Extreme Sports

Hi,

Today we are going to be reviewing the Rip Curl 5mm F Bomb Wetsuit Boots…..giving our opinion and not the manufacturers opinion.

Rip Curls F Bombs are out there to rival boots like other 3mm surf boots, being in the same price range as other top of the range 3mm boots from the likes of XCEL. Both boots are top quality but there are a few differences between them which could be the deciding factor in which one you might pick. We have already looked at the other boots so will give a detailed opinion on how good they are.

Rip Curl F Bomb’s are Fireskin lined which is meant to repel the heat coming from your feet back onto the body, so that they keep your feet warmer for longer. The seams are double glued and taped so that no water is going to find its way in that way either…and we must say that they do the job perfectly. Helping this factor is that the boots themselves have a decent length on them and run quite high up the leg, creating a big overlap with your wetsuit, essential on the colder days, as wetsuits do run back up the leg when you sit on your board. There is a big arch strap on the back, at a lower level so that they are easy to pull on and off. We’ve been yanking hard on this and its pretty sturdy!

There are two straps on the boot…one running across the front of the foot and for us, a quality one at the top of the boot that seals around the ankle. Boots always loosen around the ankle over time as the neoprane stretches over time, so having this velcro seal keeps them tight all the time…another barrier to the water!  Read more...

Hi,

Today we are going to run through what Surf Hoods we have that will have you kitted out for the coming winter. As we have mentioned before XCEL have been producing great wetsuits and related products for years and the Surf Hoods are no different. We have 4 hoods to choose from this winter and they are:

XCEL2mm Thermobarrier Bamboo Lined Hood, XCEL 2mm Thermobarrier Hood, XCEL 2mm Cap with peak and the XCEL Xcelerator Cap.

The XCEL Xcelerator Cap is great hood more fitting to be worn in the early days of winter. Its 0.5mm titanium glideskin with a strap the fits under the chin. The cap is ultra stretchy and comes in all sizes.

For something a little warmer, is the XCEL 2mm Cap with Peak. This is similar to the Xcelerator cap although this has a small peak on top to help flush water away from the face. Its 2mm thick so will keep the elements at bay. There is also an arch strap that comes under the chin to provide a great fit.

Finally the top Surf Hoods, are the XCEL 2mm Thermobarrier Hood with Neck Dam and XCEL 2mm Bamboo Lined hood. These hoods both have a full neck dam that goes right into the wetsuit to ensure that hardly any water can penetrate into the body. Its 2mm thick and fully covers the cheek area giving a great seal. There is a pull string cord on the side ensuring that you can alter the tightness of the hood to whatever you like. The XCEL 2mm Thermobarrier hood also comes with a peak. The Bamboo Lined hood is a great option, exactly the same as the normal thermobarrier, but this season being bamboo lined, trapping pockets of air into the hood making it warmer than ever.  Read more...