This is the second Gul viper suit I now own and the fourth Gul suit I have been fortunate to own in the last 20 years or so, and about 8 other different suits including expensive custom made 'secondskin' suits.

The viper 5/3mm 2014 is excellent ! I am a fussy so and so and I cannot fault it. It is a great fit, very warm with minimal leakage. Paddling a surfboard is not hindered by the wetsuit. The suit is so warm I have ditched my hood and winter gloves. (I own a 3/2 viper 2012 too and this is also excellent.)

Gaining entry to the wetsuit via the quadrate chest zip system requires a practised technique and exit from the suit requires some patience and an ability to remain calm when temporarily disabled by the shoulders being trapped (heaven help you if that geezer you just snaked out back happens along in the car park :), but this is all worthwhile as the suits design does not allow virtually any cold flushing - and you shouldn't be dropping in deliberately anyway? I would not go back to a back zip suit now.

The new material dries quicker than the old heavy neoprene and even when wet does not feel as cold to the skin as the old stuff. How the new material resists weekly wear and tear remains to be seen but at £200 odd quid you cannot moan when other top suits are knocking on £350/£400 ?
Chris
North Devon