In this blog, we will discuss an in-depth review by our staff member, Charlotte, on the women's C Skins Re-Wired 6:5mm hooded suit.
I started surfing back in 2004 down in the Surfer’s Paradise of UK, Newquay, Cornwall whilst doing Summer seasons and my first ever wetsuit was by a well-known brand, 5:4mm back zip steamer. I must’ve worn it for around 6 seasons (winter and summer), not knowing about different types, thicknesses, brands, etc., or how long a wetsuit should last.
As my surfing hobby took off through the years, I continued to use suits from this brand as it was everywhere to do with surfing and it seemed they fitted my body shape the best. I had standard suits and used separate hoods. As I was learning more about wetsuits and brands, fast forward to Winter 2020, it was time for a change, so tried my first C Skins winter suit.
From my experience surfing in winter in Wales and considering that I feel the cold easily, I went for the ReWired 6:5mm chest zip with an integrated hood.
The first thing I immediately noticed from just picking them off the hangers, was the flexibility and was eager to try some on.
They have a feature called IRIS II entry system which made it easy to climb in and out and it's designed to reduce any unwanted flushing, especially during the colder water temps.
With my waist being the smallest part of my body compared to the rest I found the suit quite spacious in that area compared to everywhere else but with the ReWired being so flexible, I was able to squeeze into one size below my usual clothing size which was a bonus ;)
My first surf in the suit was mid-January, a baltic windy day at Coney, Porthcawl. Throughout the whole session, which lasted around 2 hours, it never once occurred to me that I was wearing 6mm of neoprene. I found it easy when popping up and it honestly felt like I was wearing a 5mm suit.
My arms did get tired on longer paddle outs against the sets rolling in but was able to quickly recover when I got out the back.
It flushed once through the chest area where the clinch is but that was after a hefty wipeout over the falls. The liquid tape around the inner cuff and ankle stopped any flushing in those areas.
The game-changer for me was the integrated hood. After years of using a separate hood, the integrated hood was far above the best and resulted in minimal flushing. I was able to stay in the water longer because I was so warm. I often got laughed at for wearing a 6:5mm but I was always the last one out ;)
When changing out of the suit, it was very easy to take off and the lining dried quickly enough for me to easily use the day after. In the lower part of the suit prone to wear and tear, C Skins use Free Flex Neoprene which combines flexibility with durability.
I’m finding it very durable considering how many times I've used it compared to my other suits. I was so impressed with it that I purchased the same suit in a 3:2mm for the Summer, 5:4mm and very recently to complete the collection the 4:3mm for this coming Spring. They all fit the same, snug with extreme flexibility.
To sum it up, I give this suit top marks for its fit, warmth, flex and durability and it’s no surprise to hear I paired it with their Wired 7mm round-toe boots which are equally another favourable piece of kit when it comes to surfing.
The ReWired wetsuit, together with C Skins' other edition suits are available in Men's and Women's ranging from 3:2mm to 6:5mm and great news, they are on sale at the moment so don't miss out on getting kitted up for next winter.
Remember you can now visit our Showroom from Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm to try any products before you purchase.
See you in the water!