So my big arse has ripped the backend out of my wettie.

Granted it's an el cheapo that is about 10 years old and has been sitting in a hot shed for as long, but my arse did not help.

I've done some research, and all I have found is tales of woe and success.

Most success is based on limited use, and most woe is based on longevity (or lack of it).

All except for one, Volte wetsuits.

Seems that they are tough as guts and where built by ironman if you believe peoples reviews.

Anyway. What I'm after is some first hand experience that people have had with different brands.

Cost effectiveness, longevity, comfort, design etc. all factor in.

My use is mainly over winter around Perth and through the Southwest (much to the disgust of locals).

Suitable for an older dog at 55 with some joint issues.

Got my eye on something in the Volte range but just wanted to get some others views and experiences.

And WTF is with the front zip thingy? I've only ever used back zip suits but apparently the front zipper makes for easier paddle?

If that's true then I will take all the help I can get.

Cheers in advance boys...

Hydro.

can't go past an O'Neill but if you're a cheaparse & you don't want to spend anything I suggest you try the Quiksilver Ebay site for the on special bargain pages

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thePup said..
can't go past an O'Neill but if you're a cheaparse & you don't want to spend anything I suggest you try the Quiksilver Ebay site for the on special bargain pages

Haha, not a cheap arse.

Just a broke arse.

And yeah O'neils got a good rap as well, only just pipped by Volte.

wetsuitwarehouse.com.au/collections/mens-surfing-wetsuits/products/oneill-mens-reactor-3-2mm-back-zip-steamer

Cheap as chips for a 3/2 wettie but is it any good??

So far between the cheap O'neil and these....

www.voltewetsuits.com/collections/mens/products/vital-mens-3x2-c-z

www.voltewetsuits.com/collections/mens/products/vital-mens-3x2-b-z

wetsuitwarehouse.com.au/collections/mens-surfing-wetsuits/products/billabong-mens-furnace-absolute-4-3mm-chest-zip-steamer-1

low end range hence the lower price & stitched seams can be uncomfortable too - big advantage of front zips is they are a bit easier to undo after a big sesh compared to grappling high up behind your back for a bloody strap

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Hydromann said..
So far between the cheap O'neil and these....

www.voltewetsuits.com/collections/mens/products/vital-mens-3x2-c-z

www.voltewetsuits.com/collections/mens/products/vital-mens-3x2-b-z

wetsuitwarehouse.com.au/collections/mens-surfing-wetsuits/products/billabong-mens-furnace-absolute-4-3mm-chest-zip-steamer-1

furnace is a good one I've had one before

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thePup said..

Hydromann said..
So far between the cheap O'neil and these....

www.voltewetsuits.com/collections/mens/products/vital-mens-3x2-c-z

www.voltewetsuits.com/collections/mens/products/vital-mens-3x2-b-z

wetsuitwarehouse.com.au/collections/mens-surfing-wetsuits/products/billabong-mens-furnace-absolute-4-3mm-chest-zip-steamer-1

furnace is a good one I've had one before

How was the paddle in it being a 4/3?

remember these are modern suits - pretty comfortable and flexible and the glued seam makes them even better

needessentials.com/
There's 2 factories in Thailand (Onsmooth and Neil Pryde) which make wetsuits for many of the different brands...Rip curl, Billabong, Quiksilver etc.
Need come from there. Unbranded and without any retail outlets so on line only.

Needs are good. I've had a few.

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Cuttlefish said..
needessentials.com/
There's 2 factories in Thailand (Onsmooth and Neil Pryde) which make wetsuits for many of the different brands...Rip curl, Billabong, Quiksilver etc.
Need come from there. Unbranded and without any retail outlets so on line only.

Who on this forum gets ten years out of a wetsuit. I'll get two seasons and that's it. Need Estentials less then three hundred bucks.

If a wetsuits deteriated to a point where you ripped your arse it was probably leaking anyway.

Stay dry stay warm is the motto.

www.derevkowetsuits.com

These are good Wetties too. I have a 4/3 for really cold days a d it's good quality.

Think this might be their SOUTH African site. There is an Aussie one.

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beachandbush said..

Cuttlefish said..
needessentials.com/
There's 2 factories in Thailand (Onsmooth and Neil Pryde) which make wetsuits for many of the different brands...Rip curl, Billabong, Quiksilver etc.
Need come from there. Unbranded and without any retail outlets so on line only.

Who on this forum gets ten years out of a wetsuit. I'll get two seasons and that's it. Need Estentials less then three hundred bucks.

If a wetsuits deteriated to a point where you ripped your arse it was probably leaking anyway.

Stay dry stay warm is the motto.

Cheers brudda, but I've never stayed dry in a wet suit?

Too busy pissing in it to keep warm, so I like them to flush a little to clean it out.

10 years sitting in the shed, maybe used once or twice a year but now back into it a lot more so it gets used twice a week.

And yeah likely rotted a bit at the business end

I'd like something that might last a couple of years at least.

mmmmm pissing in any suit aint going to help longevity one single bit especially the cheaper stitch jobs - tiny bit of lanolin in a bucket after that sesh is a good fing

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Cuttlefish said..
needessentials.com/
There's 2 factories in Thailand (Onsmooth and Neil Pryde) which make wetsuits for many of the different brands...Rip curl, Billabong, Quiksilver etc.
Need come from there. Unbranded and without any retail outlets so on line only.

Got ma dude Torren on the cover page, twinny and mellow royalty.

All hail the great and powerfull T.

Whatever he pisses in I'll have two of

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thePup said..
mmmmm pissing in any suit aint going to help longevity one single bit especially the cheaper stitch jobs - tiny bit of lanolin in a bucket after that sesh is a good fing

When you get to my age and bladder size pissing in your wettie is all you do between sets

I checked the chemical resistance charts, piss and neoprene no worries.

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SP said..
Needs are good. I've had a few.

Yeah but nothing left in my size or wish list......

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Hydromann said..

thePup said..
mmmmm pissing in any suit aint going to help longevity one single bit especially the cheaper stitch jobs - tiny bit of lanolin in a bucket after that sesh is a good fing

When you get to my age and bladder size pissing in your wettie is all you do between sets

I checked the chemical resistance charts, piss and neoprene no worries.

piss & stitching not good buddies

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thePup said..

Hydromann said..

thePup said..
mmmmm pissing in any suit aint going to help longevity one single bit especially the cheaper stitch jobs - tiny bit of lanolin in a bucket after that sesh is a good fing

When you get to my age and bladder size pissing in your wettie is all you do between sets

I checked the chemical resistance charts, piss and neoprene no worries.

piss & stitching not good buddies

Really? I've never lost stitching on any wetsuit, always been the neoprene that rotted or tore out first.

Besides most thread is nylon or poly based which is fairly chemically inert and UV resistant as well.

Regardless if I need to piss I piss, wet suit be damned if it can't take it because I aint tootling back up the beach to the little shrunken boys room

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Hydromann said..
So my big arse has ripped the backend out of my wettie.

Suitable for an older dog at 55 with some joint issues.

Cheers in advance boys...

Hydro.

Hi Hydro,

I'm also based in Perth.

I've just purchased an O'Neill Reactor back-zip steamer from Surf Sail Australia in Leederville for $199. Very comfy and the quality feels good. I also have an O'Neill springy which is about 3yo and in very good nick. Before that, I had both a long and short arm Billabong steamer for 5-6 years each, but the short arm started to come apart at the seams after one year and the long arm is now starting to rot (but I have well and truly had my use out of it).

PS - I am nearly 54yo, and have had a broken back, an ankle recon and more recently a shoulder recon - so the back zip is the go for me.

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GPA said..

Hydromann said..
So my big arse has ripped the backend out of my wettie.

Suitable for an older dog at 55 with some joint issues.

Cheers in advance boys...

Hydro.

Hi Hydro,

I'm also based in Perth.

I've just purchased an O'Neill Reactor back-zip steamer from Surf Sail Australia in Leederville for $199. Very comfy and the quality feels good. I also have an O'Neill springy which is about 3yo and in very good nick. Before that, I had both a long and short arm Billabong steamer for 5-6 years each, but the short arm started to come apart at the seams after one year and the long arm is now starting to rot (but I have well and truly had my use out of it).

PS - I am nearly 54yo, and have had a broken back, an ankle recon and more recently a shoulder recon - so the back zip is the go for me.

Cheers mate, I'll hit them up.

What thickness did you get?

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GPA said..

Hydromann said..
So my big arse has ripped the backend out of my wettie.

Suitable for an older dog at 55 with some joint issues.

Cheers in advance boys...

Hydro.

Hi Hydro,

I'm also based in Perth.

I've just purchased an O'Neill Reactor back-zip steamer from Surf Sail Australia in Leederville for $199. Very comfy and the quality feels good. I also have an O'Neill springy which is about 3yo and in very good nick. Before that, I had both a long and short arm Billabong steamer for 5-6 years each, but the short arm started to come apart at the seams after one year and the long arm is now starting to rot (but I have well and truly had my use out of it).

PS - I am nearly 54yo, and have had a broken back, an ankle recon and more recently a shoulder recon - so the back zip is the go for me.

Also damn you done some damage in 54 years.

All I got is a fractured lower back, torn shoulder ligaments, basketball knees, and a weak bladder

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GPA said..

Hydromann said..
So my big arse has ripped the backend out of my wettie.

Suitable for an older dog at 55 with some joint issues.

Cheers in advance boys...

Hydro.

Hi Hydro,

I'm also based in Perth.

I've just purchased an O'Neill Reactor back-zip steamer from Surf Sail Australia in Leederville for $199. Very comfy and the quality feels good. I also have an O'Neill springy which is about 3yo and in very good nick. Before that, I had both a long and short arm Billabong steamer for 5-6 years each, but the short arm started to come apart at the seams after one year and the long arm is now starting to rot (but I have well and truly had my use out of it).

PS - I am nearly 54yo, and have had a broken back, an ankle recon and more recently a shoulder recon - so the back zip is the go for me.

This one?

www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/product/oneill-reactor-mens-full-steamer-black-navy3mm-2-mm

au.oneill.com/products/reactor-ii-full-3-2mm-steamer-wetsuit-black-5040-a00

That's a pretty good deal, short listed.

Yes, it's a 3mm x 2mm. But I went the all black - it's more slimming

Mark is the owner - give him a call to see what he has in stock in the store.
PS - I'm carrying a lot more injuries than that... years of skateboarding, cycling and surfing accidents.

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GPA said..
Yes, it's a 3mm x 2mm. But I went the all black - it's more slimming

Mark is the owner - give him a call to see what he has in stock in the store.
PS - I'm carrying a lot more injuries than that... years of skateboarding, cycling and surfing accidents.

Yeah got the same skateboarding bruising, surfskate now, less damaging and still good fun.

Dropped them an email.

Few blokes buying the derevko suits on eBay for 120 and reckon they are okay . Probably won't last as long as the better name suits and can't imagine they can be watertight at that price - all depends on your what you are after , how many times you are going to wear it , whether you want a cold water flush when you jump in .

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beachandbush said..

Cuttlefish said..
needessentials.com/
There's 2 factories in Thailand (Onsmooth and Neil Pryde) which make wetsuits for many of the different brands...Rip curl, Billabong, Quiksilver etc.
Need come from there. Unbranded and without any retail outlets so on line only.

Who on this forum gets ten years out of a wetsuit. I'll get two seasons and that's it. Need Estentials less then three hundred bucks.

If a wetsuits deteriated to a point where you ripped your arse it was probably leaking anyway.

Stay dry stay warm is the motto.

Yep get 10 years out of most of mine - don't piss in them , flush In water
and hang after every use , admittedly have about 5 steamers and spring suits in the go - like putting them on dry
lately started washing them in this from wetsuit warehouse after use - costs bugger all and lasts forever

How do you not pee in a wetsuit? particularly if you are out there for a couple of hours...

I pee in mine! Wash them out in the warm shower when I get home and hang them out in the sun to dry (not in the full sun).

Always get 4yrs plus out of my suits and I only run 1x springy and 1x steamer...

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Tassiedevel said..
Few blokes buying the derevko suits on eBay for 120 and reckon they are okay . Probably won't last as long as the better name suits and can't imagine they can be watertight at that price - all depends on your what you are after , how many times you are going to wear it , whether you want a cold water flush when you jump in .

**** that's cheap. I bought one as a second suit and for relaly cold days Neoprene isn't as stretchy as the top of the line ones. And the seams aren't taped either but as a back up or 4/3 your going to wear a few times a season they are good value for money. Think mine was $170.

WELCOME BACK PUP!!!!