Captain, I truly appreciate your business and your comments and am sorry to have confused you a bit. Here's an explanation, I hope it helps!
CaptainArgh wrote:Thank you!!! I eyed this suit up for purchase last winter but found it was unavailable after OR's big marketing pitch on the new suit, which was odd.
We are a company entirely driven by innovation and rider feedback and rely on both to continue to grow and respond to customer needs. Our manufacturing facilities are overseas and at times we are beholden to their own limitations. The early push on the suit was in anticipation of availability but our supplier delayed our 1st shipment by a number of months on us. I am sorry. Now that they are in stock and rolling though there will not be any more delays in availability!
CaptainArgh wrote:Okay, now a question FOR an Ocean Rodeo rep.
What sizing is available?
I see some websites listing ...M, MT, L, LT, XXL, etc...
And others just list 4 sizes for the Predator. XXS/XS, S/M, L/XL, XXL/XXXL!
The Predator evolved out of what was the Pyro Surf. That suit came in only 4 sizes which were a blended size run of 2XS/XS, S/M, L/XL and 2XL/3XL
Over the time since that Pyro Surf went into production we spent a lot of time working directly with the factory on a ton of different prototypes. Different skin constructions, different bladder layouts and styles, all in the quest to perfect the fit and feel of the suit while maximizing mobility.
Late in this process we decided we had to introduce a 5th size into the line up. We had sample suits out locally with a number of different sized riders pursuing different sports, from Surfing to SUPing to Kiting to Windsurfing to all of the above. The feedback we got was that we needed a 5th size and we needed to allow the customers to buy the Drycore and the Skin in different sizes depending on their sport and their size.
The result of this was that - unfortunately - we had a size run of the skins come in labelled in the older style of only 4 sizes. Here's how it breaks down now:
S = old 2XS/XS
M = old S/M
L = new size all together
XL = old L/XL
2XL = old 2XL/3XL
You can see a complete size chart for the Heat Underwear, Drycore and Predator Skin listed
here.
CaptainArgh wrote:Finally got my suit. Very comfortable. Takes twice as long to put on but I hope it's worth it in the water. (haven't kited with it yet). I'm 6'2" 180lbs and needed to get an XL for the length as they don't offer an LT. I ordered XL on both pieces. The core came in listing itself as "XL" the skin said "L/XL" It fits fine.
For such an expensive suit it is very hard to find consistent size charts for it on the internet and it doesn't come with any literature. Actually, it has a Pyro hangtag attached to it. Shit, for the price, it should ship with the little asian woman who sewed it together to help you put it on.
Again, the initial size run came according to our 1st expectations of only 4 sizes, your skin is the size you ordered however, it is simply labelled under the old system.
As for the hang tag on the suit, we will now be including
this manual with all of our suits, I suggest you download it but if you want me to mail you a physical copy please just email me with your mailing address.
The Donning and Doffing process takes time to get good at but with time I find I can be into and out of a Predator almost as fast as my wetsuits. You can read more on the Donning process
here. That page also includes a link to the manual I mention above, a Donning Video on YouTube and a guide to properly fit your latex seals.
If you have any other questions our customer support lines are open 8-5 PST, 888-544-4969.
Again, thank-you for your interest in the suit! I expect you will love it!
John Z - Ocean Rodeo.
