This is the best investment in surfing. Image: Carapace Wetsuits
There are few things worse than duck diving a wave on a winter day and feeling a surge of icy water invade your wetsuit. In my opinion, it’s one of the worst experiences in surfing. It might be worse than being burned on a good wave. Whether that icy intrusion is a product of an old, loose wetsuit or because you’re more of an in-between size than a stock size, if you’re in the market for a new wetsuit, get one that actually fits. Get one that fits now–not tomorrow, and not next season, because a custom-fit wetsuit is the best investment in surfing.
Recently, a Los Angeles start-up called Carapace Wetsuits rang me and asked if I’d test out their fitting process for a line of custom-fit wetsuits. Of course, I said. Little did I know that, two weeks later, when this buttery black body condom showed up on my doorstep, I would have a whole new respect for the functionalities of a high quality wetsuit.
After more than a decade of wearing off-the-rack wetsuits built for a handful of specific body types, like the vast majority of people do, I realized the value of having something truly tailored to my exact specifications. As someone who can’t buy a simple pair of pants without them be too big in the waist or too short in the legs, I was thrilled to have something that fit the first time, kept me warm for an entire session (crazy thought!) and never once let in any wintry California water. If you are considering a top-of-the-line wetsuit from a name brand manufacturer, my two cents would be to spend the same amount of money (or less) on one of these two models and have it made for you, and only you. The only downside to that is the slightly invasive process of taking your measurements, which, at one point, involves holding a ruler with your butt cheeks.
With two models–the EXO1 and EXO2, you have your choice between premium and performance. “Premium” refers to Yamamoto neoprene, which, unbeknownst to us rack-buying wetsuit consumers, is the highest-grade neoprene available. Available in 2/2, 3/2, 3/3, 4/3 and 5/4, you could have a whole fleet of these things and be ready for any condition if you’re willing to drop $490 a pop to make it happen. The EXO2 is available in 3/2, 3/3 and 4/3 for $390.
Let me warn you, though. When a brand new wetsuit shows up on your front door, you will be tempted to immediately throw yourself into it to see just how exact they got the measurements. For your own sake, please refrain. The folks at Carapace are surprisingly precise and the resulting feeling may compare to being held captive by a boa constrictor. That said, I may have fudged the measurements a bit. Like any brand new wetsuit, it arrives a tad stiffer than you expect. Give it a good stretch and it’ll feel like a dream. The warmth can’t be beat and, in cold water, being as warm as possible is what you’re after. A warmer body means a longer session which means more enjoyment. And that’s what you’re really after, isn’t it?
Learn more about Carapace Wetsuits on their website.
