XCEL Believes They’ve Made The Most Comfortable Wetsuit In The World

Made in partnership with XCEL

Let me start this article by saying that I haven’t done a massive amount of wetsuit testing and I am not claiming to be a certified wetsuit tester. But, I have worn a lot of wetsuits over the years, possess zero brand loyalty, and can tell you what I think makes a wetsuit worth wearing. To me, it comes down to the following attributes, in this particular order:

1. Comfort
2. Flexibility
3. Warmth

This may seem like a strange order, as warmth is generally the reason for strapping on neoprene. But for me, discomfort and inflexibility are my session killers. Constricted shoulders and pit rash can fuck off. I also live in Southern California. So there’s that. 

Unbeknownst to me, XCEL sent a Men’s Large of their new Comp+ performance wetsuit to Stab’s California HQ for a staffer to test, their marketing verbiage serendipitously claiming “high stretch and superior comfort.”

“We believe it is the most comfortable wetsuit in the world,” reads the label. 

Assuming my new role of one-off wetsuit tester — I’ll be the judge of that.

Having just touched down from a tropical swell hunt, and having not worn a full suit the past six months, I returned to my local with vulnerable skin and XCEL’s 3/2 Comp+ in hand. The water had dipped to the mid 60s, the air hung around the same, and a disheartening coastal eddy plagued the sky. I tossed myself into the ring.

The Review:

The first thing I notice is how easy it is to slip into this wetsuit. There are no contortionist tricks, jumps, wiggles, or bends. This is not always the case with front-zip wetsuits. Additionally, the inner workings of this suit feel silky smooth as it slides up and over my shoulders. I’ve never heard of Nanoprene lite japanese limestone neoprene, but I do know that this is how you want a wetsuit to feel against your skin. Upon entry into the water, that nice, soft feeling remains, and there are no noticeable seams throughout. This must be an illusion created by the “triple-glued and blind stitched seams” or the “dope-dye yarn and water-based glue.” Or maybe it’s the “reinforced fusion x tape.” Fancy terms and technical jargon aside, XCEL wasn’t lying about the comfort. This is easily one of the most comfortable wetsuits I’ve worn.

That brings me to my next important variable: Flexibility. The application of XCEL’s Comp+ matches their claim – very lightweight, very high stretch. The suit doesn’t feel clunky or heavy, regardless of being wet or dry, and it’s as flexible as any wettie that I’ve worn. I’m not a yogi, but I’d imagine one could easily move through their practice with this thing on. Down dog, up dog, chattanooga, whatever. 

Another issue that I tend to find with front-zip wetsuits is that they can constrict the movement of your chest and shoulders. You may have felt this before. And when you burn out your shoulders, you burn out your session. I was pleasantly surprised to find that XCEL’s Comp+ had zero constriction in the upper body. In fact, I could not find a single focus point where inflexibility is a factor whatsoever. I’m chalking this up as a win/win for the next marathon session. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to warmth, I can’t really make a crazy judgment call. I can tell you that in the mid-60sºF (18ºC) of Southern California’s fall season, XCEL’s Comp+ is as warm as I could have wanted – no leaks, no chills, no fear of getting cold. Based on the attention to detail with the rest of the wetsuit, I’d imagine the warmth is held to a similar, high standard. But I’ll have to get back to you once the water drops another 10ºF and that “new wetsuit feel” wears off. 

The downsides of XCEL’s Comp+ are hardly distinguishable. These are the only that I could find: The crotch could have a bit more room to breathe, the ankles could seal a tad tighter, and the neck could sit a smidgeon higher. These “downsides” may be more body-related rather than wetsuit-related, but this is a review and I must try to find the negatives.

All in all, I’d say XCEL’s Comp+ receives the Stab Recommends stamp of approval and is worthy of your hard-earned dollars. That’s $349.99 USD for a 3/2mm. If you want ease of entry, this suit is for you. If you want unrestricted body movement, this suit is for you. If you want to grind out a heat or take on a 6-hour session, this suit is for you. Is this “the most comfortable wetsuit in the world?” I’m having a difficult time arguing against that. 

For a look at XCEL’s entire line of wetsuits, click here.