O'Neill RG8 wetsuit entry system

I’m pretty interested to see exactly how this zipper entry will work. As you can see in the picture, this O’Neill wetsuit uses a chest zip entry where the zipper is always attached. That many help eliminate on of the things that made the O’Neill Mutant hard to get into sometimes. If you’ve worn the Mutant, you know that when the zipper came undone, which you had to do to get into the wetsuit, it’s sometimes difficult to get the zipper back together. It didn’t help that the zipper was right below your chin and it was like trying to look at your neck. Well, the Psycho RG8 should eliminate that problem. THe zipper will always be attached and all you’ll never again have to try and line them up, just get in and zipppp! Nice.

However, this awesome RG8 zipper system isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. For people with wide shoulders, getting into and out of the Psycho RG8 could be hard. It’s not going to have as much room to enter the suit as the O’Neill Mutant wetsuits. That could end up being a pretty big deal for some people. If you have problems getting into your Mutant, then you will want to try on an RG8 before gettting one to make sure it’s the right fit for you. If you wear Rip Curl chest zip wetsuits, you’ll have no problem getting into RG8 and you’ll notice a lot of similarities.

As for comfort, you’ll love the Psycho RG8. It’s going to be made with O’Neill’s new neoprene. Usually, a first year wetsuit is something you might want to avoid, but this is an O’Neill wetsuit and the rules are different. O’Neill is making this their flagship wetsuit and replacing the Mutant 3/2 with the RG8 3/2. There is a lot of expectation behind this suit and you better believe O’Neill is going to make sure their first year RG8 wetsuits are the best. Don’t let this rookie year suit hold you back, I’m willing to bet it’s going to be the wetsuit of the year, probably for many years to come.

There are a few sites prebook selling the O’Neill Psycho RG8 wetsuits. Some of them have a pretty good deal too. For 10% off the O’Neill RG8 wetsuit, check out Hostel Board Company, they’re about one of the only sites I’ve seen with any information about the new O’Neill wetsuits.The O’Neill Psycho RG8 is going to come in a 3/2 and a 4/3 version.

XCEL, the new big boy in the lineup. For years, XCEL has had a small presence in the water. Having a wetsuit company headquartered in Hawaii isn’t exactly what you would expect from a wetsuit company, but then again, XCEL has been changing the way people think about wetsuits for a long time. Bamboo fabric linings, environmentally conscious products and some of the warmest wetsuits made today, that’s XCEL and I believe this is going to be a banner year for XCEL wetsuits, both in the US and abroad. XCEL makes a colorful suit and has one of the more unique sizing charts for wetsuits I’ve seen, so be sure and check your measurements before ordering a wetsuit. You’ll save yourself a lot of time knowing your XCEL size in advance.

O’Neill, as usual, you should expect good things from O’Neill wetsuits. O’Neill has made a lot of changes this year to their wetsuits as well as adding some new wetsuits to their wetsuit line. The O’Neill RG8 is going to be the suit of the year I predict. There’s an all new foam in this suit and I’m supposed to be getting my wetsuit this Tuesday, so I’ll update the Psycho RG8 review at that time. It’s a take on the O’Neill Mutant, that should be even better for some situations. The Mutant has changed as well, there’s a whole new item number, my Mutant should arrive tomorrow, so expect a full update on the new Mutant soon!

O'Neill Wetsuits at Hostel Board Company - Low Prices Free Shipping No Tax

RipCurl: You know Rip Curl is going to be doing the H-Bomb again and you can be sure the E-Bombs and F-Bombs are coming back but the big (better) news is the Rip Curl Fireskin wetsuits. The Fireskins will have the “bat wing” on the suits again – hoorah! If that ends up being the case, then I will reinstate the Fireskin wetsuit as the best value midrange wetsuit. Let’s hope they do what the book says.

The 2010 O'Neill Mutant available in 3/2 4/3 and 5/4

When O’Neill first introduced the Mutant wetsuit line, more than a few people were skeptical. Chest zip wetsuits were either for the ultra-skinny or contortionists whose spines were more like a slinky than bone. Chest zip wetsuits didn’t exactly have a reputation for being easy to wear, if anything, a chest zip wetsuit was something to be avoided. Then, everything changed.

There was no way I was going to fit into a chest zip wetsuit. I am short, I wear a Medium Small wetsui (MS) and I have always had problems with how tight wetsuits were around my chest a shoulder. A medium short wetsuit just isn’t made for a guy with a 41′ chest and there’s no way a chest zip was going to work. I tried a chest zip in 2004, I think it was a Rip Curl, it tore the first time I tried to put it over my shoulders. But 5 years later and it’s a new story. My favorite wetsuit is a chest-zip wetsuit (Mutant 3/2 M). It was a little awkward at first, but I have been rewarded for my patience.

When the Mutant first came out, there was a lot of buzz. I thought it was going to be a lot of hype but it turned out to be the real deal. This is the second year for O’Neill’s Mutant wetsuits and there will be many years of O’Neill Mutant love if they keep up the good work… now onto the review

O’Neill Mutant – The Good

As you know, a zipper doesn’t stretch. When you eliminate the back zipper, you get a whole new kind of stretch happening in the back of a wetsuit you’ve never felt before. When you first paddle out, you will notice the difference immediately. You get a vertical and horizontal stretch in the back that backzip wetsuits, no matter how well made, can not achieve.  Hold your back zip wetsuit at the back of the neck and the crotch, now stretch it. Do the same thing with a chest zip wetsuit and you will see how much of a difference there really is. It is an amazing amount of back stretch gained by switching from a back zip wetsuit to a front zip wetsuit.

O'Neill Mutant Hood - Free with any O'Neill Mutant wetsuit

Interchangeable necks and hoods are nice. Each O’Neill Mutant comes with a detachable neck and hood. Unlike many chest zip wetsuits, the O’Neill Mutant zips in the front and the back. You’re only going to use the zipper in the back when you change out the neck for an attached hood, but what an improvement!  If you’re one of the people who needs to wear a hood where you live, I highly recommend the O’Neill Mutant. No water gets under the hood, because it’s a part of the wetsuit. You will not find an after market hood that is going to be this water resistant to flushes and wipeouts. When you are not using the hood, the Mutant neck really helps keep water from flushing when you duck-dive and completely eliminates any seeping from a zipper on the back. An excellent design feature that will keep those in chilly waters happy and warm.

Neoprene stretch – O’Neill wetsuits are stretchy and the Mutant is no exception. The O’Neill Mutant utilizes what O’Neill calls their “Fluid Flex Neoprene” what that means to you and me, is a warm wetsuit that has a lot of stretch and is really soft and very comfortable. The Mutant also utilizes O’Neill’s UltraFlex XDS neoprene that stretches 120% . That means a 10 inch piece of UXDS neoprene stretches to 22 inches and maintains its shape – nice.

Mutant Plasma wrist seal

Plasma seals are something that O’Neill has been using for a while now, but it bears repeating. It’s a little piece of this super soft rubberized neoprene seal that helps keep your wrists and ankles from rolling up on you and if you’re using booties or gloves, it provides a little more grip to help keep the water out of your gloves. It’s a small detail that makes a lot of difference where it matters – keeping you warm!

Fluid Seam Welding is almost a standard on the modern wetsuit. They keep out the cold water and keep in the warmth. The O’Neill Mutant wetsuit has single fluid seam welded seams, just like the O’Neill Psycho 1. Having the FSW on one side of the wetsuit is a fine balance of warmth and still maintaining a flexible wetsuit. O’Neill has perfected the fluid seam welding. Even after years of abuse, O’Neill’s fluid seam welding stays soft, flexible and functional. That’s something you can’t say for every wetsuit company.

O’Neill designs their suits to give you the maximum freedom of movement with minimal seams. Did you know that wetsuit companies have patents on their panel designs and that no other wetsuit company can use the O’Neill panel design? After nearly 50 years of making wetsuits, O’Neill has their wetsuit design down to a science (literally) and it shows in a suit that is both flexible, provides a lot of freedom in movement and is amazingly warm for the thickness.

O’Neill Mutant the Not So Good

Usually, I call this the ugly, the things about a wetsuit that could have been done better, but in the case of the O’Neill Mutant, the not so good is a better choice of words.  If you are a guy with big shoulders and a large barrel chest, the O’Neill Mutant may not be your best choice for a wetsuit.  For me, getting into the Mutant can be a serious struggle. Getting out of the wetsuit sometimes requires I get the help of a friend. Now keep in mind, my chest measurement is 2 inches larger than the largest suggested size for the size I wear. No wetsuit is going to be a perfect fit for everyone and you have to choose where you can give a little, or in my case, take a few. That said, I still wear my Mutant as my main wetsuit. It may be harder to get in and out of the wetsuit, but once I am in the water, all the struggle is worth the extra effort.

O’Neill Mutant – Bottom Line

In case you didn’t already know, the O’Neill Mutant is basically an O’Neill Psycho 1, but in a chest zip model. You get all the features and all the benefits of the Psycho 1 and a hood. The O’Neill Mutant is an excellent value and a phenomenal wetsuit, if you can accept that it’s going to be harder to get into and out of than a backzip wetsuit. While a backzip wetsuit is easier to get into, the O’Neill Mutant is warmer and more flexible than an O’Neil Psycho 1 of the same thickness.

Looking for a great deal on an O’Neill Mutant wetsuit, be sure to check here for some of the lowest prices you’ll find on O’Neill wetsuits.

O’Neill PsychoFreak – Model 3347

O'Neill 2010 PsychoFreak - All new and redesigned. Click for Larger Image

Last year, we saw the introduction of the O’Neill PsychoFreak wetsuit. In the first year, the PsychoFreak was the wetsuit of the year. It is warmer, lighter and more flexible than any other O’Neill Wetsuit. The golfball like dimples kept in the warmth and kept out the cold. The PsychoFreak wetsuit was particularly popular in Northern California, the Mid Atlantic and New England states. Why? Because it’s a warm wetsuit that’s super flexible, thinner, lighter and is the best wetsuit for when the water gets cold.

The new PsychoFreak 3347 was redesigned, upgraded and now comes in a different thickness than the 2009 models. New lighter foam, a lighter more flexible firewall and a smooth front panel for the thinner suits. The 2010 O’Neill PsychoFreak comes in a 2.5/3.5 mm wetsuit that is going to be a perfect replacement for your old 4/3. If you’re looking to get the new PsychoFreak you’re going to be happy with your choice. It’s lighter than the same size 3/2 and as felxible as any wetsuit you’ll ever own.

To take full advantage of the O’Neill PychoFreak, you’re living somewhere the water gets cold and so does the air. The PsychoFreak isn’t for Florida winters and is really going to show it’s good side when the water is in mid to upper 40s. If you’re getting into water colder than that, you’ll want to go with the PsychoFreak 3.5/4.5

RipCurl F-Bomb Wetsuit
Featuring the all new E-3 super stretch neoprene.The F-Bomb is availible in both 3/2mm and 4/3mm wetsuits. 200% Aquaban sealed throughout the wetsuit. Massive firewall. Blue Steel zipper. Bat wing on the F-Bomb backzip and available in a F-Bomb chest zip.
Benefits: Extreme Warmth and Flexibility

O’Neill Psycho II Wetsuit
Available in both a 3/2mm and 4/3mm models. 200% Fluid Seam Weld, Firewall, 125% stretch Ultra XDS neoprene. Zen Zip pullover entry system. Code Red Zipper to stop the flush.
Benefits: Extreme Warmth – Light Weight – Flexibility

O’Neill Spycho I Wetsuit
The same as the Psycho II but with 100% Fluid Seam Weld for increased flexibilty. Available in a 3/2mm and 4/3mm models. The Psycho I is also available in a chest zip model the O’Neill Mutant in both a 3/2mm and 4/3mm
Benefits: Warmth – Light Weight – Extreme Flexibility

RipCurl E-Bomb Wetsuit
When Flexibility matters most. Available in 3/2mm Back Zip, 3/2mm Chest Zip, 4/3mm Back Zip and 4/3mm Chest Zip. 75% Aquaban selaed Elastomax E-3 Neoprene for maximum flex. The patented Bat Wing.
Benefits: Warmth – Light Weight – Extreme Flexibility