Flexibility / fit / comfort:
For a wetsuit that sits below $350.00 I was pleasantly surprised by the Peak’s Flex, fit and comfort. I had several long sessions in this suit and while it may not have the same flex as a top of the line wetsuits, I was never conscious of feeling restricted. This is thanks to targeted panels of Peak’s X-Stretch neoprene on the shoulders and back. I was stoked on it and found myself wanting to reach for this suit all the time. The inner x-dry lining is super comfortable and dries really fast. The fit was great and there were no areas of excess rubber, nor was it too tight.
Ease of Entry & Exit
A Standard chest zip entry on this suit. Easy to step in and out of and not too many fiddly flaps to get right before you pull it over your head. Much like Rip Curl, It seems like Peak have worked on tightening up the cuffs and legs of their suits. It makes it a little harder to put you heels and hands through, but it feels great to know there’s no water going to rush up your arms or legs. It feels really snug and secure.
Warmth
The X-Dry lining not only helps keep the wetsuit dry, but it also provides a super snug and warm insulated feeling when wearing the suit. In my opinion this wetsuit more than matches the top of the line wetsuits for warmth. At no point during any session did I feel cold. Like I mentioned earlier, I found myself reaching for this suit over more expensive ones during the test, and I wouldn’t be doing that if it lacked warmth.
Water entry
As previously mentioned, Peak have tapered their cuffs around the ankles and wrists. I had pretty much zero water entry in those areas during my time in the wetsuit. My pet hate is water in the legs of a wetsuit, and the legal and arms remained a water free zone during every session. I had a very few small drops of water work their way in through the neck of the suit, but nothing to cause too much concern.
Summary
I was really surprised at both the quality of build and the performance of the X-Dry from Peak. If I only had this wetsuit to get me through the colder months I’d be a happy camper. Considering the price point being about half that of the top line suits, I can see this being a no-brainer for crew not comfortable with shelling out $700.00 for a wetsuit. This one will be remaining in rotation for me throughout winter.
