Review Summary

Is it THE Solution?

The zipperless wetsuit has really caught on in the last few years. They're super warm, comfortable and the seams don't appear to have many ill-effects from all that excess stretching when putting the suit on. I was intrigued by the innovations that had been made and, coincidentally, it was time to replace my aging O'Neill Heat 3/2. So, I strolled down to pick out a suit and I ended up choosing the Billabong Solution Gold 3/2. I couldn't help but wondering if the name was merely a clever moniker or if the name was some sort of true statement that this suit was indeed THE wetsuit solution. Billabong has long made quality wetsuits so maybe there was something more than a clever little name, but my skepticism took over and I came back to reality. While the name might be a stretch, there is some truth to the claim of this being THE Solution..

First thing's first... I've yet to find a company that has softer and stretchier material in a wetsuit than Billabong. This suit is the top of the line and it was given the finest rubber throughout. Tugging on the arm shows you just how flexible the material is and I was dreaming of how comfortable it was going to be to wear this when the water went cold. Other technological highlights are the Billabong Zipperless system, Impact Welded Seam Seals to keep water in/out, brake pads on the wrists that help the arms from creeping up and slick/stretchy knee pads that resemble a painted layer of rubber over the knees.

Getting into the suit takes 1 or 2 tries before you've got the hang of it; same with getting out. The zipperless system seems easier to get in and out of than others out there but nowhere near as easy as just zipping up like in a regular suit; no surprises there. The suit fit me snug but not too tight. I have broad shoulders and I never felt squeezed in or felt restricted movement, probably because the material is so stretchy. I noticed the first couple sessions a little rubbing on my right shoulder where the seams all converged. It didn't last but it was pretty uncomfortable for a while; I doubt many will have the same experience unless you have broad shoulders, as I do, and even then it was just the first few times in a suit so I didn't pay much attention to it. It has proven not to be an ongoing problem.

My first session in the suit confirmed my belief that the suit was going to be warm. It was a chilly fall day and I was HOT in the suit. I'm usually trucking it well into October/November, so I am a bit thicker blooded than most, but I stayed almost too toasty in this suit and it's a 3/2. As the winter filled in, I began to cheer the suits heat corralling abilities. I've never once been cold in the suit, but I still feel a little too warm on the days the water is a bit warmer or the sun is beating down on you. If you are usually cold out in the water I imagine that a 3/2 should be fine all winter-long, in Southern California or similar climates.

The water-repelling material on the outside of the suit is really slick, literally. Dip your arm in the water and it comes out bone-dry and repels the water like Gore-Tex would. This helps the suit stay dry and not soak up as much water and it's no gimmick. The suit is noticeably lighter when taking it off after a session and since there's not as much water in there it dries much faster. However, the water-repelling material lasts about 10 sessions and then the visible indicators it's on there begin to slowly fade away. Not that the suit soaks up water like a sponge, but the cool Gore-Tex effect seems to fade ever so slightly. The suit still does seem to absorb much less water and dry faster than other suits I've used. The material is also thinner compared to other 3/2 suits; could be illusion, but it certainly feels thinner in the arms and legs. Weight-wise I was very impressed. It's lighter even when dry, probably because the material is thinner and the lack of a zipper and extra rubber to cover the zipper system.

Make no doubt about it: this suit is not for the budget-minded. At around $275 it's probably the biggest surf investment you'll make, save for your boards. So, durability is a key issue. After having surfed with this suit for about 5 months now on a 3-4x/week basis I can say it holds up remarkably well. I take care of my suits but I certainly don't baby them, and this suit shows very few signs of wear. The seams are still intact and the rubber seal behind them looks fine, albeit not like brand-new. The neck grommet or whatever you step into is showing signs of wear from being stretched and the velcro pilling up the surface. But, I don't see it as being cause for concern. The suit is still stretchy, though not quite as much as the day I bought it. I foresee no reason you couldn't get at least 2 seasons out of the Solution.

Here's the big letdown with this suit: the key loop. I cannot stand the key loop. The loop is located between your shoulder blades which makes accessing the key and inserting it into your car look like interpretive dance from far away. If you forget something in your car as you walk away you have to get out of the top half of the suit just to access the key and even then you either have to insert the key blindly behind your back or twist your entire torso to face behind you. I prefer the O'Neill method of a little pocket on your ankle, or anything compared to this silly system. I hope to see future models use a more convenient method as this one is horrible.

The key issue and price aside, this suit is a winner; you certainly get what you pay for. It's durable, warm, super-stretchy and absorbs less water. I hope to use this one for another season and then try out another Billabong suit, which promises to be just as good as this and past offerings. It probably isn't THE wetsuit solution, but it certainly is one of the best on the market.

by - Bryan Mills

Learn more at http://www.billabong.com