Reubyn’s Winter Wetsuit Quiver
When it comes to surfboards, you may have a few from which you can choose depending on the surf conditions. A wide-tailed flat rocker for those smaller days, a longer, sharper rocket that comes out when Surfline gives five stars and a collection of different shapes in between.
While you hear surfers talk about their board selection, you don’t always hear them talk about their wetsuit collection. Why not?
There are so many styles, thicknesses, and features to consider. What about water temperatures, wind, and surfing style?
Reubyn Ash surfs every day and spends much of his life wearing wetsuits, so who better to call up to talk us through his collection?
The Sliding Scale
There is a sliding scale between stretch and warmth, and although there have been some fantastic advancements in creating lightweight fabrics that help generate and retain heat, you still need to make sacrifices to get what you need.
Let’s imagine you are into running. You have your skin-tight lycra outfit on, which allows you to move freely as you touch your toes to warm up. You feel the crisp winter wind pass through the fabric when you go outside, so you put a fleece on, then a Windstopper jacket and with every layer, you add weight and restrict your freedom of movement.
Wetsuits are much the same. Summer suits are lightweight and stretchy, but as soon as you increase the thickness of the neoprene, you add weight and restriction, and then you have linings. Suits like the Comp+ have lightweight linings, and the Drylock has a thicker fleece lining, referred to in wetsuit talk as a high pile.
We don’t all have the privilege of having a wetsuit for every occasion, so when you choose a wetsuit, you must consider your top priorities based on your needs and the water temperatures you are surfing in.
If you are a marathon paddler who generates a ton of body heat, stretch may be your priority. On the other hand, warmth may be your priority if you like to sit out back and take a break between waves.
The Comp+ is a performance wetsuit with stretch as a top priority. It is Reubyn’s choice for days when he knows he will paddle hard throughout the session and will generate a lot of body heat through extensive exercise. The extra stretch will provide superior comfort and reduce paddle fatigue that you may expect from a stiffer wetsuit.
Comp X also falls under the high-stretch performance category. However, it has a more technical TDC lining with a mineral-based fibre woven into a smart textile. It increases blood flow to muscle tissue by transferring the body’s naturally produced heat into infrared energy. (Vasodilation)
This has been a go-to wetsuit for Reubyn for a while now and is a team favourite.
The Infiniti is a great choice if you are looking for one suit to see you through the winter as it sits in the middle of the scale, with an excellent mix of warmth and stretch. The template or cut is similar to the Comp suits. However, it has a high pile lining that utilizes metal foil beneath the textile, blocking cold temperatures from penetrating the outer layer and reflecting heat generated within the wetsuit back towards the body. Reubyn chooses an Infiniti for chillier days with a high swell period where you may be sitting around waiting for sets.
The Drylock is all about combating the coldest waters. The smooth skin material on the hood, chest and back offers superior wind-blocking properties to warm your head and body core. On the inside, you will find a deep pile of fleece lining from the chest to the knees, offering fantastic insulation and warmth retention. If you are prone to feeling the cold or surfing the frigid waters of the North Sea, the Drylock should be on your list.