Good wetsuits that don't need repairs every 6 to 12 months

If seams were failing after 6 mths, why didn't you make a warranty claim? And don't most wetsuits these days have life time warranties on the seams?

I had same issue with last years O'Neill Psycho III. Expensive wetty and was coming apart at the rubber strips covering the seams on the chest after only a few months so I sent it back under warranty. Previous years models used to last 3-4 years. Had to wait 3 months for it to come back but instead of repairing it they sent me the 2015 model instead. Had to wait 3 months as the 2015 model not yet in the country. Much better model - no little rubber strip covering up the seams on the chest anymore - looks just to be stitched. One less point of failure.

I had an f bomb that started deteriorating after 6 months, 12 months and the inner lining had pulled away from the neoprene. Crap wetsuit. Just started using my old spare instead which has holes but is warmer and stretchier. Currently waiting on one of those needs essential wetsuits to land at my door. Only $200. Will give a quick review when I get it.

Struggled the last 6 years to find good wettys that last. In saying that I surf in them nearly every day, put them straight on the line and they don't get rinsed besides at the shower down the beach.

About 10 or so yeas ago the Rip Curl E Bomb's used to last well, but I think with the stretch material now they just all deteriorate, or I'm expecting too much when used to regularily.

Like the Quik Cypher suits but bought two last year for the price of one so they'd last me at least 2 seasons..

Needs have changed there sizing this year.......most reviews last year said were that they were to big..as in you wear a large in other brands ..but could a Needs could have been a medium.......
The new sizing chart still seem out a bit to me.
Needs are far from a 'budget' wetsuit--- absolute top quality but at a budget price.

Does anyone know where you could potentially get a zipper replaced?

I've had a Tiki wetsuit for about 3 winters. You could put it back on the rack and you wouldn't know its even been used.

Only downfall was when I was doing the zipper up it came off.

I took it to a dry cleaner paid fkn $50 and they said they fixed it. Went to put it on and the zipper came straight off again. they made a sucker out of me.

I was thinking maybe a Tent shop? They must replace zippers on tents occasionally?

Any thoughts?

Piece of piss to do yourself, the part is about $3 max,just did one on a boardbag...google around .
Crusst whats the best brand zipper part to buy ?

udo wrote:

Needs have changed there sizing this year.......most reviews last year said were that they were to big..as in you wear a large in other brands ..but could a Needs could have been a medium.......
The new sizing chart still seem out a bit to me.
Needs are far from a 'budget' wetsuit--- absolute top quality but at a budget price.

Agreed, although I haven't used one in the water, I have tried one on and the neoprene felt top quality. Lighter & stretchier than the rip curl suits I've had over the years. Even if it only last 6-12 months I'm still $400 ahead of any other similar wetsuit.

I still cant get the gist of the 'no warranty' with Needs ?

Yeah, I'm not sure thats actually legal but have emailed him plenty and would be very surprised if he refused to help out with a legitimately defective product. He has been amazingly helpful with me after I ordered the wrong size.

I had never heard of Need before today but cheers for the heads up boys, I know where my next wetsuit is coming from, in saying that I bought a nice Peak steamer last year off Surf Stitch for $160.00 and a West vest for $30.00, the key is looking out of season but still you are lucky to get more than a season out of them.

I've had a few wetsuits and all bar one have lasted me over 5 years. The exception was a Quiksilver springy that I got back when they first entered the wetsuit market.

My current wetty was my first foray into buying internationally - a 5/3 O'Neill steamer that I had imported from the UK for about 1/3 of the Australian price. It's still going strong after two southern winters, but that's in part because I don't get into the water nearly as often as I'd like to.

Tut-tut Craig for not rinsing. You might as well piss your money up against the wall. Even surfing every day, you'll get at least a couple of winters out of a suit if you take care of it properly ("Fuck off mum" I hear you muttering).

Does anyone have a web address for Need wetsuits? I tried Googling them but all I got was a whole lot of nothing...

Craig wrote:

Struggled the last 6 years to find good wettys that last. In saying that I surf in them nearly every day, put them straight on the line and they don't get rinsed besides at the shower down the beach.

About 10 or so yeas ago the Rip Curl E Bomb's used to last well, but I think with the stretch material now they just all deteriorate, or I'm expecting too much when used to regularily.

yep, that's how it works. don't rinse your wetty properly, then hang it in the sun, it'll deteriorate all right.

whoever was asking about zippers -- YKK

Surf Starved, yeah always in a rush back from the waves on the way into work, chuck it on the line and it sits there to the next day, so yeah partly my fault..

surfstarved wrote:

I've had a few wetsuits and all bar one have lasted me over 5 years. The exception was a Quiksilver springy that I got back when they first entered the wetsuit market.

My current wetty was my first foray into buying internationally - a 5/3 O'Neill steamer that I had imported from the UK for about 1/3 of the Australian price. It's still going strong after two southern winters, but that's in part because I don't get into the water nearly as often as I'd like to.

Tut-tut Craig for not rinsing. You might as well piss your money up against the wall. Even surfing every day, you'll get at least a couple of winters out of a suit if you take care of it properly ("Fuck off mum" I hear you muttering).

Does anyone have a web address for Need wetsuits? I tried Googling them but all I got was a whole lot of nothing...

http://www.needessentials.com/

udo wrote:

Piece of piss to do yourself, the part is about $3 max,just did one on a boardbag...google around .
Crusst whats the best brand zipper part to buy ?

Just ordered one of these. $20 from the states...

https://www.fixnzip.com/ Got a large size... will report on how it goes...

I am the importer and distributor of Derevko wetsuits -google it. So blatant plug at the risk of being deleted by Swellnet admin.

Here are my comments on some points raised above -

Seam seals - very hard to get the gluing right. But at least after this discussion I know its not just us that have had problems. We will get this fixed no problem under warranty. Process takes less than 2 weeks including postal time.
We have actually found the solution now, but Im not giving trade secrets out.

Materials - superstretch is a trade off for durability. You just cant have both.

Cost - with myself and others there is just no need to pay over $500 for a decent 3:2 or 4:3 wetsuit these days. Now that the AUS$ has dropped below US80c ordering from overseas is not as cost effective as 2 years ago, but there are plenty of reasonably priced, locally sold wetsuits out there, especially with online only sales like myself.
However, if I was still surfing in Tasmania I would probably pay $500+ for a good 5/4. There is only so much you can do for $200.

Repairs - send to Lesley at Aquasea Underwater Products in Caringbah, NSW. She is who I use and is very good. In fact the repairs are often better than the original work.

thelostclimber wrote:

Repairs - send to Lesley at Aquasea Underwater Products in Caringbah, NSW. She is who I use and is very good. In fact the repairs are often better than the original work.

Thanks for the heads up. And don't worry about deletion TLC; long time poster, all in context etc etc.

ACB__ wrote:

udo wrote:

Piece of piss to do yourself, the part is about $3 max,just did one on a boardbag...google around .
Crusst whats the best brand zipper part to buy ?

Just ordered one of these. $20 from the states...

https://www.fixnzip.com/ Got a large size... will report on how it goes...

Hi , doubt those fix zip things are going to do the job, metal will probably corrode real quick in a wettie and a slider is either for a coil or a chunky zip, chunky zips being the one in wetties.

I use plastic YKK chunky sliders have not had one fail me in 10 years, used a batch of a different brand once, lost a lot of money on return postage.
Pretty easy to replace a slider, takes a minute with only the slider little longer if you take the top 2 teeth off and put the new slider in then put s/s ring top stops over the 2 top teeth total cost about 2-3$

ACB...better cancel that fixnzip order and use your $20 for postage to Crusst for the repair.

+1 for Need just ordered 3/2, last 2 wetsuits bought O/S, have to support a start up run by surfers. Not ripping surfers off. Warranty required by law, just ask Apple!

Just had a custom wetsuit from Japan delivered today Crazy comfortable will be interested in it's durability.

burgsurfer wrote:

surfstarved wrote:

I've had a few wetsuits and all bar one have lasted me over 5 years. The exception was a Quiksilver springy that I got back when they first entered the wetsuit market.

My current wetty was my first foray into buying internationally - a 5/3 O'Neill steamer that I had imported from the UK for about 1/3 of the Australian price. It's still going strong after two southern winters, but that's in part because I don't get into the water nearly as often as I'd like to.

Tut-tut Craig for not rinsing. You might as well piss your money up against the wall. Even surfing every day, you'll get at least a couple of winters out of a suit if you take care of it properly ("Fuck off mum" I hear you muttering).

Does anyone have a web address for Need wetsuits? I tried Googling them but all I got was a whole lot of nothing...

Who was the UK seller please? You got a website?

Was a long time ago burgsurfer, so don't really remember. Could have been Boardshop - http://www.boardshop.co.uk/ - or SecretSpot - http://www.secretspot.co.uk/
Google was my friend...

burgsurfer wrote:

What wetsuits would you recommend that are:

- Most importantly strong and well made (the seams don't give way and the rubber doesn't deteriorate)
- Almost just as important, they are flexible

I almost always surf early mornings so tend to get a 5/3 or a 4/3 just to keep me snug and my mind off the winter chill.

A 5/4 !!! Don't you live on the coal coast ? You'd fucking cook.

Mind you, having just checked out the Need site, I think it might be my first and last foray on the international wetsuit market. If I can get a locally-made, unbranded, functional 4:3 steamer for just $200 I'm going to do it.

They're playing my song...

Cost Fraser-Gordon?

Surfstarved is right. Still a few sites OS that will ship wetties to Aus at very reasonable prices at no freight cost.

I find that the suits with no seam stitching are absolutely the most flexible; but always end up pulling apart at those same seams before any issues with other parts of the suit arise. Really seems as if the glue holding the materials together isn't up to the task as yet.

A decent compromise seems to be - get one of the suits with 'super stretchy' materials, which also has blind stitched and glued seams before any 'liquid' taping is applied. I get one good winter season out of the non-seam stitched suits but generally three from others with blind stitched seams.

The Pyrotech model from O'neill gets decent reviews and I am considering one for this winter season.

http://www.swiminn.com/swimming/o-neill-wetsuits-pyrotech-5-4-mm-black-d...

http://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/oneill-pyrotech-fz-54-mens-winter-wetsuit...

Hearing some good things about the C-Skins wetsuits also re durability. Sounds like the neoprene isn't quite as flexible as some other brands - still very good - and this helps longevity. UK based company but given the features of the wetsuits you would suspect they are made in same / similar factories to the 'big name' brands.

some of their mid-price wetsuits look like they would more than handle an Aus winter. The top end stuff looks super warm...

http://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/c-skins-wired-mens-53mm-autumnwinter-wets...

Not sure if the sites above will ship to Aus though.

could it be also with all the the new technology in stretch neoprene and the smaller entry points the bloody things take twice as longer to remove,therefore involving a lot more needless stretching of the seams.i've got last seasons o'neill psycho 3 and i swear it takes way longer to put it on and take it off than the old model.it is way warmer though and no wash throughs

surfstarved wrote:

Mind you, having just checked out the Need site, I think it might be my first and last foray on the international wetsuit market. If I can get a locally-made, unbranded, functional 4:3 steamer for just $200 I'm going to do it.

They're playing my song...

Surfstarved, unless you live in Asia these aren't locally made.

I have had my need 3/2 for 6 months now and no dramas at all. Just ordering some 4/3 s for me and a few boys today. They are definately good value. Made overseas for sure but designed by Ryan and he's good with getting sizes right with exchanging etc.
I've been still in my 3/2 while mates are in 4/3 lately so they are definately warm enough.

What is everyone's recommendation for a 5/3?
I'm in Tasmania, thinking about winter already.
In the past have heard people get them from the UK - are there any Aus places which sell these?
What about other brands (i.e. not rip curl, oneill, west, billabong)?

Derevko and Need don't make anything thicker than 4/3 which is a bummer as I'd like to try them.
Might be able to get away with 4mm but 5mm would be best!

crustt wrote:

surfstarved wrote:

Mind you, having just checked out the Need site, I think it might be my first and last foray on the international wetsuit market. If I can get a locally-made, unbranded, functional 4:3 steamer for just $200 I'm going to do it.

They're playing my song...

Surfstarved, unless you live in Asia these aren't locally made.

Despite the growing foreign ownership of agricultural land in the Adelaide Hills (unsubstantiated hyperbole), I'm still a fair way from Asia...

Perhaps I should have said 'locally-sold' crusst? Manufacturing aside, at least I'd be supporting a smalltime Australian enterprise, rather than an evil, faceless multinational.

Sorry mate, just thought you may have been under the the impression that they were Aussie made, a credit to the need website it hasn't rolled out the standard "Australian owned company".

Nah, nobody in their right mind is going to delude themselves that they can make a go of manufacturing a non-perishable product in Australia these days. Just a slip of the fingers.

Irony alert, btw, not deliberately being a cunt (well, not too much of one, anyway).

Gilbert, have a look at the 5/4/3 Hot Wired by C-Skins. They carry them in Byron (I think) or you could ship one from the UK. That's if you don't want a 5/3 from the other brands you mentioned.

The local surf stores in Tas do carry 5/3mm wetties, but generally the Xcel, Rip Curl, Patagonia, Oneill and Billabong brands only.

I get my wetties from the UK shipped to Japan. I look for the sales and usually buy last seasons suits and save heaps. Last suit I bought was a Billabong SG5 (5mm) chest zip. 28,000yen delivered (about $290AUD). Really nice, comfortable suit and super warm if a bit weighty though. The company I go through is called Freakfish. Really good service, heaps of suits to choose from and delivered to the door within about 10 days. I've bought a couple from them now.

You might have a problem getting Oz brand suits into Australia though. You might have to look at one of those freight forwarding companies.

Also, got a mate to pick up a new O'Neill Psycho III in the US. He bought retail and got it for about $400USD. I think I'll go back to online.

Craig mentioned Quikky Cypher suits. I had a 3/2 that finally died last season after 4 years. Really stretchy and hard wearing. Recommended.

I'm in Tassie and I've been using Isurus wetsuits for a couple of years. Little Californian company that's doing high quality gear. I recommend that you consider both the quality of the construction and the type of neoprene used. Isurus make a big point about the difference between open cell and closed cell neoprenes, they use closed cell Yamamoto neoprene (all made from limestone, so no petrochemicals!). The majority of the major manufacturers use open cell neoprenes I believe. Open cells have two major downsides; 1. they allow the long term build up of tiny salt crystals deep within the neoprene structure (yes even with regular fresh water rinsing), which with normal movement, then abrade, which causes the cell structure to deteriorate. 2. over the period of the surf session, water penetrates deep within the cell structure, which in turn reduces the insulating value of the neoprene and adds weight to the suit. I have an I-EVADE 434 suit with integrated hood, it's been good for Tassie winters and still looking solid after two years solid use, and I handle my suits fairly roughly (I do always rinse in fresh water after a session though). I also have a 3/2 that I've just used for this summer, I'm very happy with that one too. Have a look at this page http://www.surfisurus.com/material/ Note that they do a comparison chart showing the wet (saturated) weight of their suit compared to other brands which is interesting. Because of the closed cell neoprene, they absorb very little water (and stay lightweight).

surfstarved wrote:

Nah, nobody in their right mind is going to delude themselves that they can make a go of manufacturing a non-perishable product in Australia these days. Just a slip of the fingers.

Irony alert, btw, not deliberately being a cunt (well, not too much of one, anyway).

HaHa, you don't have to tell me mate. It is quite a struggle, If it's a good wage you want, but I'll never be able to call myself surfstarved.;-)

Touche.

Matuse have good deals with sometimes free shipping(look at vintage section which is previous years lines) my two have held up well. I also have a Patagonia short arm which is pretty much my favourite suit, I have heard people say that they're not comfortable but I don't agree and love mine. I think they would have to be the best built suits I have seen and can last for 3 solid years and I wear mine most of the year in margraret river and up in the north west so it cops a beating

bish wrote:

I'm in Tassie and I've been using Isurus wetsuits for a couple of years. Little Californian company that's doing high quality gear. I recommend that you consider both the quality of the construction and the type of neoprene used. Isurus make a big point about the difference between open cell and closed cell neoprenes, they use closed cell Yamamoto neoprene (all made from limestone, so no petrochemicals!). The majority of the major manufacturers use open cell neoprenes I believe. Open cells have two major downsides; 1. they allow the long term build up of tiny salt crystals deep within the neoprene structure (yes even with regular fresh water rinsing), which with normal movement, then abrade, which causes the cell structure to deteriorate. 2. over the period of the surf session, water penetrates deep within the cell structure, which in turn reduces the insulating value of the neoprene and adds weight to the suit. I have an I-EVADE 434 suit with integrated hood, it's been good for Tassie winters and still looking solid after two years solid use, and I handle my suits fairly roughly (I do always rinse in fresh water after a session though). I also have a 3/2 that I've just used for this summer, I'm very happy with that one too. Have a look at this page http://www.surfisurus.com/material/ Note that they do a comparison chart showing the wet (saturated) weight of their suit compared to other brands which is interesting. Because of the closed cell neoprene, they absorb very little water (and stay lightweight).

Do the slide on nice and easy ?
I always thought open cells was warmer than closed cell, thats spearfing suits but your in the water all the time so weight is not an issue
cheers

Whaaat, whats your legal view of Need wetties re the no warranty ?