Excel

[Bill1979]

Does anyone know about excel wetsuits from Hawaii? I'm thinking about a comdo 7/6/5 jumpsuit for diving in the quaries of Missouri and Illinois. Most are spring fed so the water at the botom can be in the upper fourties and lower fifties.

[IrishSquid]

Originally Posted by Bill1979

Does anyone know about excel wetsuits from Hawaii? I'm thinking about a comdo 7/6/5 jumpsuit for diving in the quaries of Missouri and Illinois. Most are spring fed so the water at the botom can be in the upper fourties and lower fifties.

My opinion, FWIW, they are good wetsuits. I have an Excel Vortex 5/4/3.
I dive in the quarries here in Tn. and the last dive I made, the water was 44F-46F. I was in the water for 45 mins. before I felt cold enough to call it quits. With that said, I grew up here in the hills of Tn. and have been swimming mountain creeks, quarries and the rivers here most of my life.
Anyway, I like mine, it looks good, it's staying in "looks new" shape, and is holding up well.

[CompuDude]

Outstanding suits. The Polar SCS 9/7/6 will be the next wetsuit I buy, unless something better comes along before my current suit dies (doesn't get a lot of wear, since I mostly dive dry).

Diving SoCal in winter, the people wearing the Xcel wetsuits (or custom rubatex suits) are the only ones who come close to keeping up with the drysuit divers and not skipping dives to warm up.

[Panchita]

that lasted me about 4 years - good little workhorse. The only reason I didn't go with the same brand recently was that I was looking for a little better fit - the Xcel was a little short in the arms for me. The decorative color tore early, but the shredding just makes you look more like a seasoned professional...

[wolfen42]

Do the Xcel wetsuits use a better insulating neoprene than say... a Bare wetsuit?

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by wolfen42

Do the Xcel wetsuits use a better insulating neoprene than say... a Bare wetsuit?

They don't use elasticized neoprene (whatever trade name you want to apply to it... elastiprene, hyperstretch, yadda yadda). They use Yamamoto neoprene, which is the best stuff you can get other than nitrogen blown Rubatex G231N.

At least, the higher end, thicker suits I've been considering for SoCal do. In all honesty, I haven't looked too closely at the thinner warm water suits.

Bare makes good wetsuits, but I don't think they use Yamamoto rubber, even for their non-elastiprene suits. I would have no issues using a bare suit. But the Xcel is better rubber, and they're both very well constructed, so I have to give the edge to Xcel.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

.

Bare makes good wetsuits, but I don't think they use Yamamoto rubber, even for their non-elastiprene suits. I would have no issues using a bare suit. But the Xcel is better rubber, and they're both very well constructed, so I have to give the edge to Xcel.

I have a Bare and think it is a great suit. The thing that makes it a great suit for me is the fit, as it should be for any suit you are considering.

[Skinsfan1311]

I own an Excel 3/2 shorty, and it's held up great!

[cmburch]

I have the Xcel Polar 9/7/6. A warm and comfortable suit for 46-52F. Easy to put on and comes in many sizes. Lists for $500. My friend got his for $400. I got mine for $350. If you know a dealer, I have heard as low as $250.

[donnajsd]

my husband has a 3mil excel, has had it about four years now, still good as new.....no problems, great suit.