Best Wetsuits 2020: Buell RB1 Accelerator

Watch the complete 2020 Best Wetsuits test here.

I didn’t know what to expect from Buell, makers of the most outrageous wetsuits in surf. Would it be a superhero suit, an impact vest, something from the mind of their sub-brand affiliate Dane Reynolds?

In the end, Buell played it safe and sent me a more-or-less straightforward black wetsuit in the RB1 Accelerator. While I was slightly disappointed by this, it was probably a good call on their end. Colorful rubber is great for their branding, but in the end, it only would have distracted me from the task at hand: finding the warmest and most comfortable suit. 

The first thing I noticed about the RB1 Accelerator was its price tag—at just over $200, it cost less than half of some of the other suits in our 2020 Best Wetsuits test (7till8: $580; O’Neill: $460; Billabong: $450). So right off the bat, I knew I would have to take that into consideration. You can’t compare a Camry and a Cayenne without taking relative value into consideration. 

Barring an annoying seam that pulled across my shoulder, I found the RB1 Accelerator extremely comfortable and wearable. The neoprene was soft, the stretch was abundant, and the inside felt silky against my skin. The suit was a bit misfitting, but that’s more of a personal problem than a representation of their product.  

I think where the cost difference comes in is the warmth. While this neoprene felt nice to the touch, it also let in a fair bit of water. 

To me, this is the perfect suit to keep in the boot of your car. You’ll have it for the sneaky pre-or-post-work session, and you won’t have to worry about giving it the full wash and dry treatment. It’s a serviceable one-season suit, and priced accordingly.

Official Scorecard
Warmth: 29/50
Comfort: 38/50
Bonus: 5 for value provided 
Total: 72/100

RB1 Accelerator ($214.95)

RB1 Accelerator ($214.95)