Gear Review - 302 Furnace Carbon Comp Chest Zip Fullsuit

After taking a fin to my back and ripping my old wetsuit, it was time to buy a new suit. I browsed online to see where I could find the best deal and it just so happened that Billabong was having a Sale on Sale. After looking through their offering I decided to take a chance on the 302 Furnace Carbon Comp Chest Zip Fullsuit. After using it a few times, here are my thoughts.

Fit:

I’m 5’10” (178 cm) and weigh about 180 lbs (81-82 kg). This puts me right in between a size Large-Short (LS) and a Large (L). I opted to go with an LS because an L is usually too long in my arms and legs, which makes them fill up with water. When I put on this suit for the first time, it was quite tight. I wasn’t worried about this because neoprene always stretches out. After a few sessions, it now fits like a glove.

One thing that’s annoying about this suit is that there are so many flaps that have to lie down completely flat to be comfortable. There is an inner flap that goes over your head from front to back and is covered up by the normal neck hole + zipper that comes from back to front. These flaps do a great job of keeping warm water in and not flushing, but it does take a minute to make sure everything is situated correctly.

Stretch:

This suit is really stretchy. I’ve worn it for a few sessions and I’ve never felt like it’s constricting me in any way.

Warmth:

I’m really satisfied with the warmth of this suit. I started wearing it right at the coldest part of our San Diego winter. Paring this 3:2 with booties during a time of year where I normally have a 4:3 and booties, has kept me warm during 2 hour + sessions. It does feature the ‘Furnace Carbon Lining’ which feels like it really makes a difference. However, this is the first suit I’ve worn with this lining and it’s kind of itchy. I do have fairly sensitive skin though so you might not have an issue with it.

Looks:

I’m a kid at heart and I really like the cool design on the shoulder and leg. It definitely helped sway my decision when buying this suit. I totally understand that designs on a wetsuit aren’t for everyone, but I like it.

Durability:

As I’ve only worn this suit a few times, I really can’t speak to it’s durability yet. I am, however, slightly concerned about the knee pads. They seem to be fairly thin but only time will tell if they will last.

Also worth mentioning, the seams appear to be really well stitched and sealed. Based off appearance, I doubt I will have an issue with them anytime soon.

Gotta love having a white dog. Laid this suit on the floor for all of 30 seconds and its already covered in fur.

Price:

As I mentioned, I found this suit while it was in the sale section of the website with an additional sale on top of that. The original price of the suit was $299.95, but I only paid $169.68 after tax. At that price, I’m very satisfied with my purchase.

Overall:

While it’s still early on, I’m really happy with this suit. This is my first Billabong wetsuit and as long as it’s decently durable, it won’t be my last. I’ll be sure to keep this post updated if anything major happens with it. Feel free to share any experiences you have with Billabong suits in the comments below!