Xterra Wetsuits

Vendetta Women's Wetsuit

If you counted up all the hours you've spent in the pool, all the dollars you've spent on those funky training supplements, all the hours of sleep you've lost to keep up your workout schedule this season, would you really want to compromise all that dedication with a poor-fitting, heavy, cheap wetsuit? Xterra Wetsuits was founded and develops its models in the heart of the world's triathlon community — San Diego, Calif. — so you can know it's committed to your commitment. The top-shelf model is the Xterra Vendetta Women's Wetsuit, and it's one of the best in the world.

While the Vendetta only utilizes two types neoprene from neck to ankle, they're some of the most highly engineered neoprenes available for any application. There's the 5mm-thick version called X-AIR, which employs a dimpled surface that promotes hydrodynamic efficiency, not unlike the surface of a golf ball. The suit's back also uses X-AIR, but in a 3mm application to reduce weight. For superior flexibility, a blend of 1.5mm-3mm-thick Yamamoto #39 and #40 neoprenes is used in the arms and shoulders, licensed from Japan's original wetsuit company that develops materials employed in over 70% of the world's wetsuits. The entire suit is then coated in Nano-Super Composite Skin, reducing drag to an industry-low 0.02 coefficient, while X-MAX triple seam-sealing and double-stitch bonding promises a lifetime of waterproofing and durability.

The cut and paneling of all that material is equally as important, and Xterra pays particular attention to those details, as is demonstrated perfectly by the Vendetta. The shoulder and arm panels alone are comprised of 6 individual pieces, each being anatomically tuned to provide the most natural range of movement without being bulky or loose, ultimately leading to a smoother and more efficient stroke in the water while also reducing shoulder fatigue — a common complaint in other manufacturer's designs that Xterra factored in while designing the Vendetta. The low-profile collar stays out of the way — something veterans of old-school wetsuit designs will surely appreciate, as they will the 30-inch lanyard for the rear zipper with a hook-and-loop patch for fastening. Finally, the X-FLEX liner that's applied to the entire interior of the suit further facilitates natural movement and allows the suit to return to its original, supportive form even during rigorous activity.

The Xterra Vendetta Women's Wetsuit comes in nine sizes, from X-Small to XX-Large, and in the color Black only.