Predator Dry Suit Review.
Predator Dry Suit Review.
I both kite and surf. Could be awesome for winter sailing here or wave sailing in Oregon.
I have done most of my surfing in relatively warm waters of SA. Typically the thickest wetsuit I wore was a 4/3 with my most common thickness in the winter being a 3/2 and a 2/2 shorty for the summer. I moved to the Canadian west coast and promptly got acquainted with a 5/4 hooded suit, 7mm booties and 5mm gloves. I was freezing cold when I got out and felt restricted when in the water.
When I heard of a surfing drysuit being developed I was highly skeptical, but very interested. I was one of the early adopters and got myself a Pyro Surf from Ocean Rodeo. The concept was good, but it looked a little weird, there were some issues with it. After using that for a year, I was offered the chance to use a predator prototype towards the end of last winter. After using the prototype about 6 times, I wouldn’t even go out in the Pyro. I bought a production Predator and used it last weekend. These are my observations.
Style:
It has a neoprene outer layer and a breathable, waterproof inner layer. The suit is actually 2 separate pieces that can be attached to each other. The outer layer is neoprene and very form fitting. It looks like any other cold water wetsuit with an attached hood. Unless you tell someone, nobody in the line- up would think that it wasn’t a normal wetsuit. Ocean Rodeo has also done a great job of designing a logo that is both discrete and stylish, which is the modern trend in wetsuit style.
Functionality:
The biggest single difference between this suit and a wetsuit is mobility which translates to flexibility and ease of paddling. It is just so much easier to paddle in. The inner suit (dry-core) is both breathable and waterproof. Because both it and the outer neoprene layer are thin, you have lots of flexibility. I think that this is what impressed me the most. I could paddle around and not feel restricted. I had 3 sessions the same day, and no sore shoulders. Because of the breathability of the dry- core you don’t sweat, which means you stay dry and therefore warmer. The other great thing about 3 sessions in 1 day—no cold wetsuit to get into. The previous Pyro Surf had quite a bit of restriction on your legs. With the Predator, I felt no drag on my legs when standing up—this is a big improvement. Because the dry-core and the outer layer are thin, the suit is quite light. Again, this just makes cold water surfing that much easier as you don’t feel like you have become a Polar Bear every time you put your suit on. I used the same undergarments or thermal layer from my old suit. It is a stretchy, thin fleece, specifically designed to be worn under these suits. It is comfortable, warm and flexible. You can also adjust your warmth by the amount of under layering that you wear, a really nice feature.
The hood is attached, which is a must for any cold water/cold climate suit. It even has a small peak to keep the rain out of your eyes—a bonus for the west coast—especially if it is sleeting.
Two huge pluses are that you can stand around both before and after your session without freezing, after all, you are wearing a windproof, waterproof outer layer over fleece that is dry. In a Canadian winter, this is huge, as is getting into a warm dry suit for your second/third session.
Buoyancy seems about the same as a 4/3 wetsuit. It is therefore easy to duckdive in. What was also impressive is that I have been over the falls a few times in this suit, yet the seals have not allowed any water in. I also tried swimming in it---sooner or later you will snap a leash. Swimming was unrestricted. Because I Kite as well, the ability to swim in surf is important. This suit passed that test with flying colours.
The suit is easy to put on and take off—roughly the same effort as any other cold water suit. Like all of them, you get faster with practice.
I really don’t have anything bad to say about it, I’m just stoked to have one. After all who wouldn’t want to be warm and dry in negative air temperatures and feel as if they were surfing in a warm water suit.
http://www.oceanrodeo.com/drysuits/predator
I have done most of my surfing in relatively warm waters of SA. Typically the thickest wetsuit I wore was a 4/3 with my most common thickness in the winter being a 3/2 and a 2/2 shorty for the summer. I moved to the Canadian west coast and promptly got acquainted with a 5/4 hooded suit, 7mm booties and 5mm gloves. I was freezing cold when I got out and felt restricted when in the water.
When I heard of a surfing drysuit being developed I was highly skeptical, but very interested. I was one of the early adopters and got myself a Pyro Surf from Ocean Rodeo. The concept was good, but it looked a little weird, there were some issues with it. After using that for a year, I was offered the chance to use a predator prototype towards the end of last winter. After using the prototype about 6 times, I wouldn’t even go out in the Pyro. I bought a production Predator and used it last weekend. These are my observations.
Style:
It has a neoprene outer layer and a breathable, waterproof inner layer. The suit is actually 2 separate pieces that can be attached to each other. The outer layer is neoprene and very form fitting. It looks like any other cold water wetsuit with an attached hood. Unless you tell someone, nobody in the line- up would think that it wasn’t a normal wetsuit. Ocean Rodeo has also done a great job of designing a logo that is both discrete and stylish, which is the modern trend in wetsuit style.
Functionality:
The biggest single difference between this suit and a wetsuit is mobility which translates to flexibility and ease of paddling. It is just so much easier to paddle in. The inner suit (dry-core) is both breathable and waterproof. Because both it and the outer neoprene layer are thin, you have lots of flexibility. I think that this is what impressed me the most. I could paddle around and not feel restricted. I had 3 sessions the same day, and no sore shoulders. Because of the breathability of the dry- core you don’t sweat, which means you stay dry and therefore warmer. The other great thing about 3 sessions in 1 day—no cold wetsuit to get into. The previous Pyro Surf had quite a bit of restriction on your legs. With the Predator, I felt no drag on my legs when standing up—this is a big improvement. Because the dry-core and the outer layer are thin, the suit is quite light. Again, this just makes cold water surfing that much easier as you don’t feel like you have become a Polar Bear every time you put your suit on. I used the same undergarments or thermal layer from my old suit. It is a stretchy, thin fleece, specifically designed to be worn under these suits. It is comfortable, warm and flexible. You can also adjust your warmth by the amount of under layering that you wear, a really nice feature.
The hood is attached, which is a must for any cold water/cold climate suit. It even has a small peak to keep the rain out of your eyes—a bonus for the west coast—especially if it is sleeting.
Two huge pluses are that you can stand around both before and after your session without freezing, after all, you are wearing a windproof, waterproof outer layer over fleece that is dry. In a Canadian winter, this is huge, as is getting into a warm dry suit for your second/third session.
Buoyancy seems about the same as a 4/3 wetsuit. It is therefore easy to duckdive in. What was also impressive is that I have been over the falls a few times in this suit, yet the seals have not allowed any water in. I also tried swimming in it---sooner or later you will snap a leash. Swimming was unrestricted. Because I Kite as well, the ability to swim in surf is important. This suit passed that test with flying colours.
The suit is easy to put on and take off—roughly the same effort as any other cold water suit. Like all of them, you get faster with practice.
I really don’t have anything bad to say about it, I’m just stoked to have one. After all who wouldn’t want to be warm and dry in negative air temperatures and feel as if they were surfing in a warm water suit.
http://www.oceanrodeo.com/drysuits/predator
Its all about the adventure and stoke!
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downwind dave
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how is a breathable layer supposed to function under a full layer of neoprene?
i see on the OR site they state 'breathable for comfort when not immersed'.. i guess that means when the dry zip is open to vent as well. looks really nice.
i wonder though what wearing a harness will do to the 0.5mm neoprene.
i see on the OR site they state 'breathable for comfort when not immersed'.. i guess that means when the dry zip is open to vent as well. looks really nice.
i wonder though what wearing a harness will do to the 0.5mm neoprene.
No Idea what the harness will do. I do know that you don't get that sweaty feeling that I used to get with the plastic type liner. I used it last Saturday when it was really warm and sunny out and felt totally comfortable. If it gets some wear from the harness it shouldn't effect it negatively. My gut feeling though is that it is like any other wetsuit in that it doesn't matter how thick or thin the neoprene is, wear will be determined by the nylon covering over the neoprene. I don't see that the neoprene thickness will make a difference.
Its all about the adventure and stoke!
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winddoctor
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I had the Pyro and it worked pretty well but I preferred the floatation of the Polar Heat Bare with the neoprene legs. The Surf was an interesting design and a good fit to kiting but for swimming and windsurfing it didn't seem the answer for me.....The layers tended to be difficult to arrange and the putting on/ taking it off was a bit of a bitch I found, seals were probably too tight on my He-man wrists, neck and Goliath ankles 
Also I don't get cold much so it was quite a bit too warm for me I found, even in minus 5 last year the Polar with a longsleeve Tee was perfect. But it does sweat....not a bad thing when you flush but can be pretty rank when you don't.....and rinsing after doesn't cut it.
I am totally keen to give the new OR suit a try when back at it
Anyone else got some feedback, love to hear it. Nice going OR! 
Also I don't get cold much so it was quite a bit too warm for me I found, even in minus 5 last year the Polar with a longsleeve Tee was perfect. But it does sweat....not a bad thing when you flush but can be pretty rank when you don't.....and rinsing after doesn't cut it.I am totally keen to give the new OR suit a try when back at it
Anyone else got some feedback, love to hear it. Nice going OR!
Last edited by KUS on Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
re- predator
Sounds like an inovative product, just a note to icuramba though, there is a word missing from your product info page about the predator, the missing word is "air" as in the sentence that says the outer core forces excess... insert missing word here... from the inner dry core .cheers all. oh and pray for wind and surf..
Surfing outside of Platos cave, searching for Blue Skies.
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bwd
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N/A until December
I may be wrong, but it seems that the Predator is not available until December. I can't wait to try one on too. Is it any easier to put on compared to the Pyro Surf? I tried a few on last year. I need something to replace my very old Bare Polar Heat which has also been a great drysuit.
Thanks for the review Penguin!
Thanks for the review Penguin!
Now That I’ve Given Up Hope, I Feel Much Better
pred
it's difficult to put a price on comfort and warmth, but, what is the cost of this space suit.
like a duck to water
