Hi everyone,
I have purchased some absolute shocking wetsuits. Last year I get a wetsuit from need essentials. Awsome buy!!
I paid $280 for the wetsuit which is very cheap.
I wrote a review on their website:
"Purchased 5/4 Thermal Chest Zip Wetsuit and 2mm Balaclava Vest in November 2021. Used for windsurfing in Japan, water temp down to 12c and wind up to 40knts. Even had light snow a few weeks ago, could not see on the ground but just falling from the sky. The wetsuit is great, no rips tears, nothing wrong with it. I use it 3 times a week and was waiting a while to write a review, just in case. Fantastic friendly staff, good quality service, and a great product. Would defiantly buy it again. Thank you very much need essentials."
Anyone in that price range and looking good quality, I would recommend them.

I have a 3/2 Spring suit...2 years and still going strong....great value for money.

+1 for Need Essentials quality and value.
But I found the arms a little tight for windsurfing (the 4/3 steamer) - has anyone else had this problem?

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azymuth said..
+1 for Need Essentials quality and value.
But I found the arms a little tight for windsurfing (the 4/3 steamer) - has anyone else had this problem?

I cut the arms off

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Henners said..
Hi everyone,
I have purchased some absolute shocking wetsuits. Last year I get a wetsuit from need essentials. Awsome buy!!
I paid $280 for the wetsuit which is very cheap.
I wrote a review on their website:
"Purchased 5/4 Thermal Chest Zip Wetsuit and 2mm Balaclava Vest in November 2021. Used for windsurfing in Japan, water temp down to 12c and wind up to 40knts. Even had light snow a few weeks ago, could not see on the ground but just falling from the sky. The wetsuit is great, no rips tears, nothing wrong with it. I use it 3 times a week and was waiting a while to write a review, just in case. Fantastic friendly staff, good quality service, and a great product. Would defiantly buy it again. Thank you very much need essentials."
Anyone in that price range and looking good quality, I would recommend them.

I just re-read what I wrote. Sounds like English is my second language, not true I just speak it and write it poorly.
I use a wetsuit, like this, for about 4 to 5 months of the year and about 2 to 3 times a week. I will try to keep it in mind, that when it finally rips/tears etc... I will update the post. Interested to see how long it takes. My rip curl 3mm wetsuit lasted over 10 years and it is still good to go but just lets a little bit of water through the zipper. I tried replacing it with an Adrenalin wetsuit which is total crap and I would recommend staying well clear of that brand. I might fix the zipper with a bit of glue and keep it going.

No thanks, worst wetsuit I've owned. Chest zip was too small to get into and got a back zip replacement. Zip jammed all the time and couldn't zip up without help. Wasn't as warm as my others or as flexible. Happy to buy a wetsuit suited for windsurfing that fits and works well. The price is secondary for me.

They're warm enough but way off in the flexibility department compared to an o'neill mid / top range suit.

For me the extra $$ is worth it for the more premium suit. Especially in a 4/3 where they start to hinder movement.

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kato said..
No thanks, worst wetsuit I've owned. Chest zip was too small to get into and got a back zip replacement. Zip jammed all the time and couldn't zip up without help. Wasn't as warm as my others or as flexible. Happy to buy a wetsuit suited for windsurfing that fits and works well. The price is secondary for me.

You should have tried the Adrenalin wetsuit, it split right on the backside and let water through the top. Then that would have been the worst.

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azymuth said..
+1 for Need Essentials quality and value.
But I found the arms a little tight for windsurfing (the 4/3 steamer) - has anyone else had this problem?

Never had a problem in the flexibility department. It might be better suited for long armed, lanky people.

It was my first chest wetsuit, and the first 3 or four times I found it very hard to get in and out of, but I was warned by other people that a chest wetsuit is difficult compared to a back zip. I really don't have much reference to other chest wetsuit so I am not sure if it is easier or harder to get into than other brands but I did see a few youtube videos to help me figure out the process and they all like a struggle.

If you have the cash then why not spend it on a higher run wetsuit. I was faced with spending over $1000 AUD for a wetsuit + shipping, and taxes "balls" to that. But if you got the cash why not spend it on your passion.

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Henners said..

azymuth said..
+1 for Need Essentials quality and value.
But I found the arms a little tight for windsurfing (the 4/3 steamer) - has anyone else had this problem?

Never had a problem in the flexibility department. It might be better suited for long armed, lanky people.

It was my first chest wetsuit, and the first 3 or four times I found it very hard to get in and out of, but I was warned by other people that a chest wetsuit is difficult compared to a back zip. I really don't have much reference to other chest wetsuit so I am not sure if it is easier or harder to get into than other brands but I did see a few youtube videos to help me figure out the process and they all like a struggle.

If you have the cash then why not spend it on a higher run wetsuit. I was faced with spending over $1000 AUD for a wetsuit + shipping, and taxes "balls" to that. But if you got the cash why not spend it on your passion.

No weight increase when wet and flexibility are the two things I want in a Wetsuit. So I tend to go high end, last year I bought a Psycho 5.5, that is a fantastic wetsuit, and for years I used Boz 4/3 that are built with Yamamoto neoprene. www.wetsuitsboz.com/en The cost of the Need Essentials (NE) is similar to mid level O'Neill, but I cannot find much information about what material NE uses. Hard to consider it because of that. Would I be buying a less flexible and heavier when wet suit, or what?

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duzzi said..

Henners said..

azymuth said..
+1 for Need Essentials quality and value.
But I found the arms a little tight for windsurfing (the 4/3 steamer) - has anyone else had this problem?

Never had a problem in the flexibility department. It might be better suited for long armed, lanky people.

It was my first chest wetsuit, and the first 3 or four times I found it very hard to get in and out of, but I was warned by other people that a chest wetsuit is difficult compared to a back zip. I really don't have much reference to other chest wetsuit so I am not sure if it is easier or harder to get into than other brands but I did see a few youtube videos to help me figure out the process and they all like a struggle.

If you have the cash then why not spend it on a higher run wetsuit. I was faced with spending over $1000 AUD for a wetsuit + shipping, and taxes "balls" to that. But if you got the cash why not spend it on your passion.

No weight increase when wet and flexibility are the two things I want in a Wetsuit. So I tend to go high end, last year I bought a Psycho 5.5, that is a fantastic wetsuit, and for years I used Boz 4/3 that are built with Yamamoto neoprene. www.wetsuitsboz.com/en The cost of the Need Essentials (NE) is similar to mid level O'Neill, but I cannot find much information about what material NE uses. Hard to consider it because of that. Would I be buying a less flexible and heavier when wet suit, or what?

Yep for a 4/3 you will be buying heavier and less flexible.
However dont think im bagging the need essentials suit. its a great suit for the money and really warm. It can go head to head with entry level suits no problem, especially in the warmth department.

but for weight and flexibility it doesn't compare to the higher end Psycho.

Those top of the line main stream surf brand wetsuit are such rubbish. Fall apart so quickly. had a recent psycho and the material just tears. Comfy but rubbish. $ and Enviromental waste. All the big brands are the same though.

got and Patagonia that's about as stretchy as a 1900 dive suit, but it's only 2mm shorty so not too bad to wear. Neglected and going strong 5+ years.

last winter got need Yulex, it's good. I can't tell the stretch difference, maybe marginal. Just feels way less fragile. No wear signs. Can feel some water entry in back which has be reported elsewhere. No way would I choose a big name over the need, irrespective of price. There's other decent wetsuits out there too. wetsuits shouldn't be disposable nor should you have to spend you life maintaining them. Surf/back of car/surf.repeat

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DunkO said..
Those top of the line main stream surf brand wetsuit are such rubbish. Fall apart so quickly. had a recent psycho and the material just tears. Comfy but rubbish. $ and Enviromental waste. All the big brands are the same though.

got and Patagonia that's about as stretchy as a 1900 dive suit, but it's only 2mm shorty so not too bad to wear. Neglected and going strong 5+ years.

last winter got need Yulex, it's good. I can't tell the stretch difference, maybe marginal. Just feels way less fragile. No wear signs. Can feel some water entry in back which has be reported elsewhere. No way would I choose a big name over the need, irrespective of price. There's other decent wetsuits out there too. wetsuits shouldn't be disposable nor should you have to spend you life maintaining them. Surf/back of car/surf.repeat

You do realise 75% of the worlds wetsuits are made in the one factory and that includes Patagonia.

Just my experience, maybe it's the rubber type as suppose to neoprene. The ultra stretch types just fall apart, got the cash and do care. Go for it. 2x billabong 1x psycho and 1x rip curl all top of the line disintegrated so quickly. Need I'd only a season old and Patagonia maybe 5-8years. I still have Thinking I'd repair them, don't though no point. Ill send photos.
my experience tells me they're crap

ProMotion wetsuits are designed, made, and supported in Hood River, Oregon. I have had good luck with them. If your body has odd shapes and sizes, the also do custom. I have no idea about whether they ship internationallly.

I generally like Oneill, but their XL, XXL, and XXXL sizes are too small for the measurements they show on their size charts.

I have has a bad experience with an O'Neill Psycho Tech- Seams failing both side of chest at 15 months m- They are not interested as over the 12 month warranty. We were locked out of our beach shack in Nth NSW for most of last winter so barely used. It was reallywarm and flexible but poor quality. Do not buy O Neill. My last Ripcurl Dawn Patrol is stretched but intact at 5 years
Keep Warm!

Promotion suits are NOT durable at all. I got maybe 6 months of moderate use before all the seams started failing.
It replaced a 10 year old Quicksilver which is still in better shape but the neck seal it now rough enough to cause chaffing.
I'll never buy another.

I use a 5/3 suit i bought from Sail Repair in the winter months.

Flexibility is not a problem as the i chose three sizes too big.

I wanted only two sizes bigger but he did not have it in stock so i bought the one a size below XL and i am only SM.

Legs and arms are around 8cm too long but i fold the arms over at the wrists so no problem.

Flexibility is same as a 3/2 due to the size.

Best thing ive ever done for winter sailing in Perth.

It makes a huge improvement in warmth compared to the quality blind stiched and glued 3/2 that i had before.

Using bigger wetsuits you never have to worry about breaking zips etc as the stress on them is so much less.

I agree, love mine