Time for a new wetsuit. I’ve been swimming in the Xterra Pro for a few years. I have nothing else to compare it to. How do Xterra’s higher end suits compare to other brands higher end suits?
Does Xterra use Yamamoto neoprene in their top wetsuit models? It seems like most of the leading brands use Yamamoto in their best one or two wetsuit models, and Yamamoto seems to be regarded as the best rubber. So, if you are shopping for a top tier model, I would look for a brand that uses Yamamoto.
My vote - the 2pc De Soto. Email @emilio for assistance on sizing and amazing customer service.
I upgraded from a 4-year old Xterra Vector Pro to a Roka Maverick this past season.
Swam no faster. Questionably easier to raise my arms in the Roka, but certainly nothing really noteworthy.
My Vector Pro though, looked like I got attacked by piranhas - numerous small surface tears from where I grabbed it. Not sure if they’ve improved the outer coating, but at least mine was a tear magnet. And I was quite careful with mine - most of the tears came from races.
In contrast, have done 3 races and at least 5 OWS with my Roka Maverick. I’m careful with this one too, but in contrast, zero tears after all that. Not a single one. If this had been my old Vector Pro, fuggetabout it.
Still, I think they may have improved the rubber on Xterras more recently - my buddy just got one for a race, and he had zero rips/issues with his with several OWS and one race, so might be improved.
I tested both wetsuits in a pool as well, was the exact same speed with both. OWS almost identical too, slightly faster with the Roka, but I suspect that was more due to training than the suit.
Limestone based neoprene. Not sure exactly what that means for quality.
My Vector Pro looks terrible as well after a few seasons.
My Full sleeved Vector 4 is very far behind my Huub Archimedes. There is a large noticeable difference in the arm/shoulder flexibility. The rubber between the two have survived very well.
I don’t know how the Vector 4 compares to the pro though.
Time for a new wetsuit. I’ve been swimming in the Xterra Pro for a few years. I have nothing else to compare it to. How do Xterra’s higher end suits compare to other brands higher end suits?
I bought 3 brands 2 models so 6 suits asking if I could try and return. All 3 said yes
Dos extensive testing over the next week. One consistently outperformed the other 2. I was hoping it would not as it was the most expensive.
I second this….DeSoto products are awesome, as is the company itself. I have been swimming in the 2 piece suits for 20 years.