I have a Patagonia R3 wetsuit. I was pretty happy with it when I got it. Warmest wetsuit I ever had. It is pretty stiff compared to my usual O’neill Psyco 2 wetsuit, but when I get cold, I get so stiff that the trade of went in the Patagonia’s favor. I was stiff, but toasty warm, rather than stiff from muscle cramps and miserably cold.
After just one winter, the suit started loosing its elasticity, and started feeling baggy, especially around my back. I didn’t have just that thin layer of water between skin and rubber. I could feel it sloshing around when I moved. Also the seams started leaking. Not just a little, but really badly. Just step into the water on a cold day, and you could feel the water seeping in at every joint.
I took the wetsuit back to the store, and said it was leaking really badly. They took the suit in, and re-taped all the seams. I was wondering how good that would work, because they were applying the tape over the wool. So no waterproof laver to waterproof layer. Well the tape job helped out for about a month, and then it was leaking just as bad as before.
Really a let down. A scratchy, thick, cold stiff wetsuit. So I took it back to the store yesterday. I wasn’t using the suit anymore, because the water is finally warming up a little. If you can call sixty degrees in July warming up. I told the sales girl it was leaking and not elastic, and I had already sent it in for repair once before. She said they had been having problems with that wetsuit. Leaking and water filling in the crotch. So she went in the back, and grabbed me a new suit. No, “I need your receipt” No, “I have to talk to management.” Just a, “here you go” and out the door I went, new wetsuit in hand.
I am going to shop there more often. Not because of what you said. Well not entirely because of wha tyou said, but the few things I ahve from them have really held up, and I hate nothing more than things that fall apart. This disposable society we live in sickens me. I was NOT raised like that. I still have a saw my great grandfather used to cut down wood from a burned bulding to build the house my mom still lives in . Its 100 years old and it works. And that house is SOLID.
I have an R2 and R3 and love them both. Not the lightest, not the most flexible, but they switched the neck panel for free on one suit ($40 for the other as I bought that suit used, neck is 17in and I’m 5’9, 150). The suits have been used now for ~8 months between 2-5 days a week and look basically new. I destroyed a $200 excel in 3 months… Also, the people at the shop are great. I did have one seam that opened a little around my neck ( after tailoring), and they had it fixed in a week, no questions asked.
I’ve never had a problem with Patagonia’s return policy. If the product was defective or didn’t hold up they would give you a credit or a similar item. No problem…peroid! They’re best.
They are a great company for more then standing by their products. They also give a lot back to the community. My Girlfriend a number of shelters for abused women and children. They often flee bad situations with only the clothes on their backs. Colleen, was put in contact with Patagonia and they shipped her tons of boxes of 2nds returns and other goods. All in very good condition. She said they did not look like they were 2nds
I try to shop at places that give back and think there is more to business then the bottom line. Just bought some board shorts from them on line. My next wetsuit will be a Patagonia.