Crypto, Real Estate, or Yamamoto?

In financial terms, buying a wetsuit can be likened to buying a car – the second you drive it off the lot (or pee), its value plummets. 

Similarly, both purchases feel heavenly during those first golden months of ownership. But, even as little as a year in, that gilded of novelty passes and things can begin to fall apart. A significant investment into what once felt like the only thing you’d ever need starts to feel like money gone with the tide.

To be fair, the ravages of repeated exposure to the sun, salt, stretching, and (unless you’re Mikey C.) urine can take a harsh toll on all things, not just buttery-soft bodysuits. But, as any seasoned surfer knows, not all wetsuits are built the same – some are designed for a fleeting sense of luxury while others are truly made for the long and winding road ahead.

Thanks to ample audience feedback (and some genuine curiosity), we were inspired to find out which of the three Men’s and Women’s Best Wetsuits of 2023 finalists provided the best bang for the buck, six months after our initial review. And by ‘bang’, we mean:

Warmth

• Sustained warmth
• Seam integrity
• Material saturation
• Flushing

Flexibility

• Material stiffness/tension 
• Range of motion

Other Factors

• Level of overall comfort
• Minimal smell

Ultimately, after a full winter season of wear, tear, and elemental exposure, our aim is to offer a semi-annual update on how each suit is performing, determining which of the four top brands has found the magic combination of materials, design, and construction that best withstand the six coldest months of the year.

Men’s 4/3mm Wetsuits

• O’Neill Hyperfreak Fire 
• Billabong Furnace
• Quiksilver Highline

Men’s Booties

• 3MM Surf Boot HI ST

Women’s 4/3MM Wetsuits

• O’Neill Hyperfreak Fire
• Billabong Furnace Natural
• Feral 4mm3

Women’s Booties

• 3MM Surf Boot 2 HI V

See our full findings above. Want to watch the complete Best Wetsuits of 2023 review? Find it here.

Now, go forth and invest with confidence.