Suit Yourself
Body Glove's Crush is an all-purpose performer
December 19, 2001
Ideal for wakeboarding, the Body Glove Crush wetsuit doesn't exactlly hamper the wearer's range of motion.
Looking for a high-quality wetsuit? Chances are you'll start by considering your intended sport, whether it's riding personal watercraft, waterskiing, wakeboarding or just some good old surfing. But what if you do all of the above? Do you want four separate wetsuits clogging the closet or can just one suit serve all four masters?
That's the challenge we undertook recently, sifting through a heap of nylon-covered neoprene in an effort to find out if one suit really could please all. Flexibility is crucial as the suit has to accommodate the standing posture of a water-skier or boarder or the sitting posture of a PWC rider. Durability is a must as well. Different sports will subject the suit to a variety of abuse; any potential candidate will need to be built to last. And let's not forget the style issue: looking cool while doing all of the above.
We think we've found a viable candidate in Body Glove's Crush. Why Body Glove, and why the Crush series? For starters, Body Glove has built a long-standing reputation for quality that's hard to ignore. The company's surf and dive suits are legendary, and our own personal experience shows that stitching doesn't unravel, seams don't tear, and fit is almost always right on. Why the Crush series? Because you just may not be able to find a better, more technical all-purpose wetsuit for such a (let's just say it) cheap price. How cheap? The fullsuit runs only $119.95. Shorty? $74.95. Given this suit's construction and materials, that's a bargain.
The Crush is available in a number of styles, including shorty.
The Crush is available for men, women, and even Juniors. The key selling point, however, is that all feature a collection of high-tech materials rarely found at an entry-level price point. Take Metalite for example, a layer of titanium sandwiched between the neoprene and its nylon covering on the suit's chest. This layer is totally flexible, but makes the suit about 20 percent warmer than standard neoprene by retaining more of your body heat. Or take GS Flex, a nylon-covered neoprene that is woven differently to allow the nylon to have much greater stretch than on conventional wetsuit rubber. An entire U-shaped panel is placed across the outline of the back, lower lumbar and under the arms. This allows the wearer greater flexibility, whether it's standing upright on a slalom ski, or crouching low in the seat of a PWC. And whether you're kneeling in the tray of a stand-up PWC, or just brushing up against your boat's ski platform, the Crush's SupraTex kneepads are made from a high-abrasion fabric that is also resistant to chemicals.
The stitching for the suit is flatlock, a process where the edges are butted together, then stitched. It's more comfortable against the skin, offers good insulation and has less bulk. Cuffs are rolled for comfort, and a quality YKK zipper extends down the back for easy entry. Style? Yeah, it's got that, too, combining Fairskin (smoothskin) neoprene, Nylon II neoprene, and the GS-Flex for a potential three-color combination.
Can you find better, higher-end suits for each individual task? Sure. But can just one suit serve all four masters? You betcha.
