

Waiting for my Ebomb to come in the mail, cant wait! Saved nearly 200 clams buying it from the states.

Select to expand quote

Rawz said..

Waiting for my Ebomb to come in the mail, cant wait! Saved nearly 200 clams buying it from the states.

You won't regret it!!! I wish I had of had the time to wait for it. It's ridiculous the price difference. Is it an E4?

Select to expand quote

Rawz said..

Waiting for my Ebomb to come in the mail, cant wait! Saved nearly 200 clams buying it from the states.

wow mate, big saving. What site did you buy from?

Thanks,
Scott.

I also saved about $200 on an E-Bomb a couple of years ago - but bought it new from the DFO in Torquay.

Hi Leo,
Is that going to be your winter wetsuit? I was wondering with all the improvements if dropping down in thickness is the way to go. I've always used a 4/3 for the Vic winter - 3/2 for the rest of the year. Nowadays wetsuits are sealed, water shedding material etc etc. I've also found that with sup you don't spend as much time in the water too.

Using Xcel Drylocks here in NZ, 4/3 is enough to get us through most of the freezing winter, chuck on some booties and a hood for the truly icy days.

Can see why their suits have won best wetsuit 4 of the last 6 years, a well developed product.

Looking for a SUP wettie myself for south east queensland. Is 2mm enough in the modern suits and have heard of the ebomb and the excel infinity.

Any other good quality options I should look at?

Cheers

Select to expand quote

PaulVee said...
Hi Leo,
Is that going to be your winter wetsuit? I was wondering with all the improvements if dropping down in thickness is the way to go. I've always used a 4/3 for the Vic winter - 3/2 for the rest of the year. Nowadays wetsuits are sealed, water shedding material etc etc. I've also found that with sup you don't spend as much time in the water too.

Hi Paul, yeah definitely, I do have pretty good natural insulation though. I also wear O'Neil reef shoes 2x2 as booties and a Peak hood during the middle of winter (I get surfers ear). I think 4/3 s are for Norway nowadays just because of technology advances. It's pretty much a personal thing though. Apparently Patagonia wetsuits are amazing as well. Try them in the shop and if want to save money buy online. I don't want to get into the ethics of supporting your local supplier. That's your own personal decision.

Long story but i have a brand new 2012 E Bomb XL, 3/2 mm chest half zip, in grey / black still with tags for sale $150 plus post

Select to expand quote

straddie said..

Looking for a SUP wettie myself for south east queensland. Is 2mm enough in the modern suits and have heard of the ebomb and the excel infinity.

Any other good quality options I should look at?

Cheers

I went through winter in a sealed 2mm Execl suit and that was in sydney you be way fine in queensland I would think even hot sometimes

Bump - Ripcurl dfo in Torquay 50 percent off sale on everything this weekend... including wettys!

Select to expand quote

Sailhack said..

Bump - Ripcurl dfo in Torquay 50 percent off sale on everything this weekend... including wettys!

All of you mongrels that got a wetsuit at half price , $200.00 off as a gift from god, can go and get well and truly............ At least I got one of those grouse hoody towel ponchos free!!!!!. They were probably paying customers to take them today? They are amazing wetsuits!!!

Select to expand quote

PaulVee said..

Hi Leo,
Is that going to be your winter wetsuit? I was wondering with all the improvements if dropping down in thickness is the way to go. I've always used a 4/3 for the Vic winter - 3/2 for the rest of the year. Nowadays wetsuits are sealed, water shedding material etc etc. I've also found that with sup you don't spend as much time in the water too.

Been wearing a 3-2 o'neil phycho for winter for about 3 years now. Due to sealed seams etc you dont need anything thicker in my opinion.

I had my e bomb now for a few yrs and they are like no wetsuit I had ever tried ,with sealed seams unbelievable amount of stretch ,just REMEMBER NOT TO PISS IN THEM it will take a hr for it to flush.


Rip curl also make a H bomb with a built in battery pack and heating down the legs and arms.They claim the heating will last up to 1.5 hrs. Unbelievable hey.

My spring suit is from the E-Bomb range but it's a zip at the back so works great for me. With a gammy shoulder, I can't get into or out of a front zip wet suit.

Select to expand quote

PTWoody said..

My spring suit is from the E-Bomb range but it's a zip at the back so works great for me. With a gammy shoulder, I can't get into or out of a front zip wet suit.

Yeah PT but they didn't have the colour I wanted!!! So I'll put up with the incredible pain and discomfort just so people can find me when I'm floating facedown from surfing by myself. At least I'll be warm whilst I die. They are great though hey PT?

Anyone into windsports as well I got a couple of suits from Flying Objects during the week, and all I can say is they are fantastic.

I did a full review here ozwindrider.wordpress.com/

They are designed for a wind sport market, which means you get some smooth skin on the steamer and they are a little more forgiving in the forearm to allow for the forearm pump you get wind or kite surfing. But in saying all that, they are great for SUP as well.

Disclaimer: I do get stuff from FO and a good rate, pretty sure I would have gone for one of these suits either way.

Select to expand quote

DoubleO said..

Using Xcel Drylocks here in NZ, 4/3 is enough to get us through most of the freezing winter, chuck on some booties and a hood for the truly icy days.

Can see why their suits have won best wetsuit 4 of the last 6 years, a well developed product.

Had my "new" secondhand hooded 4/3 drylock on today with leaky old gloves & booties......was almost hot.......nothing wrong with being "warm and toasty" in winter surf of course
Everyone else said it was cold lol