Review: Fourth Element Surface Wetsuit

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review:-fourth-element-surface-wetsuit

When I heard that Fourth Ingredient released the Floor wetsuit towards the tip of 2020, one aspect in explicit in fact caught my witness: it’s fully eco-aware. The Floor wetsuit is half of Fourth Ingredient’s OceanPositive line, meaning that it makes spend of a 100% plant-based totally mostly exchange to neoprene known as Yulex Pure™. That is a a really distinguished level for eco-warrior divers accessible brooding about that manufacturing neoprene takes this form of heavy toll on the ambiance.

Yulex Pure™ is an ultra-pure, pure, plant-based totally mostly rubber harvested from bushes grown sustainably in the US. Vegetation are grown with out synthetic irrigation systems, and the waste left over from the rubber extraction job is old as biomass gasoline for producing electricity. Furthermore, the seams are blind stitched, fabric linings are produced from post-user recycled plastic bottles, and the glues and prints are water-based totally mostly. Even the packaging, a reusable organic cotton drawstring win, is eco-generous!

The Fourth Element Surface wetsuit
The Fourth Ingredient Floor wetsuit on land.

That is the most environmentally-to blame a wetsuit can obtain, which is an extremely swish wonderful for folk who steal environmental disorders critically. The Floor wetsuit is marketed as a multifunctional lag neatly with that may maybe even be old for extra than one sports activities: freediving, snorkeling, stand up paddleboarding, browsing, originate water, swimming, etc. As soon as the opportunity to learn about the wetsuit arose, it used to be too ethical to withstand. So I took it out freediving!

First Impressions

Fourth Element Surface wetsuit entry point
The Fourth Ingredient Floor wetsuit entry level located at the neck.

I in fact like the minimal possess of the Floor wetsuit, as I am no longer a fan of very gallant or loud prints on my wetsuits. The materials is amazingly stretchy and elastic, and the entrance chest zipper is extensive and chuffed to spend. The interior areas of the wetsuit end to the wrists and ankles accumulate a non-stir grip in them, which later proved to be rather precious in defending water from flowing constantly in and out of the wetsuit and causing me to feel cool.

The match used to be also factual to size: I am 163cm (5’4) and weigh about 55kg (121lb) and I ordered a girls’s cramped size. Facet display conceal: I am in indulge in with Fourth Ingredient’s sizing chart for girls and I came across it extremely priceless!

Fourth Element Surface wetsuit inner cuff
The Fourth Ingredient Floor wetsuit interior cuff.

One aspect of the wetsuit that I accumulate blended feelings about is the dearth of bolstered stitching in the wrist and ankle cuffs. I accumulate had wetsuits indulge in these in the previous, and my journey with them is that they in general started to fray at these areas after some in depth spend, however simplest time will relate with the Floor lag neatly with.

Efficiency

Fourth Element Surface wetsuit beneath the surface
The Fourth Ingredient Floor wetsuit below the floor. Characterize by Pinky Wu.

This used to be my first time diving with a one-half lag neatly with, and I was no longer very familiar with the level of notify in placing one on. The very first time I donned the wetsuit, I spent loads of overtime wiggling into it, and getting my head by blueprint of the flap that goes around the neck used to be tricky as a consequence of I was exhausted by the tip of it. Phrase makes ideal even though and placing it on the next few instances proved to be noteworthy easier once I realized the tricks.

I ought to mention that I accumulate three herniated discs in my encourage that attain no longer trigger me bother in traditional life anymore, however I was very aware of them and of my neck as I was donning this wetsuit. Within the event you are anyone that has a fragile encourage or neck and does no longer accumulate a buddy to allow you positioned on a wetsuit, I’d relate attempting the lag neatly with on in a store sooner than buying it.

Descending in the Fourth Element Surface wetsuit
Descending in the Fourth Ingredient Floor wetsuit. Characterize by Pinky Wu.

I old the Floor wetsuit for freediving in water that used to be 23°C (73°F), which I steal display conceal of rather frigid. At the muse, I was timid about feeling cool and of water slipping by blueprint of the neck, arms, and legs, however I was pleasantly surprised! Upon coming into the water, I felt rather chilly, however after about three to five minutes, my body heat warmed up the skinny layer of water within the lag neatly with. I felt chuffed and at ease real by blueprint of the 1.5-hour session and ended up feeling hotter for longer than the different freedivers with whom I was diving.

The wetsuit is 4/3mm, which has thicker neoprene in areas that need the most heat, and thinner neoprene in various areas to preserve flexibility. This wetsuit is extensive-stretchy; I had fully no concerns feeling chuffed in any predicament, which is a key component for freediving. I’m able to confidently dispute that I was impressed with the efficiency of the wetsuit in the water.

The most attention-grabbing ingredient I’d absorb to scrutinize from the Floor wetsuit is extra coloration selections. Within the event you are having your photos taken underwater, this explicit coloration of the wetsuit can blend in with the ocean rather and makes it more challenging to edit photos.

Final Thoughts

The Fourth Element Surface wetsuit at the surface
The Fourth Ingredient Floor wetsuit. Characterize by Pinky Wu.

The theorem in the encourage of Fourth Ingredient’s Floor wetsuit, the eco-friendliness of it, is a extremely gargantuan selling level, notably for me as I try my handiest to make a aware effort to be extra eco-aware. For parents which are buying for a wetsuit for extra than one water activities, or for vacations end to the water, I’d dispute this wetsuit is impossible! I indulge in the minimal possess and magnificence, the versatility of the wetsuit, the flexibility, the comfort, and the truth that it saved me heat even in waters that I steal display conceal of very cool.

I scrutinize ahead to seeing extra from Fourth Ingredient’s OceanPositive line!

Key Capabilities

  • Yulex Pure™ pure exchange to petroleum-based totally mostly neoprene made of sustainable latex
  • Water-based totally mostly glue – no wicked solvents
  • 95% lined with recycled polyester
  • Minimalist branding with water-based totally mostly inks
  • Interior ankle and wrist seals
  • Easy, minimalist possess maximizes flexibility
  • Entrance chest zip entry
  • Packaged in a reusable organic cotton drawstring win

Tag

Fourth Ingredient Floor Wetsuit – $559 USD / €479 EUR / £399.95 GBP

More Recordsdata


Surface Wetsuit


Floor Wetsuit

Designed for life in the water from diving and freediving to floor watersports, the Floor is made with certified sustainable pure rubber and recycled interior and outer linings.