georged wrote:
Does anyone know anything about Deboer wetsuits?
They've got Frodo selling their wares, so they must be reasonable. And if competition makes Roka wetsuits a little cheaper...
I had the opportunity given by Alex de Boer, owner of the company, to try the wetsuit. I tried the Fjord and it is indeed very forgiving in the shoulders, but not more so as for example the Orca Predator or Alpha which material used in the arms/shoulder area is very similar as used in the Deboer wetsuit.
However, the whole wetsuit feels flexible and the DuraFlex material is pretty strong and I pulled hard, but again, it feels very similar to the Orca's.
My main issue was that I had a pretty big gap on the back that acted like a giant waterscoop while swimming. Whatever we tried to get the neck to close it just didn't seem to work. This might be just my bodycomposure. I have a bit rounded back and shoulders, but I don't have any issues in the Predator or in other wetsuits. I got a size MT, with 75 kg/ 183 cm tall. I found the back of the suit on the short side and I couldn't pull it up any further without castrating myself. But that might also be the cause of the scoop on the back. That the back panel is just too short for me.
But overall if felt a bit big
The size chart reads there should be a size ST but it was not possible to order that when you look at the wetsuits in the shop. I asked the owner but he didn't conform to me yet if it is really available.
For sure the back will be most likely too short as well, but would like to try anyway.
Due the big scoop on the neck I didn't even try to do a speed test, but I don't think it will be much or faster at all like something else like the Orca Predator / Alpha or any other same level suit.
But if it fits you well it doesn't probably won't hurt you either :-). Perhaps just in the wallet :-):-)
Jeroen
Owner at TRIPRO, The Netherlands