So, I tried my new winter steamer on Sunday - first new wetsuit I've had in ages.
Just like I promised myself, I got myself a Patagonia wetsuit - for many reasons...
The following is a brief and unpaid review:
Source: www.potomacriverkeeper.org
Patagonia is an American company that makes top-end adventure clothing and equipment with a focus on minimising their impact on the environment. I now own a few Patagonia pieces and continue to be impressed with the thought they put into their products and their attention to detail. These are all qualities that make me confident when buying premium quality products.
Patagonia link
My steamer is the R3 with neck entry. I understand they also do a rear zipper model, but after owning one of the first Billabong neck entry wetsuits over a decade ago, I was keen to get back to that design.
The R3 isn't even Patagonia's warmest model - they do an R4 for genuinely frigid waters.
Men's R3 steamer link
The R3 is a simple looking suit. But don't let that deter you - simplicity doesn't mean a lack of functionality. Patagonia have gone away from using smoothie neoprene because of its vulnerability to easily getting cut and the fact that it is more perishable than other types of neoprene. Patagonia also don't do much welding or gluing and taping of seams - instead opting for more traditional gluing and stitching.
I can report the wetsuit, while heavy (as should be expected with a winter suit), is still very comfortable and flexible. And most importantly, it is toasty warm! While my head seemed frozen for much of Sunday's surf, my body was snug. Probably too snug - the pee I did inside early during the session took way too long to escape...
Source: www.wetsuitreport.com
So yes, I love my new Patagonia R3 steamer and continue to be impressed with the brand. I would recommend this suit to anybody who appreciates high quality, high performance, and an environmental conscience factored into the design, manufacturing and marketing processes.
