Finally: A Line of Coldwater Yulex Wetsuits That Don’t Restrict Your Movement
Rip Curl. Billabong. O’Neill. Patagonia. Body Glove. If you’re a lifelong surfer–especially one living in a locale requiring some sort of neoprene part of the year–you’re likely familiar with at least one of these legacy brand’s wetsuit offerings. Most of them have been pumping out rubber surfwear for decades.
But as of late, a few boutique brands have entered the neoprene market space, manufacturing offerings that rival the quality, comfort, and technicality of those produced by the world’s biggest wetsuit establishments. Relatively new to the scene–at least on this side of the pond–is Finisterre, a wetsuit company started in 2003 out of Cornwall, England.
Built on the needs of British surfers exploring their bone-chillingly frigid coastline, Finisterre prides themselves on making coldwater ensembles that are durable, sustainable, and keep the frostbite at bay.
Courtesy of Finisterre
Recently Finisterre sent SURFER two wetties to test out during a California winter–the men’s Nieuwland 5mm Yulex® hooded wetsuit and the women’s Nieuwland 4mm Yulex® wetsuit–and we were more than happy to put them through their paces. Our plan was to wear them at our local Southern California haunts, to one) see how they both fared in a much milder climate than the Cornish coastline, and two) compare them to our tried and true go-to wetsuits.
The verdict? Continue reading.
Men’s Nieuwland 5mm Yulex® Hooded Wetsuit: $550
As a first-time 5mm wetsuit-wearer, associate editor Dashel Pierson was a bit hesitant about what to expect from the Nieuwland suit, especially since his local Los Angeles lineup was averaging in the high-50s during his test drive. Would he be sweating both in and out of the water donning this thing? The answer was “yes” and “yes”.
“As with any new wetsuit, especially one with such thickness, the Nieuwland was a bit tougher to put on than your average 3/2 or 4/3 fullsuit,” says Dashel post-test. “Nothing a plastic bag over each foot couldn’t help, however. And yes, it was quite warm for the water temps I used it in, but that’s a good thing, right? On those cold California winter mornings, it’s better to be warm than cold. And when the heat got too much while sitting and waiting for a wave, a quick flush of cold water down the neckline of the suit was an easy way to cool down.”
Courtesy of Finisterre
His other main concern–and the main criteria most surfers consider when it comes to pick choosing the right wetsuit–was flexibility. “Thicker suits, no matter how high the quality, correlate to decreased mobility,” says Dashel. “But the Nieuwland suit utilizes Yulex technology, which, for me, is sorta like the wetsuit equivalent of solar panel electricity – I don’t know how it works, but I know it’s effective and that it’s better for the environment. As far as mobility, I noticed a limitation only slightly during a quick stretch before paddling out; once I was on a wave, I forgot about it.”
Overall, Dashel rates the Nieuwland 5mm from Finisterre as a high-quality, premium wetsuit. “The trademarks of a top-tier wetsuit were obvious – warmth retention, taped seams not to let the cold in, flexible material, etc," says Dashel. "It’s clear that the folks who made it come from cold-water surf regions, and therefore know what they’re doing when making a suit that works. If I ever go on a surf trip to Alaska, I’ll be ready. But for now, I’ll be happily sweating during the cold California winters.”
Courtesy of Finisterre
Women’s Nieuwland 4mm Yulex® Wetsuit: $515
I got the opportunity to test out the brand’s less sweat-inducing option for Southern California. The Nieuwland 4mm was made for water temps in the 51-59 degrees Fahrenheit range–which was a perfect for the fairly brisk morning session in which I chose to first give it a go.
Like Dashel, when it comes to trying out new wetsuits, my main judging criteria whittles down to warmth and ease of movement. From the moment I hit the water, I had no doubt in my mind this suit would keep me cozy throughout the session. It was thick in all the right places and the double-blind stitching and taped seams throughout made me feel like I stayed completely dry the whole time.
For me, it was love at first duck dive. During particularly cold mornings, I usually brace myself for the unbearably cold flush of water that runs down spine during duck dives when donning and older, more worn piece of neoprene. But this bad boy, kept all the water out with its unique neck pattern.
Courtesy of Finisterre
Another plus was the suit’s flexibility. It admittedly felt pretty tight when changing into it and my paddling felt a bit restrictive for the first few minutes, but the suit seemed to loosen up in all the necessary places after while. Then it felt like a second skin. As much as I hate to admit it, I have usually shielded away from Yulex-constructed suits in the past due to how stiff and unyielding they always felt to me. But the folks designing the Nieuwland 4-mil somehow figured out a way blend sustainability with functionality.
Overall, I’m extremely happy I have this new suit to wear during the winter season and I love that there’s an extremely wearable, cleaner alternative the toxicity of neoprene that doesn’t sacrifice on performance. And my guess is this one will last for many winters to come.
