Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Having fun on a<br />
Roger Hall finless while<br />
wearing a 1.5mm on<br />
the North Island here,<br />
the Radiator suits saw<br />
use all the way down<br />
to Dunedin.<br />
<br />
TEST<br />
WETSUITS<br />
“LET’S SEE WHAT THIS<br />
RUBBER CAN DO”<br />
Radiator<br />
$324.00 long sleeve 1.5mm, $328.90 long sleeve 3x2mm<br />
How can we best describe our<br />
Radiator wetsuit experience? We<br />
were given two steamers from Bob<br />
at Radiator for our trip - a 1.5mm<br />
and a 3x2mm steamer. My first<br />
thought was, “We’re not surfing<br />
the north coast of NSW. We’re<br />
going to New Zealand...”<br />
Look at a map of the world to see<br />
what I mean. Auckland, NZ’s most<br />
northern city, is in line with the<br />
Victorian border. Christchurch is<br />
below the entire state of Tasmania.<br />
Dunedin, further south again – only<br />
4897km from the south pole! And<br />
we are taking across a 1.5mm and<br />
3x2mm?!<br />
Well, we used the 1.5mm regularly<br />
on the North Island - didn’t feel<br />
the cold a bit, and most days<br />
were overcast. A standout feature<br />
of this suit is that it’s incredibly<br />
lightweight, yet unbelievably warm.<br />
You want a wetsuit to do what it is<br />
meant to but less rubber is sure as<br />
hell going to make it lighter, easier<br />
to move in and easier to paddle.<br />
Radiator puts their ‘less is more’<br />
approach down to their four layer<br />
composite construction.<br />
The jersey outer skin is hard<br />
wearing, then there’s the titanium<br />
coating which recycles your body<br />
heat, an inner core of closed cell<br />
neoprene and finally a ‘slipskin’<br />
lining which further enhances<br />
the reheating effect of your own<br />
body. Whatever the technology<br />
these guys have applied - and they<br />
apparently invented it - it works.<br />
We wore the 3x2 in Dunedin with a<br />
Thermalution undersuit underneath<br />
and were too warm in 12˚water...<br />
Need we say more?<br />
No worries while<br />
you wait - the<br />
Radiator is as<br />
warm in the wind<br />
as it is in the<br />
water.<br />
Mens vest short<br />
sleeve 0.5mm<br />
Price: $86.90<br />
Same technology as<br />
applied in Radiator’s<br />
wetsuits. These ‘thermal’<br />
wetshirts are all you need<br />
for tackling a midday surf<br />
in the middle of winter in<br />
Queensland or Northern<br />
NSW. I wore it on the<br />
North Island with a pair<br />
of boardies when the sun<br />
was out during a midday<br />
surf at Raglan and was<br />
100% comfortable.<br />
Radiator also have<br />
a cool range of<br />
accessories such as<br />
hoods, glocves adn more,<br />
starting aroudn $30<br />
Notable POINTs<br />
• Glued and blind stitched seams<br />
• Unique 4 layer construction creates an<br />
incredibly lightweight, warm suit<br />
• Simple design makes for a very cool,<br />
yet understated suit<br />
• Back zip for easy on and off<br />
• Collar has an inner slipskin - great neck seal<br />
Radiator suits are sold online and<br />
shipped out of Western Australia.<br />
Phone 1300 195 833 within<br />
Australia for more information or<br />
+61 8 9430 9284 internationally.<br />
www.radiator.net<br />
THUMBS<br />
UP for:<br />
warmth<br />
may/jun <strong>2012</strong><br />
145
Change language