The Ianovated wetsuits introduces a new approach to winter wetsuits, and as Iain Smith claims the fight with COLD HANDS is over. Lukasz and Liam from FUNSPORT decided to give it a go and find out if it’s really true, and how the wetsuit compares with classic products available on the market. Here are their first impressions…
Year on year we see new ideas and wetsuit types being introduced to the market. Companies are developing new materials, cuts and designs to make sure the end user gets a great product. Seeing another new product on the market, officially introduced at NWF ’12 wasn’t of a great surprise to me but Iain Smith’s approach and idea has intrigued me to the point that I had to try it.
Ianovated design is staying away from current, tight fitted, strongly panelled and multi-purpose wetsuits. As a windsurfer I’ve decided to try the classic smooth skin version. Single lined wetsuits are becoming less and less popular with windsurfers, none the less this material is the best for keeping you warm on those cold winter days. And this suit will keep you super warm!
Many of us hate using gloves while windsurfing, however Iain has found a solution to keep your hands warm, whilst using open palm gloves. The open palms means you’re not restricted and can still grip the boom well, taking away the problems associated with traditional gloves. The wetsuit is integrated with two pipes, mounted with a mouth piece and running through the suit, exiting before wrists and fitted inside the glove.
Ianovated is made for a purpose – to allow you to get on the water in the coldest possible weather using an integrated with the breath-powered heating system. The cut is well thought through, to allow the pipes to run inside the suit and to give you movement and comfort whilst sailing. The rear horizontal dry zip allows easy entry, and additional bagginess lets you feel comfortable and not even think about pipes inside the suit.
Sailing experience
The Ianovated suit should be used in temperatures lower than 10 degrees. We used it in five, with wind chill of two to three degrees. Result were very positive! The wetsuit fits perfectly, keeps you warm despite the seams being glued and blind stitched, not welded, and the neck and wrist seals are the relaxed “semi dry” spec, water seeps in too slowly to notice when you fall in. Wind chill, what wind chill? The neoprene is super thick and warm (5/4mm). Although flexibility isn’t the strongest part of the design manoeuvrability is very good. Swimming after your kit being washed in by 2m wave in 3,7sqm weather was not a problem either.
The mouth piece doesn’t get in the way what so ever, and is very accessible when needed. I’ve found myself using it more than I had to; it’s been a while since my hands stayed warm for the whole two hour session in mid February. After a long period in the water the tubes do fill up with water, but this isn’t a problem at all as the water warms up from your body and next blow delivers even nicer feeling of a hot water stream on your palms.
Over all I would say the system works perfectly! Built for purpose and delivers. The wetsuit itself is super warm and there are not many disadvantages to it. This product is made for specific group of clients, and after breaking the first barrier of putting it on and using the suit it will find many believers and supporters. If you are looking to stay warm and be able to take full advantage of sailing in extreme temperatures throughout the winter, this is perfect product!
“Even the young and fashionable conceded this odd looking suit solves a problem.”
Liam Ellis:
“First impressions are that the suit looks like a fairly decent; it’s a slightly odd looking wetsuit, with the tubes sticking out. But generally a pretty good quality suit. The neoprene is really comfortable, nice and flexible. Zip across shoulders generally feels a little restricting but whilst sailing not so bad.
I was not cold in this wetsuit! I purposefully dived under the water and I was still warm once out of water. Smooth skin is brilliant!
I wore the suit with gloves as opposed to open palm mitts which I think it may not work at its best as when I blow into the mouthpiece my gloves just inflated, so whilst sailing I found it would move the glove around my hand a little. It seels off the gloves quite well with the plastic piece for wrists on tube which I thought was pretty good!
I was surprisingly happy wearing the wetsuit and impressed. I guess it is designed to be able to keep your hands warm whilst sailing and it does just that! The water today was probably five degrees and I did not get cold once. The wind was about 25 knots and from the North so not a warm wind either and I think the quality of neoprene helped with that! I think little improvements to the size and fit and this could be a great wetsuit for the cold winter days!”
