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ION SEEK CORE 4/3 BACK ZIP: REVIEW

Sweet Spot Wetsuit?

Any need for a better wetsuit than this?

Roger Turner welcomes the ION Seek Core 4/3 Back Zip wetsuit into his quiver, eager to find out if this clean-cut, value-driven suit can earn its place alongside his trusted favourites when the temperatures start to dip.

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Roger Turner: “There’s such a fantastic range of wetsuits available for us these days. Thankfully, inflexible, uncomfortable, inefficient and delicate wetsuits are a thing of the past.

 

The likelihood is that you already have a wetsuit or two, so you’ll be looking to complement the ones you already have. I was looking for an autumn/early spring suit as I have summer suits and a 5/4 for brutal winter days. So, I reckon a 4/3 is a good option and the appeal of easy access is very important to me. Right in the middle of Ion’s five suit range is the Seek Core at £269 for the 4/3 back zip. I’m a54 XL at 95kg and 6ft… choice made. Arrived PDQ in a very natty ‘sage grey’ with a plush green lining. Normal range of swing tags plus an interesting ‘Water Defender Leg’ pack, more of which later.

This suit is marketed as a “clean, no-fuss design and premium features at an accessible price. Built for riders who want dependable performance and essential warmth without breaking the bank”. It certainly looks the part with a perfect finish, soft and stretchy materials and sensible features.

The trend in wetsuits is now towards the use of natural rubber, as used here, with a high percentage of recycled materials for the linings. As our sport is ‘plastic-heavy’ this is great news, with no compromise in stretch, durability, warmth and comfort.

Why Back Zip?

For me, the ease of putting on, and taking off, a back zip wetsuit is the reason for choosing this option and so it proved, especially as the inside materials (Hot Stuff and Silk Stuff) make access so easy. The ‘Watergate’ back gusset comes right up over the back, so any water entry is kept away from the body. The zip puller is really long, I used to have to add a bit of rope, no problem now. Obviously at this level, seams are glued and blind stitched, plus tape-reinforced in critical areas. Knees and shins are well reinforced without any loss of comfort.

For me the fit is perfect, although the forearms seemed quite tight, there was plenty of give in use on the water. There is a knack to getting the neck seal just right but none of the constriction of the front zip seal. A small Velcro tab on the neck seal prevents it from catching elsewhere when not being worn, clever.

In use

You should be able to forget the wetsuit once you’re on the water, there’s already enough to deal with. That’s exactly what happens with this Seek Core, from water-starting to rig pumping, the flex and comfort is very impressive, the seam-free shoulders undoubtedly helping with this. In my opinion there is more water flush with a back zip compared to front zip suit, but for my use this is fine. This small volume of water flushes through and out of the leg and back gusset drain holes, no problem. Water starting is the main culprit, with the sudden extension of the rig above your head. A little cooling is sometimes welcome for the way I will typically use this wetsuit, i.e mellow days on big freeride board and Windsurfer LT. Getting too warm can be an issue, so the ability to loosen the neck seal and even slide the zip down a bit is quite a relief.

The small ‘battens’ on the ankles (AKA Water Defender Legs) seem to work well, I was quite surprised by the effectiveness of this innovation. I tried sailing without the (included) ankle straps and suffered no ’elephant leg’. Not having straps to put on and take off at the end of a long session is very welcome. Plus, if you have ever got your wetsuit nearly off your legs only to remember the ankle straps are still on, you see the advantage of going strap-free! A couple of spare leg battens are included too.

Thoughts on wetsuit ‘strategy’

For ultimate warmth -go front zip for those brutal, less than 10⁰C days, ideally 5/4 or 6/5 plus hood. Keeping your head warm is critical. Hats, hoods, vests with hoods attached, are vital additions to extend the range of the wetsuits you have.

If budget is not an issue, then the very top of the range suits will give even more warmth for a given thickness or even allow for a 4/3 rather than 5/4 etc in the same conditions. In the Ion range that’s the Amp and ultimately the Select…You pays your money etc…Plus more comfort with even more flex. The wonder material, graphene will unfoundedly be a more common game-changer going forward, once the cost of production falls.

I’m a subscriber to the ‘more-wetsuits-the-better’ theory, as you’ll always have the right suit for the job and they’ll last longer. Great to have a dry wetsuit to put on in windy spells too.

Here’s my wetsuit quiver; short john, long john, shortie, 3/2 summer, 4/3 back zip (this one), 4/3 front zip, 5/4 front zip, all getting plenty of use across the year. Add rash vests and thermal layers for even more overlap in wetsuit use.

I run quite warm, the time I get cold is when I’m off the water, so I am a big fan of the thicker (2mm) Neoprene Shelter jackets.

I have even found a cheap way of getting a warm shower at the beach… more of this later!

Conclusion

For my use case (autumn and late spring, winter with minimal immersion) the Ion Seek Core is the sweet spot for value, performance and comfort. But go for front zip (at no extra cost) and consider upping the thickness to 5/4 (+£10) or include built in hood (+£20) if you particularly feel the cold or as a boost to cold water performance. These are big upgrades in warmth for a small price hike.

Also put a hood, gloves and boots/shoes on your Xmas wish list for pushing your windsurfing on right through the winter.”

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