Empire Ave

Empire Ave: two out of five stars. I picked up two Drylock suits here, and while they are definitely warm and completely waterproof, they aren't without issues. I've tested brands like Rip Curl, O'Neill, and Quiksilver, but the Drylock-X has some distinct flaws. The front panel seams leak straight from the start, and the neoprene under the arms stretches out immediately. Plus, the lack of a reinforced round patch on the back right shoulder seam causes a severe rash after just two hours, forcing me to switch suits. Xcel improved the X model's panel design, but that makes it much harder to zip up. All things considered, the Drylock is still the better choice, especially since it’s more affordable.