Stab Magazine | WINTERMISSION 2.0: XCEL
429 Views

WINTERMISSION 2.0: XCEL

Validated by SIMA, approved by the Wintermission cast. 

style // May 11, 2019
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If you’re looking for credibility outside of our eclectic Wintermission cast, why not lean on the The Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association (or SIMA) to validate your purchasing behaviour?

You see, last year SIMA awarded Xcel’s Comp X the prestigious title of Wetsuit of the Year. Nowadays with the overwhelming amount of groovy tech in the suit scene, to top this list speaks volumes. 

If you don’t care too much for feedback coming from people who may or may not actually surf well (they probably do), allow us to hand the mic to Mitch Crews, who spent the most time with Xcel’s flagship performance suit during our field test.

20190307 IMG 9377

A passionate popper.

20190308 IMG 0096

It’s got a magnet, and we like that.

“This one for me was pretty amazing,” he reflected in the backyard of our South Coast Airbnb, the suit still damp from the morning’s session. 

“It’s quite affordable. I like how light it is. It’s not super heavy, it’s nice to have a light wetsuit especially in contests. All in all, the Xcel is a bit of a badass wetsuit. In fact, Xcel always seems to make pretty awesome suits.”

Once again Xcel’s Nanoprene Lite Japanese Limestone technology has produced a suit that’s light, elastic and warm enough to fend off a moderate amount of chill. 

The Hawaiian manufacturers recently updated the panelling structure to enhance the fit of this suit, meaning the thing hugs tightly and feels even more comfortable than its predecessors.

You can shop it here. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

SEOTY: Enzo Cavallini Stars in ‘Malware’

A self-driven project, heavy water detours, and the ongoing problem of visibility for European surfers.

May 21, 2026

Sharks, Crocs & A 38-Second Hold Down — Anthony Walsh On A Lifetime Of DIY Death Evasion

"I once got stuck in a cave at Pipe and had a three-wave hold down.…

May 20, 2026

Episode 04 of Stab in the Dark Starring Ethan Ewing

The day of execution.

May 19, 2026

Mr. Cheddar’s Love Letter To Stab High

"As a weird guy, I can confirm that Buck is a very weird guy."

May 19, 2026

Yago’s Two-Wave Blitz And Robbo’s Two-Wave Drama

Yago Dora catches only two waves to score two near-9s on Day 2 of the…

May 17, 2026

Hughie Vaughan Just Earned The First Perfect Score In Stab High History

While Sky Brown, Isla Hardy, and King Nicol all took home trophies.

May 16, 2026

Replay: Day 2 Of Stab High Virginia Beach, Presented by Monster Energy

Four winners will be crowned, and one Monster Air chosen.

May 16, 2026

Stab High x Monster Lands In The Coastal US, 36 People Land Airs

Watch: Poolside presented by Kona Big Wave.

May 16, 2026

Replay: Day 1 Of Stab High Virginia Beach, Presented by Monster Energy

Click to watch today’s Qualifier and Sudden Death rounds.

May 15, 2026

The CT Gets A New Type Of Performance Surfboard

Filipe Toledo puts on a clinic on a high(ish) performance twin on Day 1 of…

May 15, 2026

Eithan Osborne Just Landed An NBD At Stab High x Monster Warmups

Poolside from Virginia Beach, presented by Kona Big Wave

May 15, 2026

Can Anyone Stop Hughie Vaughan At Stab High Virginia Beach? | StabMic Ep. 14

Former champ joins Dooma & Josiah at the desk.

May 14, 2026

Play Stupid Games, Win Cool Prizes

Stab High has 440 sections incoming and $60k outgoing — plus a Fantasy game for…

May 14, 2026

Welcome To Raglan (And Step Away From The Pie)

A New Zealand Pro preview.

May 12, 2026

Watch: Julian Wilson, Mateus Herdy & Ryan Callinan Star In Rivvia’s First Team Film

Plus: Mateus on riding a carbon quad at Snapper, beating Griff, and realities of the…

May 12, 2026

“None Of This Small, Quick Spin Shit — Just Go Big And Land Clean”

How to win Stab High, according to Nate Fletcher and the rest of our Monster…

May 12, 2026

Why Professional Surfing Needed Snapper Rocks

"Let's really see how fast people can turn."

May 9, 2026

The Surf Ranch Has New Owners And The WSL Might Be Next

The WSL just sold Kelly Slater Wave Company and is now exploring investment, or even…

May 8, 2026
Advertisement