any hotline owners/former owners out there amongst the swaylockian population? i would appreciate any info on this product, am thinking about purchasing a super fly full suit for next winter…thanks…
Bottom line, you cannot go wrong with Hotline. I currently have a fly zip and a super fly (last years and this years) and they are both the best suits I’ve ever had – no doubt. They are super stretchy AND warm. I rarely get rashed, as compared to the O’Neill suits which just wreck me. The zip is also a huge bonus. I’m sure you’ve seen them, but they just have a small zipper in front. It cuts down flushing big time. The one I bought last year is still in great shape and its over a year old and I surf 4-5 time a week minimum. The only negative I’ve head is that they are not as warm as other suits, but I find this NOT to be true. I don’t know what else to say. Make sure you try one on because they tend to run big. It’s also a Local Santa Cruz company so that’s a bonus. ps - the booties are great too (and run even bigger - I wear an 11-11.5 shoe, but a 9 in the hotline booties) pss i remember transworld surf online wetsuit test finding these to be the best all around suits. Check their site and search for hotline.
Bottom line, you cannot go wrong with Hotline. I currently have a fly zip > and a super fly (last years and this years) and they are both the best > suits I’ve ever had – no doubt. They are super stretchy AND warm. I > rarely get rashed, as compared to the O’Neill suits which just wreck me. > The zip is also a huge bonus. I’m sure you’ve seen them, but they just > have a small zipper in front. It cuts down flushing big time. The one I > bought last year is still in great shape and its over a year old and I > surf 4-5 time a week minimum. The only negative I’ve head is that they are > not as warm as other suits, but I find this NOT to be true.>>> I don’t know what else to say. Make sure you try one on because they tend > to run big. It’s also a Local Santa Cruz company so that’s a bonus.>>> ps - the booties are great too (and run even bigger - I wear an 11-11.5 > shoe, but a 9 in the hotline booties)>>> pss i remember transworld surf online wetsuit test finding these to be the > best all around suits. Check their site and search for hotline. k.i.d.–much thanks for the input. i do recall that transworld wetsuit test and that was a big reason why i’m leaning hard toward the hotline product. i own a bodyglove “link” now and it flushes big time and the velcro on the neck closure has ruined that area. i’m gonna check the transworld site now. thanks again…
any hotline owners/former owners out there amongst the swaylockian > population? i would appreciate any info on this product, am thinking about > purchasing a super fly full suit for next winter…thanks… 6 years out of my last one. Maybe pushed it the last year. Extremly warm suit. Used in New England winters, where are water temps can get in the mid-upper 30’s and air temps well below freezing. May not be as flexible as some of the other suits on the market, but as far as durability, excellent. Good luck !
6 years out of my last one. Maybe pushed it the last year. Extremly warm > suit. Used in New England winters, where are water temps can get in the > mid-upper 30’s and air temps well below freezing. May not be as flexible > as some of the other suits on the market, but as far as durability, > excellent. Good luck ! I’m going to recind the flexability statement as my old Hot Line was 6 years old and I’m sure there has been many up-grades as far as their flexability. I jumped into a Body Glove this season, only because 1 of our local shops was going out of business and I had to use up a store credit quick. 1 season out and I am experienceing same problem as the other poster, as far as the velcro raising hell with the other material.
No problem. Your comment, however, does remind me of another (supposed)negative. That is that the suits are suceptible to velcro damage. But, they dont have any velcro on them, so if you keep them away from your booties and leash, when you’re not surfing, you’ll be fine. I, personally, have had no problems with the velcro issue and it’s probably true for all suits using the new super-stretchy material. trons
thanks for the input R.I. Surfer, now you surf in an area that’s a cold water place that will put a wetsuit to the full test! very compelling testimony…
thanks for the input R.I. Surfer, now you surf in an area that’s a cold > water place that will put a wetsuit to the full test! very compelling > testimony… …I heard Hotline is a good suit,I also hear that Xcel is taking the market by storm with there suits…Any Xcel users out there.Herb
Bottom line, you cannot go wrong with Hotline. I currently have a fl> and a super fly (last years and this years) and they are both the best > suits I’ve ever had – no doubt. They are super stretchy AND warm. I > rarely get rashed, as compared to the O’Neill suits which just wreck me. > The zip is also a huge bonus. I’m sure you’ve seen them, but they just > have a small zipper in front. It cuts down flushing big time. The one I > bought last year is still in great shape and its over a year old and I > surf 4-5 time a week minimum. The only negative I’ve head is that they are > not as warm as other suits, but I find this NOT to be true.>>> I don’t know what else to say. Make sure you try one on because they tend > to run big. It’s also a Local Santa Cruz company so that’s a bonus.>>> ps - the booties are great too (and run even bigger - I wear an 11-11.5 > shoe, but a 9 in the hotline booties)>>> pss i remember transworld surf online wetsuit test finding these to be the > best all around suits. Check their site and search for hotline. I agree with your assesment on the Hotline wetsuits. Personally, I have worn them for many years. I have tried other brands. Yes, I was tempted by freebies and major discounts to get me into different brands, but always come back to Hotline. As for the Hotline products running toward the large size, this is true. They are cut bigger in the shoulders and chest, than the competitor’s suit’s. The booties run wider than the competitor’s. I always believed this to be due to the fact that Hotline makes products for surfers, who tend to have a “use specific” build (paddling) from surfing. The other brands are cut more to fit the general population, and to fit water skier’s, etc. The booties being wide? Could it be from the fact that surfer’s go barefoot and/or wear slipper’s (thong’s) a lot, which allow the foot to widen. (Luau Feet!). Bottom line? Great suits made for surfer’s. Warm and flexible, with idea’s incorporated that work, without the bell’s and whistles. Purchase one, and, in my humble opinion, it will not be your last Hotline product.
Herb, Had an Xcel infinite this year and sold it and bought a super fly Hotline. The excel did not fit as well and it tended to rash me. It is the same general design as the Hotline (i.e. the single frint zip), but it fits a litte different. It is, however, super stretchy and warm. I was tempted because it was a little cheaper. I think they are definitely worth checking out of they fit you properly.
herb, i work at a shop called unsound in new york. they carry hotline, xcel, body glove and oneill. my favorite is the xcel infiniti, this years just goes off. so insanely flexible and warm, i have a 5 mil, a 3 mil and booties and gloves. they are getting really popular and for good reason. i have broad shoulders but found the xcel to fit better. they also get zero velcro damage. i’ve tried them all but keep going back to the xcel. same general design, hotline’s are quality…in that transworld test, i didn’t understand the assesment between the hotline and xcel, how they have the same exact entry system (shared patent) but were rated completely differently in that category, so that test seems phony to me. both are quality products, but for me xcels are top, and cheaper too
hmm-my experience has been different.I have bought four different hotlines and three of them had problems(bad seams,bad fit,bad construction).i keep going back because they are a local company but now alot of the suits are made in thailand so… As skinny people we find their suits to run quite wide too. On the positive side they have always tried to make it right when we have had probs,they donate to everything good in our community, and are really fine folks. Hurley is now wholly owned by Nike(its true!!!)but their suits have been good all 'round xcels fit the skinny guys well but we have also had quality problems but they too have made great efforts to make things right. o’neill has made great suits but i don’t like the short zip at all. we surf everyday year ‘round so we go thru’ alot of suits.More stretchy more better
i got a new 4/3 Xcel this winter and its unbelievably warm and stretchy. fits skinny guys like me good, the only complaint is the neck seal leaks a little water once in a while. not where the zip is but the rubber around the neck. i have a bit of a pencil neck so that may be it but i’d like to see a little closure adjustment on the neck rubber. i’m nitpicking here, it’s a killer suit otherwise.
i got a new 4/3 Xcel this winter and its unbelievably warm and stretchy. > fits skinny guys like me good, the only complaint is the neck seal leaks a > little water once in a while. not where the zip is but the rubber around > the neck. i have a bit of a pencil neck so that may be it but i’d like to > see a little closure adjustment on the neck rubber. i’m nitpicking here, > it’s a killer suit otherwise. …Tried some Xcel’s on yesterday 4/3 and 3/2 full infinity ,also a long sleeved shorty in 2mm,Nice feeling suits.There priced better.I have always been a O’neill user since the dawn of wetsuits,but after exploring alittle,it makes it tough to go back to them. …I can’t find any Hotline wetsuits down here in So.Cal.ANYONE know where I can locate a place that sells them here (H.B. AREA)Herb.
…Tried some Xcel’s on yesterday 4/3 and 3/2 full infinity ,also > a long sleeved shorty in 2mm,Nice feeling suits.There priced better.I have > always been a O’neill user since the dawn of wetsuits,but after exploring > alittle,it makes it tough to go back to them.>>> …I can’t find any Hotline wetsuits down here in So.Cal.ANYONE > know where I can locate a place that sells them here (H.B. AREA)Herb. herb, there is a shop listed as a dealer in h.b., the “fifth st. surfshop”, otherwise you’ll have to go south to mitch’s in la jolla or north to hermosa beach “soul performance”. i’ve owned an xcel spring with the front zip. it performed well, but lucky for me it was a spring and i didn’t have to deal with too long of arms and legs. i’m pretty stocky, so the xcel fullsuits’ cut doesn’t fit me too well…thanks to everyone for their info…
herb, there is a shop listed as a dealer in h.b., the “fifth st. > surfshop”, otherwise you’ll have to go south to mitch’s in la jolla > or north to hermosa beach “soul performance”. i’ve owned an xcel > spring with the front zip. it performed well, but lucky for me it was a > spring and i didn’t have to deal with too long of arms and legs. i’m > pretty stocky, so the xcel fullsuits’ cut doesn’t fit me too > well…thanks to everyone for their info… That’s why the Xcels fit me well,I’m long armed and legged…I’d like to check out hotlines though…thanks for your input!Herb
Dave, althought the entry systems are the same, the materials are different. The Hotline has the spandex material only on teh outside, while the Hotline has it on both sides. This matters only because when you pull the neck over you head, the xcel rips your hair out, while the Hotline slips right over. another think is the Hotline neck tends to seal better, preventing flushing. I think its thicker around teh neck. These are minor, but they are still advantaged of the hotline.