Home » Xcel Wetsuits: The Complete Review

Xcel Wetsuits: The Complete Review

Are you a surfer, free diver, or other watersports enthusiast? Well, unless you are lucky enough to live in a place where the ocean stays warm year-round, you’re probably very aware that a wetsuit is vital to doing what you love when water temperatures drop. Commercial divers especially know that a quality wetsuit is critical. In fact, they wouldn’t be able to dive without it. These days, a lot of divers are choosing Xcel wetsuits, and I wanted to find out why.

I’ve spent my fair share of time in the ocean and know firsthand that when the water is cold you can’t stay in long without protection. So, I was excited to review Xcel. Not only did I discover that these guys have years of experience making technologically advanced wetsuits; they’re also an environmentally-minded brand committed to conserving the planet’s natural resources.

If you’re in the market for a wetsuit with maximum stretch and durability that offers unrestricted movement, I invite you to take a deeper look.

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All About Xcel

Where Xcel Started

Xcel has been in the business of making wetsuits for almost 30 years. It all started in Sunset Beach, CA in 1982. Founder Ed D’ Ascoli saw the sheer number of athletes surfing the Pacific shores and was inspired to create high-performance products for those who demanded them the most.

D’ Ascoli grew up surfing on the New Jersey coastline and knew how important a high-quality wetsuit was for maximum performance. Before starting Xcel, he helped establish Victory wetsuits. It was this process that laid the foundation to later start his own world-class line of neoprene suits.

It wasn’t long before Xcel wetsuits became popular in the surfing community. The company grew rapidly and D’ Ascoli understood that surfers weren’t the only ones who could benefit from a quality suit to keep them warm and dry in cooler water temperatures.

How Far They've Come

Today, Xcel has expanded to include wetsuits that dominate the surfing, diving, wakeboard and paddleboard communities. They are also great for anyone looking for increased UV protection when spending long periods of time in the water.

One area where Xcel has really grown over the years is within the recreational diving community. Through the use of innovative technology and in-depth research of successful surf and military wetsuits, Xcel has become a company that truly raises the bar when it comes to dive wetsuit design.

Over the last three decades, this company has stayed committed to quality, reaserch, innovation, and design. They have truly earned their reputation as an industry leader.

Xcel currently offers an array of tropical to cold water products for men, women and youth looking for maximum performance in their water sport preference.

Xcel has been voted “Wetsuit of the Year” four times (2007, 2008, 2010, 2020) by the Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association (SIMA).

What Makes A Good Wetsuit?

I’ve honestly only surfed a few times, and usually it was in warmer water where a wetsuit wasn’t needed, so I never had to do a lot of thinking about the pros and cons of different brands of wetsuits. However, writing this review piqued my curiosity about what makes a good wetsuit.

Seeing as how Xcel has been voted “Wetsuit of the Year” four times, I decided to investigate and see what they are doing right.

How Wetsuits Work

Before determining the best wetsuit to fit your needs, it’s important to understand how a wetsuit actually works.

Wetsuits are designed to trap a thin layer of water between the wetsuit material and your body, essentially allowing your body to heat up this thin layer of water to a temperature that’s comfortable.

Most wetsuits are made with neoprene, an elastic synthetic rubber that contains outstanding insulation qualities. The thicker the neoprene, the warmer you’ll stay in the water.

Wetsuit Features

Thickness

Different water temperatures require different thicknesses in a wetsuit. If you’re surfing, wakeboarding or diving during the summer months when water temperature is warmer, you’ll want a thinner wetsuit than if you were doing the same activities in the winter months when the water is colder. Basically, the colder the water temperature, the thicker you’ll want your wetsuit to be.

Ease Of Movement

A key quality of a good wetsuit is the freedom of movement it allows you. When choosing a wetsuit, it should fit comfortably against your skin without limiting the movement of your arms, legs or body while still fitting tightly enough that water can’t make its way easily inside your suit.

Seams

Something else to look for when choosing a good wetsuit is the seam. Different wetsuits are designed with different seams, each of which has their own list of pros and cons. Various seams you’ll find on Xcel and other wetsuits include:

Flat Lock Stitch: An entirely flat stitch that penetrates through both sides of the neoprene shell. Flat lock stitch does not provide a watertight seal.

Overlock Stitch: A strong stitch that sticks out of the neoprene and is typically found in the least expensive wetsuits. Overlock stitch does contain needle holes, which will allow for wind and water to enter the suit.

Liquid Tape: This is a 100% waterproof seal that uses rubber on the inside and outside of the stitching on the seam.

Glued and Blind Stitch: The stitch here is first glued, then threaded with a needle on the same side that doesn’t penetrate all the way through the suit. Small holes may be created over a period of time due to excessive use and constant stretching.

Neoprene Tape: This is the most flexible seam tape, typically used on the inside of seams. It offers the most flexible, completely waterproof seam.

Zippers

You’ll find that when shopping for wetsuits, there are different options for zippers, which ultimately determine how you’ll get in and out of the suit itself.

Back Zip: A back zipper is common on wetsuits, allowing the suit to open vertically down the back. This makes it easy to get in and out of your suit but can also somewhat limit flexibility.

Front Zip: A front zipper zips down the front of a wetsuit for an extremely easy way to get your suit on and off.

Chest Zip: A chest zipper is found horizontally on the chest of the wetsuit and allows for increased flexibility in the back of the suit. The chest zip is the most popular method of entry for surfers.

Zipper Free: A zipperless wetsuit is made without zippers and are usually found in higher end, performance type wetsuits. They’re made out of extremely stretchy neoprene for a reasonably easy zipper free entry. Zipper free wetsuits tend to be the most flexible.

Types Of Xcel Wetsuits

Understanding what makes a good wetsuit is just the first step of choosing the best wetsuit to fit your needs. There are several different types of wetsuits to choose from, all of which can benefit you depending on your individual needs.

Fullsuit: This is a one piece wetsuit that fits from the neck to the ankles. Full suits most often come with full sleeves, although some fullsuits do have short sleeves.

Springsuit: A springsuit has short length legs and either full or long sleeves.

Drysuits: Drysuits keep all water out of your suit and are typically used for diving.

Wetsuit Tops: Wetsuit tops are exactly what they sound like. A wetsuit top that can be worn with bikini bottoms or board shorts for times when you need a little extra warmth but not an entire suit in warmer water conditions.

Wetsuit Bottoms: Wetsuit bottoms can be short or full length and are excellent for diving and spear fishing in warmer waters when a bit of warmth and protection is desired.

Now that we’ve established what makes a good wetsuit and the different types of wetsuits one might be interested in, let’s check out what Xcel’s award-winning wetsuits have to offer.

Xcell Wetsuit Guides

One thing I thought was neat and super helpful is the list of different guides that Xcel has included on their website.

They have product guides that describe the different series of wetsuits they sell in great detail.

They have temperature guides that tell you what thickness of wetsuit you want based on your activity and the water temperature, as well as whether you will need boots and gloves.

There is also a very detailed sizing guide to ensure that you get the perfect fit.

Xcel Wetsuits: Made For Men, Women and Youth

When it comes to wetsuits, Xcel has something for everyone…and when I say everyone, I mean everyone.

Xcel makes wetsuits for men, women and children for all types of watersports and weather conditions.

Something I really find appealing about Xcel’s vast line of wetsuits is their commitment to making quality products while constantly striving to minimize their environmental impact.

Xcel’s “eco initiatives” clearly demonstrate their commitment to sustaining our earth’s precious natural resources. I was truly delighted to discover that:

Each wetsuit is made up of about 45 recycled plastic bottles.
5,000kg of neoprene waste is repurposed annually.
104L of water are conserved per kg of fabric.
Earth-mined limestone neoprene is used to replace processed petrochemicals in traditional neoprene, ultimately decreasing dependence on petroleum and environmentally destructive processing practices.
Colored yarn is produced without the dyeing process through a technique known as dope dying, which conserves water and reduces energy consumption.
Many of the fabrics used to create Xcel wetsuits are knitted with polyester threads made from recycled plastic bottles.
One of the primary ingredients in neoprene is known as carbon black, which Xcel sources from scrap rubber tires. This reduces energy consumption considerably and cuts CO2 emission by 200g per wetsuit.
A water-based glue is used to eliminate the release of harmful volatile compounds (VOCs).

By incorporating these practices, Xcel has seen a 72% reduction in CO2 emissions and reduced their carbon footprint by 26% per kg of fabric.

Xcel Products

When shopping Xcel’s wide range of wetsuits, you’ll find they offer several different styles and options.

Channel Flex, for example, is Xcel’s newest material technology which they maintain “completely reinvents the wetsuit experience” by offering weightless, unrestrictive movement.

Many of their products are made with UV protection.

Xcel also offers their “Water Inspired Line” of wetsuits featuring Ocean Ramsey, the famous free diver who gained international attention for freediving with sharks in an effort to bring awareness to shark conservation. To learn more about Ocean Ramsey and her mission, feel free to visit her website. She’s really doing some amazing things when it comes to saving the ocean and its inhabitants. The fact that Xcel has partnered with Ocean Ramsey only exemplifies their commitment to making the highest quality wetsuits with a clear focus on environmental conservation.

Speaking of quality wetsuits…because Xcel’s line of wetsuits is so vast, it won’t be possible to cover each individual wetsuit they offer. Instead, we’ll cover their main product categories as listed on their website, along with a bit of information about each to get a better idea of the wetsuits they carry.

Xcel Men’s Wetsuits

You won’t find any shortage of wetsuits for men when choosing Xcel. They have fullsuits, springsuits, and divesuits, as well as tops, bottoms, gloves, and other accessories. There are tons of styles and colors to choose from.

Xcel Women's Wetsuits

Xcel’s women’s collection is nearly as extensive as the mens. They have lots of really cool designs, comfy clothing items, and a full selection of wet and dry suits.

Xcel Youth Wetsuits

If you have kids that are into surfing, diving, or just cold water swimming. You have to check out Xcel’s selection of youth and toddler sized wetsuits and tops.

Conclusion

Xcel has been in the business of making wetsuits for close to 30 years and it shows.

Not only are they committed to producing quality wetsuits and other products for ocean-minded individuals of all ages, but they do so with a solid commitment to the environment and conserving the planet’s natural resources.

If you’re passionate about playing in the ocean and are looking for a quality wetsuit made by people who’ve been in the business of making wetsuits for decades, Xcel is definitely one to check out.

Gifts

Xcel Wetsuits: The Complete Review

Table of Contents

All About Xcel

Where Xcel Started

How Far They've Come

What Makes A Good Wetsuit?

How Wetsuits Work

Wetsuit Features

Thickness

Ease Of Movement

Seams

Zippers

Types Of Xcel Wetsuits

Xcell Wetsuit Guides

Xcel Wetsuits: Made For Men, Women and Youth

Xcel Products

Xcel Men’s Wetsuits

Xcel Women's Wetsuits

Xcel Youth Wetsuits

Conclusion

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