DANTE HOODED 4/3MM CHEST ZIP

This is hands down the warmest rubber I have ever owned. And I have tried them all over the last 20 years. And I’m very picky.

I actually hated the feel of this at first and almost returned it, but thought “what the heck, I’ll just try it out.” If it feels tight at first, just try sizing up and keep in mind that it breaks in and molds to your body shape super quickly.

Amazing. Super warm, and way more flexible than I initially thought. Very comfortable and smooth like butter. I’m and officially a Matuse lifer.

I'm 5'7 155lbs and got the LS (MS in any other suit). I live in So Cal so the water temp hasn't gotten below 65 yet but I like being extra warm. I like sitting outside and waiting for the larger sets, so sometimes have to wait awhile. I'm very warm to start with and haven't gotten cold even when the fog rolls in (just pull my hood up) or waiting 20 minutes for a set. This suit is very flexible and does not leak. Love it!

No doubt, the wetsuit is very useful in the San Francisco area!

I am exactly at the bottom for height and top for weight in the size I bought, XLS. An inch too short and 5 pounds too light for XXLS (3/2 and 4/3 Dante are available). Experience shows that XLS works well with thin suits (2 mm full, Jojo open water). With the new 4/3, initial on and off was tight. Wearing a tight, slippery rashguard helped. I expect it to loosen with use. Maybe a mile swim or two or three?

So the conundrum of tight for warmth and a bit looser for ease of entry and exit is at work.

I side with Matuse and a few other brands on slippery wetsuit linings being better for warmth and drying (I have one suit that’s fur all the way to the wrists and ankles, difficult to get on and off despite being a good fit. It’s headed to a recycle program). Matuse’s XXLS is nearly equivalent to two other brands' XLS, so if looking for a wetsuit, make sure to check the brand’s size chart.

The Dante’s hood fits me nicely (a fairly large hat size) and is more than a fashion accessory—I have an odd but apparently common problem of my inner ears getting confused in even slightly cool water, so enter the water with great balance, and exit groveling. It’s been tagged as “Dizzy Triathlete” and the simple solution, effective for me, is ear plugs. A bit of extra warmth is fine, and if it’s cool enough for 4/3, it’s likely to be comfortable to have a hood, whether or not it’s actually used.

Great stuff matuse! Suit kept me warm, fit was perfect, and it seems pretty durable!
I’m 6’2 and ~155 lbs, and got a ST. It took maybe 3 sessions to fully break the suit in and loosen the shoulders up. I averaged about 3-5 days in the water per week, which lead to some of the tape near hands and feet coming loose (shown in picture). Even with the loose tape I still stayed dry! This is probably due to the thick rubber tape used, and also the robust stitching. Usually I’ll blow out the butt area first on my suit, but as shown in the picture it has held up just fine. Butterfly system works ok, glue in that area may need some help. However, with a little maintenance this suit could possibly last 3 seasons!?

The only reason I give 4 stars is the hood… it doesn’t hug my head and neck as well as other hoods I’ve had. Seems like water got in there relatively easily, and ran down to my back. Maybe I have a weird head, who knows…

Overall great suit and can’t wait to see future models!