ION Products Seek Select Hood Front Zip 6/5mm 2023
Reviews / Mens Wetsuits
126,943
At A Glance
This is the premium cold-water suit from ION, released last year. It was one of the warmest suits we had ever worn with some clever features, and we were keen to get our hands on the new model to see what's new.
Active Flex is a feature that the high-end ION suits enjoy, offering maximum flex in all the right places. A new rhombus shaped outside lining offers superior flex, and ION has used the highest quality materials to ensure the ultimate feel when you are wearing the suit.
On the inside is the Graphene_Plush lining, which was new last year; this was the secret to the suit's warmth, and it is back for the 2022/23 season. The arms and shoulders feature the Hot_Stuff 2.0 lining to increase flexibility and warmth in that area. There is also a new silicone print on the material covering the zip; this grips itself to effectively close the material and ensure you don't get wind or water through the zip.
The unique hood with internal seal is back again, too, and there is a smooth skin on the back panel and hood to reduce wind chill on the water.
Sizes: 48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL
On The Water
Thankfully despite the Xmas blow out, we were still a Large when January rolled around, and it was time to pull out the big gun wetsuits for the winter. I've been a big fan of this suit, and having worn lots of different ones, it is certainly one of the warmest and most flexible suits on the market right now.
It's a 6/5, so don't expect it to slip on easily. It's definitely a bit of a wrestle on the beach, but once you are in, it's toasty inside. The Graphene_Plush lining really is warm and feels great against your skin. It also absorbs less water and drains quickly too. I use this suit for surfing, and it is plenty flexible enough on the arms, kitesurfing or winging, you won't even notice you are wearing it.
One of my favourite features of the suit is the internal neck seal. Often hooded suits will just have a hood slapped on, and when you wipe out face first, a bucket load of water just shoots into the suit, and you feel the cold. On the ION Seek Select, there is an internal neck seal, which means if water enters the hood, it doesn't penetrate the neck and the suit. Instead, it gets flushed out of the back panel. This is a real bonus when duck diving or crashing hard. It's little details like this that make the suit one of the best there is.
Durability is something we should talk about with suits, I wore last year's pretty much all last winter, and while the graphics did eventually start lifting, the suit itself was bomber. No issues with the seams or the zip or the suit at all. It's still going strong as my backup suit for when I put two sessions in on a cold day. I've worn it in temps down to 5 degrees and not felt the need for a neoprene hoodie, although that was probably about my limit.
Overall
If you are looking for one of the warmest suits around, packed with the latest technology and materials, this is right up there. Buy one; you won't be disappointed!
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This review was in Issue 97 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit ION ProductsRelated
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!
