Gul Contour 5/4/3mm Steamer Wetsuit

I bought this wetsuit in the sale in january when a lot of shops and websites seemed to be gettin rid of last years stock. However, i was not interested in the design so much of the wetsuit as the price and the features. Although having said that I think that this wetsuit looks particulary stylish. I went for the black/blue/grey design. It is mainly black apart from having grey on the lower half of the arm and down the sides, with blue on the top half of the arm and around the back. It also has Smooth skin 5mm chest and back panels to eliminate wind chill.

I will admit I have only used this suit a few times but have been very impressed. I have found it very warm, and very easy to move in the suit. The suit has G-Flex shoulder panels which give excellent flexibility as well as having pre-bend limbs. The suit remains warm because it has the smooth skin panels which eliminate wind chill but also because it has a "new Tech Neck closure system" and rolled wrists and ankles which all help to minimise flushing. Along with blindstitched seams with flexible G-Flex tape added to stress areas whilst maintaining suit flexibility and warmth. The zip also has twin flaps both for comfort and warmth, and I have never had a problem with flushing through the zip.

This suit is a steamer, that is one with the zip on the back. THis is advantageous to surfers as it means that when they are lying on the board they are not lying on the zip which would be uncomfortable. Divers generally prefer to have the zip on the front as they have to carry tanks on the back which would be uncomfortable. The Contour Steamer is designed specifically for spring/summer, but will carry you all through autumn, taking you through water temperatures from 10C, 50F. This suit is availiable in the Black/Grey/Blue design which I described above and also in plain black, or black/grey (which has grey where I describe the grey and blue to be above). For me the best choice is the black/grey/blue option as the others look a little boring but the choice is yours. As with any wetsuit it comes in a range of sizes. It has patches on the knees to help the suit last longer.

As I said I have only used this suit a few times. However, I have not been disappointed, it is an extremely warm summer suit which allows great ease of movement. I personally use the suit for surfing. I would certainly recommend this suit to potential buyers, I think it is an excellent suit at a reasonable price (see below).

Due to the zip being at the rear of the suit, refrain from pulling it aggressively to avoid any unnecessary damage. Ask someone to assist you with the zip rather than struggle. As with any wetsuit the key to it lasting a long time is to rinse it in freshwater as soon as possible after getting out of the water, and hang out to dry, but refrain from drying in direct sunlight. Wetsuits are not maching washable! Also when taking the suit off it is advised to do this on a non-abrasive surface such as a towel, certainly not rocks or sand. Also be sure never to urinate in the wetsuit as the ammonia will lead to decay.

The RRP for this suit was originally £129, and the current prices that I can find online the cheapest is £89. However, as I said above I found this suit in the sale in january and managed to pick it up for only £50 online. Basically the summer is the wrong time to buy a cheap wetsuit as it is when demand is highest.

As can be seen above, I managed to get a bit of a bargain, which is possibly why I think it is such a good suit for the money. But I think that even at £100 you would still be impressed. It has all the features of some of the more expensive suits but at the price of a cheap suit. And Gul is a well-known surf brand you know you are gettin a quality product.