Buying a Wetsuit: Winter trial of the XCEL Drylock

Jeff    Surf Gear, surfingholidays     Scuba Holidays, Scuba Trips, surfing gear, wetsuit, wetsuits, XCEL Drylock 4’3, XCEL’s Drylock wetsuit, XCEL’s wetsuits

With winter swells and dropping water temperature due to arrive in Central California by mid-autumn, I found myself in need of a new wetsuit for the season. A recent purchase of what I assumed to be a top-of-the line wetsuit transformed into a saga of undulating emotions and, more importantly, warmth.

XCEL Drylock 4'3 with waterproof Drylock zipper.

Of course I wasn’t blindsided by this need, I knew all summer a new suit was in the cards, but procrastination persevered until October when I purchased a brand-spanking-new XCEL Drylock 4’3.

I’d been partial to O’Neill suits in the past, but after hearing XCEL’s praises sung by many friends in the water and out, I decided to sack up and drop the $460 plus tax to see what I was missing in the form of Drylock technology.

I was not disappointed. Initially.



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Windsurfing Gear: How to buy a wetsuit

Alice Cuninghame    Windsurfing Gear, windsurfingholidays     buying wetsuits, wetsuit, wetsuits, wetsuits for windsurfing, windsurfing gear, windsurfing holidays

Wouldn’t it be nice if you never needed to know how to buy a wetsuit because every windsurfing spot offered waters of 30C? You could stay out as long as you liked, looking glamorous and carefree in just a swimsuit and sunscreen. Back in the real world, cold water and nippy sea air can cause windsurfers’ body temperatures to drop pretty rapidly.

Windsurfer at Rhosneigr. Image: Flickr/ cookipediachef

Even relatively warm water of around 20C can get pretty chilly if you’re out in it for any length of time.

And while the air might feel balmy, the water may well not be, especially in temperate climates in spring or early summer, before the water has had a chance to warm up a little.

So here’s everything you need to know about how to buy a wetsuit for windsurfing.

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Scuba Gear: How to buy a wetsuit

Fay    Scuba Gear, scubadivingholidays     HOw to buy scuba gear, scuba diving holidays, Scuba gear, scubadiving, wetsuit, wetsuit for scubadiving

Blocked ears, poor visibility, leg cramps. Just a few things that can potentially spoil a great dive. But learn how to buy a wetsuit and not only will you learn about one of the most important pieces of scuba gear, but also you’ll solve one of the most common and frustrating issues for scuba divers: Getting cold!

A good wetsuit helps you have a great dive. Image: Flickr/ Lars Plougmann

Being cold whilst diving is absolutely no fun. You try to focus on the beauty of your surroundings, but as your body loses its heat 20 times faster under water than in the air, it’s hard not to be distracted.

So what’s the solution? Well, a decent neoprene wetsuit is a good place to start as it insulates your body, helping to seal it in a cosy foam layer.

But how to buy a wetsuit suited to scuba diving and get exactly what you need? Here are some tips to help.

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