At the Wetsuit Centre we love to review products so you can see if the wetsuit is right for you. Our reviews are a factual run through of the wetsuit and its features, trying to make understanding what all the jargon means a lot easier.
With the advancement in wetsuit technology a lot of the neoprenes have new improved stretch properties making wetsuits far more comfortable and better in terms of fit / warmth. In terms of c skins wetsuits being a uk based company they have managed to keep pace with the big global brands and are producing some of the best wetsuits on the market. Being a UK company also has its benefits in terms of the wetsuit is tried and tested in the cold uk waters.
Let's let Jeff run through all the features of the Legend ladies 4/3mm wetsuit.
We
have been using the O’Neill superfreak wetsuit to see how well this
wetsuit performance in the UK’s icy cold waters. The test environment
was in the English Channel, with bone chilling 8c water. Here’s our
review of the wetsuit.
About the wetsuit:
The
O’Neill Superfreak is one of O’Neills entry level wetsuits, and is
comparable to the O’Neill Epic in terms of features. However, the major
difference between the Epic and Superfreak, is that the Superfreak
features a chest entry zip. The idea behind the Superfreak is to
provide a top quality wetsuit with a chest zip, which doesn’t cost top
of the range money. The wetsuit comes in mens and youth sizes and in a
3mm, 4mm and a 5mm version. All versions are available via our website.
Superfreaks Features
First
of all we would like to say that the zip on this wetsuit feels very
solid indeed. It has the same kind of zip system as the Xcel’s, or the
RG8. Some chest entry zips you have to connect the zip together to close
it. This is eliminated with the zipper system the superfreak has
adopted. The zip comes connected, so there’s no messing around
connecting the zip together, it’s simply pull and close. We found this
system very easy to use indeed. The overhead flap for the overhead
collar features a pull cord, which tightens up the shoulder panel. This
prevents water from entering underneath the panel and inside the
wetsuit. Once the cord was tightened, it was comfortable and you didn’t
notice it was there.
Chest Entry?
Some
people might think getting in and out a chest entry wetsuit to be hard.
We found the entry and getting out of the Superfreak very easy indeed.
O’Neill has provided the wetsuit with plenty of room to get into, by
developing a cross panel in the back of the wetsuit. When this cross
panelling is stretched, it gives the wetsuits entry hole more width. As
the wetsuit is really stretchy getting out of it was a piece of cake as
well.
For
maximum comfort the collar of the wetsuit has been lined with a super
soft rubber, and the edge of the collar has been rolled over. The collar
was really comfortable and didn’t cause any rashes when used over the 8
week duration. In the back and neck area underneath the collar is the
neck barrier panelling. This system kept cold water flush at bay. If
water did get through it was met by the barrier panel and ran straight
out the drain holes in the back and arm.
Was it warm?
After
testing the wetsuit in very cold waters, we found that the Superfreak
did a very good job of keeping us warm. After a 3 hour session, the
warmth was still flowing and the wetsuit was keeping us in the water. So
what exactly maintained the warmth? Well, if you look inside the
wetsuit there’s two panels of fleece like material in the back and
chest. This material helps retain your body heat within the wetsuit.
O’Neill has also added a rubbery panel to the outside of the chest and
back area. This rubber helps water run off the wetsuits and reduces wind
chill.
So how is the flex?
The
flexibility of this wetsuit is outstanding. O’Neill state that the
wetsuit in 60% made from their fluid flex neoprene, which is 40% flex
and the other 40%, is made from 100% ultra-fex. However, it really does
feel like the wetsuit features O’Neill 100% ultra-flex all over. We
found the superfreak to be just as comfortable and flexible as some of
the top end wetsuits we sell. All the seams on the wetsuit are 100%
glued and blind stitched the plus side to not having silicon seals that
the seams are stretchier.
So do we dig it?
As
far as budget wetsuits go, you can’t go far wrong with the Superfreak!
It has all the boxes ticked, great flex, brilliant warmth and a great
price point. We would highly recommend this wetsuit to anybody looking
for a good quality wetsuit
