ION Products Men Wetsuit Seek Select Front Zip 5/4mm 2023
Reviews / Mens Wetsuits
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At A Glance
The Seek Select is the ultimate wetsuit for cold water sessions, providing unparalleled heat and stretch. It features Graphene lining, which is a highly effective heat conductor to keep you warm on the water. The Seek Select is made with the highest quality materials, and the range sits at the top of ION's lineup for warmth. The minimalistic panel design allows for unrestricted movement, while the liquid sealed seams enhance the suit's ability to keep out water. With Graphene_Plush throughout the torso and legs, the Seek Select is designed to tackle the toughest conditions. The Hot_Stuff 2.0 lining provides extra warmth to the arms and shoulders, while the Max_Flex technology offers exceptional stretch and comfort.
The integration of Graphene Plush into the inner lining sets the Seek Select apart from other wetsuits on the market. With a higher concentration of Graphene, this wetsuit provides up to 20% more warmth compared to the Plasma_Plush 2.0 lining. Additionally, the Graphene_Plush ensures quick drying times, keeping you comfortable at all times. Max_Flex is an innovative lining material that offers superior flexibility and stretch. Its unique rhombus-shaped structure allows for increased flexibility, and it also efficiently redistributes water through small channels, reducing drying time. The Hot_Stuff 2.0 lining comes with larger loops that enhance heat insulation, resulting in a plushier feel. It is the stretchiest thermo lining available in the ION range.
The Seek Select features ultra-slim outside sealing technology on the lower half of the suit; this stops water from getting into the area most often submerged when surfing or getting sprayed when riding. The use of I_Foam, an extremely lightweight and stretchy neoprene foam, makes the Seek Select more sustainable than ever. With the addition of Oyster shell powder, I_Foam maintains its superior characteristics while contributing to heat insulation and improved flexibility.
The wetsuit is further enhanced with an improved version of highly elastic neoprene tape that ensures the security of lower body seams and highly stressed cuff areas. The seam-free shoulder design allows for increased paddle reach and shoulder rotation. The stress points of the Seek Select are reinforced and secured with Maki_Tape 2.0 from the inside, ensuring the longevity of the seams.
The knee bends and crook of the arm have less material, allowing for greater freedom of movement in these areas. The narrow rubber strip on the cuffs of the leg and arm ends, as well as on the collar, ensures better sealing and prevents water from getting in. To prevent water accumulation inside the wetsuit, the Seek Select is equipped with Drain_Holes that are secured in place and won't expand. The Leg_Loops can be tightly wrapped around the ankle to prevent water from entering the suit, and the velcro construction ensures they stay in place.
The cord used to tighten the suit at the shoulder can be easily replaced if damaged, eliminating planned product obsolescence. The Water_Barrier at the front zip opening area improves the connection between the flap and the rest of the wetsuit, preventing water from flushing in. For added convenience, the Seek Select includes a Key_Pocket for securely storing water-resistant keys during your session.
Furthermore, ION Wetsuits prioritise sustainability and environmental responsibility. They use Aqua-α™ technology, a solvent-free and water-based glue that eliminates chemicals getting into the ecosystem. The neoprene is made from earth-mined limestone, which reduces the environmental impact. Biocalcium and oxide powder derived from waste shells partially replace limestone, further contributing to neoprene sustainability. Carbon black, a key ingredient in neoprene, is now pyrolysed from scrap rubber tires, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. To offset their CO2 emissions, ION supports a hydropower carbon offset project in Kuruwita, Sri Lanka.
Sizes: 48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL
On The Water
The Seek Select is an incredibly warm wetsuit, perfect for those winter sessions where you need all the warmth you can get. I've found these new ION suits to be among the warmest on the market, where some suits only use the really hot lining on the front of the torso, and the only parts of the Seek Select that doesn't use the Graphene Plush material are the shoulders and arms, to ensure good movement. This is what makes this suit one of the warmest around, a worthy choice if you want to kite all year round. The neoprene is also of the highest quality, ensuring maximum warmth and stretch. The minimalistic panel design allows for unrestricted movement and reduces the need for lots of seams, which are always a point of ingress for water.
A word on those seams, the Seek Select uses a combination of glued and blindstitched, taped and liquid sealed. The whole of the lower half of the suit is all of those three, drastically reducing the amount of water that can get into the suit. On the upper half of the suit, the stress areas are taped, while the areas where flex is paramount are glued and blindstitched. The result is a very warm, dry and flexible suit. The Max_Flex technology offers exceptional stretch and comfort, ensuring you can stay out on the water for longer.
The leg loops and Drain_Holes are great, preventing water from entering the suit and preventing elephant legs, which will ruin any session I have. It's one of my absolute pet hates; it's great that it doesn't happen on this suit. With the velcro straps secured, the ankle of the suit is held firmly in place, which is perfect for those choppy sessions where water is fired upwards off the board at speed.
The Seek Select is perfect for cold water sessions, providing unparalleled warmth. The integration of Graphene Plush into the inner lining sets this wetsuit apart from others on the market, offering up to 20% more warmth compared to the Plasma_Plush 2.0 lining. The Hot_Stuff 2.0 lining provides extra warmth to the arms and shoulders, while the Max_Flex technology offers superior flexibility and stretch. It is, without a doubt, one of the warmest suits we've worn and will continue to be our go-to for the colder sessions that are on the way. If you want the ultimate, then check out the 6/4 hooded version of this suit, which is one of the best winter suits I've ever worn.
Overall
The Seek Select 5/4 Front Zip is an excellent choice for cold water sessions, offering unbeatable warmth, flexibility, and durability. With the super toasty Graphene_Plush lining, top-quality materials, and innovative technologies such as Max_Flex, this wetsuit is designed to tackle the toughest conditions. The Drain_Holes and Leg_Loops keep the suit dry and securely in place, while the Water_Barrier at the front zip opening area prevents water from flushing in. The Seek Select is also one of the more sustainable wetsuits out there, made with I_Foam neoprene and featuring Aqua-α™ technology. It is the perfect choice for those who want to stay warm on the water while minimising their impact on the environment.
This review was in Issue 102 of IKSURFMAG.
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By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
