Post update: December 18, 2006.
I added comments on how the suit has performed and the differences between a Psycho I and Psycho II.
Click for pics
Well, after almost dying of hypothermia last winter I decided to upgrade my wetsuit and booties. I had been surfing in a Billabong 3/2 suit since I moved here. It was bought on Craigslist and served it’s purpose. However, the wetsuit now has about a hundred leaks in it and I don’t think I would have made it through this winter. We’re due for our first big northwest winter swell this weekend and the water temp has dropped quite a bit so I figured now was a good time to upgrade. I bought the O’Neill Psycho II 3/2 wetsuit and O’Neill 3mm Superfreak booties. I don’t think cold will be a problem this year! Muy bueno!!!
Post Update…
I felt the need to update the post after some surf time in the new suit. All I can say is one word…amazing! This suit is, in my opinion, the best in the market and the difference was incredible. My surf sessions have been great since purchasing the suit; I don’t even think about being cold or care about the water temp. I wildly underestimated how a wetsuit can make a difference in surf enjoyment. My recommendation to anyone on the fence about buying a wetsuit: do yourself a favor, spend some extra cash, and invest in your happiness by buying a quality wetsuit. You won’t regret it!
Another issue I saw a lot of questions on was the difference between a Psycho I and a Psycho II. Now, I’m not an expert and the best thing to do is go to a local surf shop (not to be confused with some chain store where the employees just want commission and don’t even surf) and ask them. But I will try to put as much of the differences I am aware of here. One of my best friends, Mike, has a Psycho I and he has had no problems with it to date and has been very pleased. The main differences that I saw between the 2 suits were the seam weldings and the internal firewall core system (an extra layer of material that wicks away moisture and keeps your body core insulated). So first, the seam welding: a Psycho I only has fluid seam welding material on the outside of the stitch, whereas the Psycho II has the fluid seam welding on both the inside and outside of the stitching. Does it matter? I’m not sure if this alone is worth the extra money to upgrade from a Psycho I to a Psycho II, but I figure extra seam welding equates to longer life, better water protection, better flexibility, and better warmth. The second major difference: the firewall core system. Here the Psycho II has a firewall system that covers both the back and the chest area, whereas the Psycho I only has firewall protection in the chest. Does this matter? I say yes since to stay warm in the water you need to keep your body core temp maintained. Here I think the Psycho II really starts to show a difference. So, hopefully this helps anyone out there trying to decide on a Psycho I or a Psycho II. Personally I would spend the extra money, but they are both amazing wetsuits.
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