Coastline wetsuit review
By Kalani Ord / Photos: Russell Ord
Three-hundred and eighty-odd days of unforgiving sun, torrential rain, unwavering neglect and the coastlines 3/2 premium steamer is battling on. This suit has journeyed to the barren deserts of the north, been flung on scorching bull bars and towed through the sand encrusted wind. It has been left-skewed on a spikey garden fence, amits downpours of hail, and it has been tossed, stretched and disregarded more times than one can count. And yet, somehow, it still works.
The seals are intact, and there is only (minimal) water entry through the knees and armpits. These two sites are supremely less consequential than leakages from the neck, back, and groin regions, which, from experience, expedite the throwing-out process much faster. You would expect an ancient wetsuit to have water entry. What is surprising is that the irritation-free fur inside the suit negates the initial shock keeping the torso and lower body insulated, comfortable, and shiver-free. Usually, warmth and flexibility reside on opposing sides of the wetsuit pendulum. However, going from 5+ hour desert sessions to sub-10-degree river water in 24 hours speaks to the suit's versatility. Why are there no compromises here?
The superior flexibility results from the compact horizontal chest zip and upper seams aligned down anterior and posterior sides of the arm conjoining at the elbows rather than over the shoulder, bicep or forearm, thereby aiding rather than restricting paddling movement. These minor details combined with the durable insulating fur enables maximum freedom when paddling and pleasant serenity when sitting.
All in all, I have three takeaways: 1. Wetsuits should keep the body warm by insulating the torso and legs while ensuring maximum flexibility for the shoulders and arms. 2. Our expectations for a wetsuits durability needs to be changed. This suit is over 100 in wetty years and performs better than a freshie two weeks off the rack. 3. Premium wetsuits don't need to break the bank; for a couple hundred bucks, I have found the best suit of my life.
