Right sizing in full wetsuits...

[boarderinblack]

Hi,

I have been both windsurfing and kiteboarding for couple of years. Kiteboarding is my primary watersports compared to windsurfing, wakeboarding, scuba diving and rafting.


I’m planning to buy 5/4/3 or 4/3 full wetsuit and NPX Zealot, Neil Pryde 5000, NP Elite, NPX Assassin and Neil Pryde 3000 are my main options. As a beginner durability in wetsuits is one of my main concern as well as heat isolation for windchill. I would like to ask advantages of shin guards available in zealot and their robustness for beginners? Do you think whether it's quite beneficial or just commercial hype for a kiteboarder?

The most important criteria in choosing wetsuit is proper sizing and snug fitting for me. As you know, so the better the wetsuit fits, less cold water will get in and the warmer we will be. Every time i fall the pressure of water will try to push it into my warm suit and this is how i get cold.

When considering the size chart, my body measurements as below match with Small Tall size(94) of Neil Pryde that only available in Neil Pryde 3000 series and NPX assassin.

Neil Pryde does not produce Small Tall size in the upper category of wetsuits like Elite, Edge, 5k, Zealot where as it does produce all other transition sizes like MT,LT,XLT, etc.

I had chance to demo Neil Pryde 3000 and 2000 series in Small size, 3000 series feel bigger and more stretchy but not comfortable enough in the crotch part. I think my torso length is some where between M and L.

I would rather buy Elite, Zealot or 5k series than 3k and Assassin due to their more advanced features.

Which size would you go for if you were me?

Do you think those models' neoprene and seam are more stretchier than 3k series I demoed that would make small size tolarable in terms of comfort of crotch part.

If not, do you think that their neo is stretchy enough to shrink that there would be no significant gap in chest, waist and especially at back in kidney area, if i go for Medium size.


Your opinion counts for me, please feel free to share it. Thanks in advance…


Cheers,

Sinan

Height 180 cm
Weight 63 kgs
Crotch-ankle 73 cm
neckbase-crotch 73 cm
midneck-wrist 76 cm
chest 91 cm
waist 74 cm
hips 90 cm
head 57.5 cm
neck 36.5 cm

[Kamikuza]

Switch do wetsuits in 4/3. Hyperflex AmpIII is another good one... dunno what more 'advanced features' you could want...? Size charts available for both on their homepages.

[Bain]

www.wetsuit.com

The best.

You would be very close to a size "S" from them, but may be a tad short.
BUT, they do custom stuff as well.

[Ozzie]

I am using Mystic Wetsuit and Rash Vest. I really like the quality and the design. Stringly reccomend them.

[boarderinblack]

Thanks for your prompt reply, guys...

Only available models in ST(94) size are Neil Pryde 3000 series and NPX Assassin. In durability terms, Assassin sounds better but its DL neoprene bothers me about its windchill performance.

On the other hand, i would like to ask whether Assassin has shin guards as Zealot and what do you think about performance of shin guards in NPX designs? Does it work well when your kiteboard hits your shins when you accidentally put your kite in power zone or is it just a commercial hype?

As Kamikuza asked, i mean stretchier non-stick seam sealant made of polyurethane for enhanced waterproofness, more freedom of movement and better in cutting down windchill performance by limestone based neoprene from Yamamoto Corp., better insulation tech in keeping you warmer and drier by Zirconium Carbide and lighther material in weight while saying more advanced features...

Cheers,

[knot_moving]

I have 2 npx wetsuits: full 4/3 assasin and a shorty. Full has had 2 seasons on it - meaning maybe 30 sessions & shorty half that number.
Full zipper pull came off beginning of last season. Shorty ripped out.
I am done with NPX.
Other threads on problems with newer generation wetsuits.
Anyone using zhik? I think they
Make full suits - ive used their partial suits for sailing & love them. Pricey but worth it if they last

[briansuntrax]

We currently sell 3 brands of wetsuit in our Cape Town stores and for the past 3 years have had great succes with the Xcel X-flex WIND series suits for kite and windsurfing.
A great feature is that they have a T(tall) and an S(short) for each size, i.e in the L size there is an LT and an LS. We find the S versions popular with the more mature guy who perhaps drinks a little too much beer this guy in the past has perhaps had to go up a size which was then too long for him.
We have also found that they have the least quality come-backs of the brands which is important to us both from a customer satisfaction viewpoint, plus is less hassles for us.
Thay also have very good sizing detail on a card attached to each suit.

We have no particular affiliation to Xcel, am just passing on our in-store findings

Brian