Hi AUS4,

Did you happen to visit our website? The Flux is not the only suit we design, as with most brands we make suits for specific conditions / temperatures.

Not many sailors in Australia would need the warmth of a single lined suit, so our Lava series is mostly aimed at the European market. Single lined suits require far more care in handling and not everybody likes the restriction in harness movement around the body.

So the Flux is far more fit for purpose in the Australian market. A 3/2 smoothie may have similar warmth than a 5/3 double lined, but the 5/3 DL will be more durable, as warm, with less restriction in movement. I know which I would prefer

Cheers
Marco

Lava Series - Single lined (smooth skin)



Diablo Series - More price conscious & durable

yep agree with NR and others. Stay away from single skin unless you will be sailing in sub 10deg temps. I had a 5/3 NP single skin that probably only got worn 5 or 6 times and I lived somewhere cold.

Ion 4/3 for me, with no arm issues

Husa said “That may be true, but how long is a smoothie going to last? From my experience, that stuff they use to keep the wind out, peels off, tears, and lasts maybe one season.”

Au contraire and for the record, my first NP 5000 was replaced only after 10 years of winter service here in Vic. It had not peeled (never heard of that before) but had deteriorated in the shoulder area, due to the stress in that area plus UV degradation.

It has to be recognised that the single-lined material IS more susceptible to cuts and abrasions, but my experience shows what is possible with care (and given their price, who wouldn't look after them?). Being more than happy with it, I replaced it with another NP 5000 model for mid-winter, then added an NP 3000 model for the autumn/spring cool water plus 25+ knot winds that we get here (and are due tomorrow).

Marco, I found you information very helpful and I was not aware that FO suits had many of the same design features of NP. Whilst I'm right for wetties at the moment, I'll keep your info in mind for the future. Many thanks for replying.

Wow! Heaps of replies. Thanks, looks like I opened up a can of worms. I thought I'd only get a couple of replies and suggestions.
I have found the various web sites use a lot of high tech jargon, I need them to dumb it down for me

I always get a new wetsuit every season tho....

do not sail in a tri suit. The skin is fragile to finger nails and you need to wear gloves to put them on. They will not survive one session sailing. Stick with surfing or windsurfing wetties.

NP make real warm and real flexible suits.
I'm sitting here right now repairing the split seams on mine at less than a year old.
CAN'T RECOMMEND THEM.....
This is the second one I've had.The first did 2 seasons and even though it fell apart I was silly enough to buy another.They really are that warm and comfortable.
But that's enough, never again.
Guarantee, you ask...yea right!
My nephew, who works for them, asks why I no longer sail their stuff .
This reminds me.

For colder weather I bought Spartan 5/4, very soft neoprene, easy to dress and undress, really warm, nice touch ad the neck and by the hands. It has wider sleeve at the forearms.

www.spartanwetsuits.com/

Try Seventh Wave wetsuits in Christchurch.New Zealand. They do custom fit. I have been using them for 15 years . I replace them every 4-5 years .Each new one is better as the materials improve. Price should be Ok with the exchange rate

jsnfok said...

Te Hau said...

NP make real warm and real flexible suits.
I'm sitting here right now repairing the split seams on mine at less than a year old.
CAN'T RECOMMEND THEM.....
This is the second one I've had.The first did 2 seasons and even though it fell apart I was silly enough to buy another.They really are that warm and comfortable.
But that's enough, never again.
Guarantee, you ask...yea right!
My nephew, who works for them, asks why I no longer sail their stuff .
This reminds me.

your buying a size too small then

Ha ha no, it's the right size and has all the dazzle dazzle features like Marcos adverts but the reality is....they are a one season suit which is Mr Prydes policy with much of his product line.
It (5k series) has a beautiful lining set up which is let down by 10mm wide seal tape. Mine has pulled away here and let the seam rip. Wider seam tape would probably stop this happening, even though the tape shouldn't be a load bearer.
Mine now has wider seam tape (courtesy of Seventh Wave Wet Suits ChCh NZ) after last nights mod session but that should have been NP's job.......not impressed.

AUS4 said...

Neil Pryde

terrible build quality. Don't do it.

ginger pom said...

AUS4 said...

Neil Pryde

terrible build quality. Don't do it.

I have a NP spring suit, it's on it's 5th year now ans still looking great, however a bit of care goes a long way.

A question for the rubber experts. I have a rip curl steamer, a super stretchy one called elastic...something. I like it because is so flexible and reasonably warm for the thickness. however the shoulder is starting to come apart. The inner material has separated from the outer which is starting to fray. Is this fixable and any suggestions on how to patch it up?

+1 for the new F/O flux 3/2 I got just before going to France.
Plenty warm enough and good wind resistance tested in 40 knots.
nice stretchy mat in the arms so issues with arm cramps
certainly a much better wetsuit than what I had before very happy.

Dont know if you can get the simmer generator suits out there, they are brilliant. Surf suits are tight on my calves, back, shoulders and arms. The simmer is great, almost baggy on upper arms but doesnt leak. Sailed this winter in the 5/4 in very cold temps without getting cold once. Takes a few dropped gybes for the water to get through. I have the 3/2 on order at the moment, they also do a short arm option.