Matuse Hoplite Wetsuit

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Matuse Hoplite Wetsuit

by Chris
(Pacifica, CA)

After reading various threads about the Matuse Hoplite wetsuit I jumped on the grenade and bought one. Coming in at around $500 bucks after taxes this is the most expensive wetsuit I have ever bought.

I must say that the Yamamoto rubber is thinner than other fullsuits rated at cold water temps. It is a 4:3:2 instead of the usual 4:3. You can feel the material is thinner to the touch.

The suit fits snug and the inner lining on the suit is super smooth. The wetsuit slides on and off real easy.

The Matuse Hoplite does have a bizarre winged over the shoulder inside harness that I have not seen before. I think the purpose of it is to sinch the back to the front a little more and provide a snug fit. I don't think it is that necessary and I don't know how long it will go without breaking. It it slightly annoying when putting the suit on and taking it off.

To get to the main points, the suit does feel warm and is very flexible, more flexible than my wetsuits so far. The warmth is about the same as my Psycho 2 and the seals are good, no water getting in. I'm giving it high ratings for warmth and flexibility but the big test will be how long it lasts. I will update later.

My biggest complaint about the Matuse Hoplite wetsuit is that it has an annoying key holder. It is a drawstring and you have to take the suit off to get to it. Worse than that, it sits on your neck and has given me a bit of a "hickey" mark.

So overall it seems like a great wetsuit provided it lasts as long as my previous wetsuits.

Update: After 14 Months I the wetsuit had degraded somewhat so I bought a new one...which should tell you that I was fairly satisfied with the last one. The one noticeable improvement is the key pocket! It's now in a zippered outside pocket, outside the leg.

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Matuse Hoplite Wetsuit

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Feb 09, 2010
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Matuse 4/3/2 2009 review
by: Anonymous

I bought mine in Nov 2009. First the good: it is warm and comfortable, but you need to make sure you get the correct size (I normally wear a MT, but had to go to the LT). Now the bad: my glued seams fell apart starting in January, the butt started to delaminate a bit, as did the knees. I sent it in for repairs a few days ago and was told that I would get it back within a week or so. Overall, $500 bucks is WAY TOO MUCH for a wetsuit that falls apart this quickly. I will probably go back to O'Neill next winter.

Nov 02, 2009
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Poor fit
by: Annoyedamous

I couldn't pay one of these suits to fit me. They are cut for super lanky people. If you have any shoulder gerth at all, don't waste your time.

Aug 22, 2009
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Pros and cons
by: Anonymous

I am a bodyboarder. I bought the 4/3 Hoplite when they first came out. The fit is small. I needed to go up a size and still the fit is very snug. I was sceptical at first because the suit is thin and VERY flexible. I never thought it would keep me warm. Boy was I wrong! In January I am the happiest person in the water (I am the one who is ALWAYS the coldest!). I even have to flush water through sometimes to cool off.

This suit does not allow water in. The neck is comfortable which is difficult to find. It sits lower so it dowen't rub when the neck pivots. The Saddle seat is indeed made for surfers who do alot of straddling so I have to work harder to keep my feet together when kicking into waves.

Now for the negative. After the first winter, the elbows were worn through. I am not really hard on my suits riding and I take really good care of them. I sent it in and after a couple of months it came back with a terrible patch job. I sent it in again and the same thing happened. I asked if they could do something else with it and they said "Nope. That was it." They did say that they were gong to beef up the arms a little because they had had complaints. I now can only use it as a 3/2 because it flushines through the patches in the arms.

I don't know what I am going to do this winter. The Matuse is crazy warm and comfortable but the thought of paying $500 every winter for a new Matuse really makes me cringe. I hope this review will be of some help to you.

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Aug 22, 2009
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Comment
I am a bodyboarder. I bought the 4/3 Hoplite when they first came out. The fit is small. I needed to go up a size and still the fit is very snug. I was sceptical at first because the suit is thin and VERY flexible. I never thought it would keep me warm. Boy was I wrong! In January I am the happiest person in the water (I am the one who is ALWAYS the coldest!). I even have to flush water through sometimes to cool off. This suit does not allow water in. The neck is comfortable which is difficult to find. It sits lower so it dowen't rub when the neck pivots. The Saddle seat is indeed made for surfers who do alot of straddling so I have to work harder to keep my feet together when kicking into waves. Now for the negative. After the first winter, the elbows were worn through. I am not really hard on my suits riding and I take really good care of them. I sent it in and after a couple of months it came back with a terrible patch job. I sent it in again and the same thing happened. I asked if they could do something else with it and they said "Nope. That was it." They did say that they were gong to beef up the arms a little because they had had complaints. I now can only use it as a 3/2 because it flushines through the patches in the arms. I don't know what I am going to do this winter. The Matuse is crazy warm and comfortable but the thought of paying $500 every winter for a new Matuse really makes me cringe. I hope this review will be of some help to you.

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Feb 07, 2009
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4/3/2 is prolly fine..
by: Anonymous

in upper 50's water, I have to dunk in the water to cool off from time to time.

Dec 26, 2008
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Matuse Suit??
by: Anonymous

I am about to buy a Matuse 432 for water in California in the Morro Bay area. I am considering the 543 though, it seems to me like that would be the better move for warmth, since they are already flexible as heck. What do you think? Will I be too hot in the water in between 50 and 60 degrees or is the 432 good enough?

If I dont get a Matuse, I am going for the Xcel Drylock. Heard its money. Built in hood.

Feb 28, 2008
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Matuse
by: Anonymous

I was wondering about this wetsuit.

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Matuse Hoplite Wetsuit

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Matuse Hoplite Wetsuit