marco gribi said...
Hi AUS4,

Sorry to disagree, but sales would indicate that the vast majority of Windsurfers wear Double lined suits. Even in Europe where it is far colder and a higher wind chill they are converting to Double lined for Durability, Stretch and Warmth.

However the Flux is only one model in the range, so I guess the Lava is more your speed?




Cheers,
Marco

Please don't mislead the public with double lined, I worked for O'Neill for 7 years and I know the real sale figures. Yeah double lined is cheaper but double lined is for IN the water and single lined is for ON the water. A 3/2 single lined suit equals a 4/3 double lined suit for warmth. Because of this you can get away with a thinner suit which equals more movement. The suit 5/3 Lava suit you suggest is way over spec ( good for Iceland) and is no wonder you don't sell many of them. Go for Neil Pryde.

aus301 said...

AUS4 said...
double lined is for IN the water and single lined is for ON the water.

I guess that statement all depends on the sport... There is no way I would want a single lined suit for SUP which is ON the water for the majority of the time, single lined would be just too hot and inflexible. But then that is all getting far away from the original topic isn't it.

Sputnik, personally I would be weary of buying a suit online. It will be hard to get the right fit, and especially if gong for a super stretchy suit for the first time you may want some sort of sales advice. And stick to the name brands, not only are they often a superior product, the after sales service on some of the brands is exceptional.

Duly noted - cheers.

An interesting discussion.

Hi AUS4,

And apologies to other readers, but the below comment gets my goat!!
Probably why as an industry person I have only made 74 posts since joining in 2003.

"Please don't mislead the public with double lined, I worked for O'Neill for 7 years and I know the real sale figures."

Do you seriously think our business intent would be to mislead the public??
How long has it been since you worked for O'Neill? And did you leave because they did not share your vision and make single lined suits?? Even in their current Wind / Kite range they do not seem to have a single lined suit, maybe they are onto something

I highly doubt that you would have access / know the real sales figures for all brands in recent times or even what we sell. We are not just an Australian based brand, we sell our products into 25 countries and most of which are in Europe. Our range is shaped over many years by customer feedback / demand, so we focus or designs on what works and therefore sells.

Guess we have to agree to disagree, but I am not real sure what your beef is with our brand??

Regards,
Marco

it's cause of all the chips we have on them Matt They just wear through all too quickly

Mathew said: “What I want to know is, why does every wetsuit wear out in the shoulders?”

Well, it's for two reasons: think about the very small radius curves that are in your shoulder (sideways and front-to-back) and think how the wetsuit must fit around those curves all of the time and flex at the same time. The material on the outside is under tension all of the time, stressing it and leading to eventual failure.

The second reason is the sun: your shoulders are always facing toward the sun and, even in winter, there is a fair amount of UV rays that are hitting the material and breaking it down. You can try to stop/reduce the effect of UV on single-lined wetsuits by using this: .mcnett.com/UV-Tech-Protectant-Rejuvenator-P243.aspx. My winter wetsuits get it sprayed on them twice a year: once in March, just before I start to use the suit in winter and then once in November, when the wettie gets shampooed/cleaned and put away until next March.

Never used the anti-UV spray on double-lined wetties, because I'm satisfied with the life I get out of them (years) and besides, a new wettie feels SO GOOD!

Hope this helps.

mathew said...
Hirarious to hear from NSW folks on how you dont need a 5/3 wetsuit...

It always gives me a smile when people who comment on winter wetties don't even know what cold water is

T 11 said...

mathew said...
Hirarious to hear from NSW folks on how you dont need a 5/3 wetsuit...

It always gives me a smile when people who comment on winter wetties don't even know what cold water is

Sub 10 degrees air temperature and water temperature are fairly normal windsurfing conditions for NSW coastal lakes in winter. Of course there are no icebergs and its not snowing lakeside. However can be snowing less than 100kms away and the wind direction is coming from there, not from the sea. So the air is cold. On the same day the sea water temperature can be 10 degrees warmer.

We do get cold weather in NSW. People die of hypothermia in NSW waters. So smile all you want. Sometimes its colder in NSW than it is in southern states in winter just like sometimes it much hotter in southern states than it is in NSW in summer.

Mark _australia said...
I am in the market for a new wettie and will probably buy F.O simply because it is aussie and their sales service is spot on.

But Marco is there a flux 3/2 with back zip? I think my shoulder injuries may make a chest hard to climb out of

$600 for a wetsuit is fkn madness, I use the cheapest Ripcurl 3x2 from 5 years ago, about a $250 suit then, and am plenty warm enough windsurfing in it. Maybe if surfing anywhere south I'd want warmer but bloody hell $600+

But what is single and double lined? You can have neoprene, or neoprene smooth skin used in some panels. ?? does double refer to the neoprene that is like cloth both sides, and single is what we always called smoothies?

Don't try the $600 ripcurl wettie, you'll never be able to buy there cheap ones again.
No way would I consider buying anything but the top of the line...so much comfier.

Mark _australia said...
I am in the market for a new wettie and will probably buy F.O simply because it is aussie and their sales service is spot on.

But Marco is there a flux 3/2 with back zip? I think my shoulder injuries may make a chest hard to climb out of

$600 for a wetsuit is fkn madness, I use the cheapest Ripcurl 3x2 from 5 years ago, about a $250 suit then, and am plenty warm enough windsurfing in it. Maybe if surfing anywhere south I'd want warmer but bloody hell $600+

But what is single and double lined? You can have neoprene, or neoprene smooth skin used in some panels. ?? does double refer to the neoprene that is like cloth both sides, and single is what we always called smoothies?

Give the shoulder zip a go mark, I have had a shoulder reconstruction and have pretty average mobility in that shoulder but have been using a shoulder zip suit for a while and will find it difficult to go back to anything else. A zip up the back now feels like having a rod up your back in comparison.

Been surfing and sailing for 30-40 years. Had every kind of wetsuit.

The biggest factor is AGE!

A wetsuit over 2 years old is going down fast. Ditch it and get a new one. Be amazed how warm the new one is!

Me?

Peak 4/3 surfing. RR was 240. 20% off sale = $200. Now coming up to 2 years old and I am on the lookout for a new one.

Very bad strategy to buy a super expensive wetsuit and then hang on to it for 5 years to try to justify the cost. Better to get a new cheap on every year.

Each to their own I guess, but I would prefer to support the local retailer I just used to get my wetty size and who spent their time explaining one suit from another to me, and who I will probably rely on should anything go wrong with the wetty. Having a real shop and not just an online store costs money, but adds a lot of convenience. But that's just me.

I hear you - I would really prefer to support the local retailer, but honestly, if there is a 40% difference in price, I can't justify it. What I won't do it use them to try on sizes and then buy online. Something feels not quite right about doing this.

Thanks to Marco and the boys for my new 3/2 flying objects wettie.got sick of wearing black like everyone so got a nice bright one.
Very soft,warm wettie to wear windsurfing,SUP and surfing. Most of crew over here wear flying objects gear and you can't bet value for money
Great gear:.......keep up the good work

T 11 said...
don't even know what cold water is

That'd be me

Sputnik11 said...
For what its worth [and this might prompt a very different discussion] I just got the new winter wettie. Very happy with it, bought it online from OS and it was delivered to my door in less than a week for $220 (including delivery).

I know a lot of you advised against buying online, a lot of advice to buy local or support the local shop, but if you find good online retailer (and there are many) they will do the sizing piece really well, as well as provide you very quick feedback if you have questions.

I got a wetsuit I am really pleased with, fits perfectly and was cheap.

That is very cheap what suit did you end up with?

Sputnik11 said...

Jman said...

Sputnik11 said...
For what its worth [and this might prompt a very different discussion] I just got the new winter wettie. Very happy with it, bought it online from OS and it was delivered to my door in less than a week for $220 (including delivery).

I know a lot of you advised against buying online, a lot of advice to buy local or support the local shop, but if you find good online retailer (and there are many) they will do the sizing piece really well, as well as provide you very quick feedback if you have questions.

I got a wetsuit I am really pleased with, fits perfectly and was cheap.

That is very cheap what suit did you end up with?

I went with a 4/3 Neil Pryde.

Model?