Need Essential Wetsuits
Which makes me think if i shouldn't go with the Medium first....
Much easier in first instance to tell if the M is far too tight and i've got to go with the Large...... Than it is to try on the Large and wonder if the M would be better, exchange, then find out M is too small and have to go back to Large. hmmm
Order both sizes ....Need will refund you on the wrong size
And wetsuit quality is top notch btw too
Will talk to Ryan and see what he thinks for best approach
I got large was around 84 kg was too big. Need -ed Medium BTW it is Great rubber.
Bugger, just seeing this Purple after having ordered. Ryan suggested Large... so we'll see
He is sweet with exchange great to deal with I had large but unfortunately thought it was correct neck was too loose so sold the large to a mate he did resize from the first batch. Let us know how ya go.
How did you order when they're saying they're out of stock?
Wait Coaster he will give a date when due back in stock.
Coaster wrote:How did you order when they're saying they're out of stock?
you must be looking at different suit Coaster. I bought the Long Arm Spring, which is still showing as In Stock for me...??
Mr Needs is soon to make back zip steamers .
Welly , the Need boardies are great to surf in all black - $45.
Well Udo thats good news for me,much prefer back zip over chest any day.
KoNG wrote:Coaster wrote:How did you order when they're saying they're out of stock?
you must be looking at different suit Coaster. I bought the Long Arm Spring, which is still showing as In Stock for me...??
A belated thanks, Kong. I was after the 3/2 Steamer. They're back in stock now and I ordered one on Tuesday. Prices are up by $20 but still very good value.
Fuckn hell...gotta be quick if you want a new suit ...sold out again.
Send him an email and he'll let you know in advance of the date that they're due back in stock.
Bad luck Udo,
Got an email the week before last, went in and ordered a 3/2 steamer, $200, less than half the price of the RC end of season sale I have currently. It'll be a back up for the moment, or maybe my preferred suit, and useful for those trips away in winter where it's always nice to have a second wettie. The RC feels heavier and stiffer, so very happy about the comfort level.
Around 5'10, 72 kgs, medium is a great and comfortable fit, much easier to get on and off then the RC. Yes, there's a bit of a technique to getting them on and off, but once mastered not a problem. Warm as, in fact haven't been cold all winter with the RC and this seemed as good. Warning, no key pocket. I do like a key pocket, told them so in an email. Took about 5 days to arrive in Sydney. Will almost certainly get a long arm short leg for the other months in between, if they have them in stock. Seems that keeping up with demand may be a problem.
Anyone bought the Need Essential 2mm Jacket?
Winter #1 finished on my 3/2 ls steamer and am happy overall with it
Though for some weird reason the left ankle on mine is slightly short (?)
How are the sealed seams after a season?
NEED wetties have been good to me. To be honest, they are probably are not as quality as say a top of the line other brands.
But...
For the price they are head and shoulders above. They do stretch a lot, and the sealed seams do seem to be 'cracking' after a year of solid use ( surfing and diving ).
Also, I find a 4/3 NEED is not as warm as a normal 4/3.
Just some advice if anyone was going to order one.
I will definitely be re ordering when the time comes.
Had a good look at the seams yesterday before storing it, and all still going good Saltman
My 2/2 long arm spring has been overall really good.
Really light a stretchy which was my key want.
quality is good for the price for sure and its been warm enough to wear often when i would be reaching for the 3/2 full.
Two small things to note:
Neck opening is slightly loose compared to my brand steamers, so that is probably one thing that could have some attention.
The legs (its a springy) are maybe and inch shorter than i'd like...
Agree with Kong about the neck, but not a deal breaker
I have sort legs anyway so no issue there either
I had a shoulder seam open up after 6 months, sent it back and they repaired it
so all good so far
Probably suit me then. I have a big neck and a lot of stock suits choke me.
Needs advertising on swellnet page
Supposedly Aus USA and Europe sales have gone mental to the stage Need can barely keep up
Accountant must of said spend some $$
Anyone had problems with the feel of the back seem? its pressing so much against my shoulder plates...pretty uncomfortable.
Flamer,
i just received my second Need suit (S/S Steamer), only ordered on Friday and its here already. Dry try on this morning for size check, and yes i could feel the taping along my right shoulder blade mostly.
(I can't feel this on my L/S Spring, but its doesn't have taping).
i was expecting this would dissipate once it was wet and a few wears loosened it up. i'm not overly concerned either way.
Have you worn yours much..? are you on the border of sizes..?
Update,
the 2.5mm S/S is working well, 4 or 5 surfs in and i'm not feeling the taped seam along the shoulder blades at all, so was just an issue from the dry wear.
Happy
How about flushing at the neck and next to zipper? I had a Vissla 7 Seas (looks very similar), and while it was super comfy, it flushed like bloody crazy.
Tempted to get a 3/2 for Wellington summers (yep, never get's warm here...)
Took my 3:2 out in Portugal yesterday, just north of Nazare. Cold, but not as cold as SA in winter. Yet.
It's just over a year old and starting to let a bit of water in around the neck when duck diving the bigger sets, but the seams are holding up so far.
Got a 4/3 Medium backzip, pretty much same as Xcel Med but a tad more room in chest area and midriff which is a good thing. Back slickskin section is 5mm limestone and extremely warm. Add batwing and furnace like! As with all batwings that do not have the pull-over part (like West wetties) is a bit hard to keep flat putting on unless you are double jointed but ask a passer-by and no probs. Now 6 months use and no leaks, seems AOK. Good buy indeed.
I have a 3/2 steamer front zip and it's very good, not really a problem getting in and out once you get the drift. One shoulder out, other shoulder etc, work out which one feels easier for you. Have no problems at all with the neck/shoulder seam, but it had no key pocket or anything, which I got back to them about and told them it was a bit of a miss. I wear a key around my neck tied on old boardies string. It's ok.
Bought a new 2mm long arm springy in November. Used it once and the right neck/shoulder seam was rubbing fiercely after half an hour. Checked it out and it sticks out rather badly, not sure if that was some change in design or stitching. I've taped it up with that really strong grey tape stuff. Not sure how that will go as I moved quickly onto boardies and a vest. Will find out sometime in April/May I imagine.
Next solution if the tape doesn't hold is just dabbing some vaseline on it regularly. Used to work on previous suits where I had that problem.
Need Essential guys, there seems to be a problem here in more recent runs. Check it out.
i bought a 4/3 back zip last year and the suit has a bat wing as surfing -cronulla said above.Only tried it once as the water never got cold enough but the bat wing got stuck in the zip ,couldnt get the zip up even after getting back out of it a couple times,why it was designed like this is beyond me.Anyway on the third try the zip caught on the bat wing so i thought i would paddle out and get someone in the water to adjust it ,fuk, poor bloke tried but couldn't so ended up surfing with it with the zip half up and filling with water each duck dive .Bad design .
Apologies for reviving an old thread, but seemed to make more sense to post here than make a new one...
My old springy I've been using for the past however many years had finally carked it.
I was thinking about getting a tube suit + a radiator to replace it (more options -- boardies plus vest, tube only, tube + vest...)
Anyone have/had a needessentials short john? Are they comfy? How long do they last?
just get your leaky 43 and cut the legs and arms off. no need to hem. it works fine. and cos the wettie is a bit leaky it wont matter its a 43 as the water it lets in will cool you down
my needs 43 lasted less than a year. same with o neill psycho freak, rip curl flash bomb, even my excel dry lock x has lasted less than a year. unless you soak the salt off after every surf, no wetsuit will last they all fall apart. I cant be stuffed with that cos id rather get in a dry wettie. wetsuits are one of the biggest ripoffs in the surf industry
I have had my Needs 4/3 for 3 years and this year it has carked it right towards the end of winter. It's starting to let a lot of water in, I think the neoprene has degraded to the extent it is not a solid layer any more.
I also have a 2mm Needs springy. The leg ripped right at the bottom where the stitching is around the leg hole after about 6 months, but other than that it has been going fine.
Comfort/fit have been fine for my body shape.
So just ordered a wettie from these guys, have read nothing but positive reviews and was wondering if anyone here would like to add their thoughts? And how long after ordering did the wetsuit arrive at your door? Any replies would be appreciated!