Wetsuit Wear Test: Billabong Furnace Range

All day we can talk about certified sourced rubbers, CICLO fibres, and "improved foams." Provocative images of pro-surfers doing air reverses on icebergs with a glacier behind would be a great way to show how warm the latest 5/4mm hooded 5/4mm is. But we've done that before. The bottom line is that we don't care about the most recent wetsuit technology. We want to surf longer in one. We want warmth and flexibility. We want to be open and honest without losing a little of our souls (we'll get there in a second).

To not spoil anyone's hopes of superhuman wetsuit technology, saltwater freezes at 28.4°F. If a New England winter surf is 30F, you don't need to reach the North Pole to test its built-in hood.

Anyways. Billabong, as they have done for the past few years, wanted an objective, honest-to goodness report on Furnace's latest range of Billabong wetsuits. They are lined with the revolutionary (and Nobel-prize-winning) material Graphene and made with "Recycler tech" -- which means that the Graphene has 100% P.E.T. Recycled fibers

We didn't take the suits out on a cold Santa Barbara day. We distributed the rubber to our correspondents, testers, pros and myself to frigid far corners in North America. We needed water in the low-30s. Maine to Washington. Nova Scotia to British Columbia From the Gold Coast to Cape of Good Hope on the Dark Continent.

Sessions lasted for weeks. We yanked on the rubber, pulled the zippers, and took notes. For good measure, I watched Taylor Steele's Focus once more.

Oh, and about that "soul" part from earlier...Spoiler-alert: Nobody. Like, NOONE noticed any performance loss with the environmentally-friendly materials in the range. So, that's rad. This is progress, actually.

Here's our report on guys and girls wearing Furnace and Furnace Comp, ranging from 5/4mm to 3/2mm.

Although there are a few wetsuit-first businesses that like to claim they are the best in the game of wetsuits, Billabong has always been progressive and I can confidently say with the Furnace line that they live up to what they preach. Let's cross off a few boxes.

I used a 4/3 Furnace Comp down 'ole Mexico-way, while other testers sampled the 5/4 Hooded Furnace, Furnace Comp and other millimeter-variations of the line. Flexibility? Umm, mos def. Smart Foam feels very soft. Some of that stretch can be attributed to the seamless back. However, in cooler waters, that pullover neck seems to be a game-changer.

Jacob Albury said, "I love my neck pull-over piece," and he wore his 5/4 Hooded Furnace throughout a Nova Scotian winter. It takes some strain off the neck and shoulders. This is especially true if you are wearing a hooded suit. This one is different.

Easy on-off is also made easier by the new neck of thicker suits measuring mm. Let's face the facts, nobody has time for a full suit when the surf's pumping. Period.

The Furnace Comp was a popular choice for women, particularly in cool waters like the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Panels, seams, and design that compliment and encourage women's bodies rather than just considering their form an afterthought, warmth and flexibility are two of the most important factors that no one can ignore.

The difference between the Comp Furnace and the non-Comp Furnace can be summarized as follows:

"The Comp is amazing. Walter Cerny who tried both the 4/3 Hooded Comp in Central California and the 4/3 Furnace in Central California, said that the Comp is amazing. It's flexible, comfortable and easy to use. Unfortunately, the Furnace (Ultra) felt stiff and heavy. Although it's warmer, I prefer the ease of paddling to be able to wear it. The Comp feels like butter. It's like a dream.

Claire Parsons says that she actually has more paddle power. She also wore her 5/4 Furnace in Nova Scotia. "It doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a suit. It's the most comfortable I've ever wore a wetsuit.

We don't mean to discourage anyone from not-Comp...if warmth and comfort are your primary-objective, go ahead, homie.

While most agreed that the Furnace was not as stretchy as its Furnace Comp, but is toastier for those who are trying to pull a five hour session, the men and women loved how easy it was to change into the suits. This is especially useful when it's freezing outside.

Becca Speak, New Hampshire said that "there's very little time to rip off your suit in the snow before freezing to die." The Furnace Comp makes it bearable.

Isabella Nichols, a pro surfer, said that it was the best, longest, most comfortable wetsuit she's ever worn. She wore her Furnace Comp 3/2mm Furnace Comp all through the Gold Coast winter. It's easy to take off even with frozen fingers. It's comfortable to wear seven days a week and I can paddle nonstop.

All the boys felt that the suits were durable and could withstand a beating. I was one of them. The warmth: While they all have Graphene in their liner (that Nobel-prize winner material that only Bong uses), even a Furnace 3/2 steamer can do some amazing things.

Santa Barbara's Evan Gambetta says, "I have felt the least constriction of any suit I have worn." It was 3/2mm thick, but the welded seams, liner and liner make it as warm, if not more, than any 4/3mm suit I have worn. The graphene retains heat more effectively than other liners. The suit heats up quickly when you're moving around. It's been amazing how warm it has kept me warm on windy and cold days, even though I am a 3/2mm winter size.

Are there any bummers? Some testers have reported that ankle flushing can occur if you are hungover and drink cold brews.

Gambetta also said, "Be gentle with dual neck enclosure. The first layer has a thin section of material holding them together." It has never caused any problems for me. It's a small area of concern.

Eithan Osborne and other pros have complained about the tightness of the neck. Some have also commented on the weight of Furnace lines -- mostly because they go from wet to dry on a hanging wire -- but these extra ounces do not seem to affect paddling power.

The neck pullover was not a problem, but there was some flushing around the ankles from a hard gribble. There was no ballooning. Becca Speak stated that water or intense wind can seep into the stretchy material on her Furnace Comp. The Furnace can also be very warm. A few ladies mentioned that they would flush some water through their necks during a lull to cool off the body.

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