I have been testing two Finisterre Women’s Nieuwland 2mm Yulex wetsuits – the Women’s Nieuwland 2mm Yulex Long Sleeve Shorty Wetsuit and Women’s Nieuwland 2mm Yulex® Long Sleeve Swimsuit, plus a Tego Long Sleeve Changing Robe. Here are my thoughts on each product.
What is Yulex?
Yulex® Natural Rubber is a plant-based alternative to neoprene that is claimed to cuts carbon emissions by 80%.
Review: Finisterre Women’s Nieuwland 2mm Yulex Long Sleeve Shorty Wetsuit
Features include:
Sizes: UK6 to UK22
2mm YULEX® rubber
85% Yulex® natural rubber / 15% synthetic rubber by polymer content
Ergonomic panelling
Long sleeves
Shortie legs
Back zip
Slight rise on collar for secure seal
Part of Rent a Wetsuit scheme
Price: £155
See: Finisterre
The wetsuit is made from Yulex rubber, which is said to be a more environmentally friendly alternative to neoprene. It is a soft-feel fabric and easy to wear against the skin. I usually worry about tearing or marking neoprene with my fingernails but this doesn’t happen when handling Yulex-nylon mix.
The fit is generous. I am usually a UK10 and the wetsuit in this size was roomy. I am not sure if I could have gone down a size because the body length might have been too short, but I think it would have given a neater fit.
The sizing didn’t seem to matter in the cold water though. I was surprised by how insulated I felt in very cold winter loch water in just 2mm Yulex. The long sleeves definitely helped to keep me warm, as did the shortie legs.
I would personally prefer a longer leg length but my friend Susanna, who also tried the wetsuit, said the leg length is perfect. It’s like a trisuit, only made of insulating Yulex.
The wetsuit is easy to get into and also very easy to get out of. The latter is important because no-one wants to be faffing about trying to get out of a wetsuit after a cold water swim. Even the long arms wee easy to slip off simply by turning them inside out as I exited the suit.
If you have a friend with you, you can ask the to zip and unzip the wetsuit at the rear but equally, this is easy enough to do yourself thanks to a long cord.
The wetsuit is part of Finisterre’s wetsuit rental programme, which allows to borrow a wetsuit and try it to see if it’s the right fit and product. This is a great idea because fit is important for wetsuits. The better the fit, the better the insulating properties.
A couple of negatives include the colour and price. I think it is more sensible to make wetsuits for open-water swimming in brighter colours or, at least, with some colour detail. Being seen in the dark water is always a good idea. Also, £155 is quite a hefty price tag and there are cheaper alternatives on the market.
Still, Finisterre has a good reputation as a company that cares about the environment and makes long-lasting products. I can’t tell you how durable the wetsuit is until it’s been worn for longer but my first impressions are that the product is well-made.
Conclusion: If you prefer a wetsuit with a bit of coverage but not full coverage, the Women’s Nieuwland 2mm Yulex Long Sleeve Shorty Wetsuit could be ideal. It has a bit of upper thigh coverage and long sleeves. It’s easy to wear and also easy to get on and offer. The price is a bit eye watering but Finisterre is a brand with a good reputation.
Review: Finisterre Women’s Nieuwland 2mm Yulex® Long Sleeve Swimsuit
Features include:
Sizes: UK6 to UK22
2mm YULEX® natural rubber
85% Yulex® natural rubber / 15% synthetic rubber by polymer content
Ergonomic panelling
Shoulder seam shaped as racer back for full range of movement
Centre front zip with zip guard
Low-rise leg
Laser cut raw edge cuff
Waist seam at true waist
No underarm seam
Slight rise on collar for secure seal
3 colourways
Part of Rent a Wetsuit scheme
Price: £150
See Finisterre
This is a similar wetsuit, except the legs are “low rise” rather than shortie style. This means the wetsuit looks more like a traditional swimsuit with long sleeves.
As well as plain black, there are two more colourful patterned designs. I think it’s great to have the choice.
The zip is also at the front, rather than the rear. This makes little difference to performance but you might prefer access to be at the front.
As with the shortie wetsuit, the fabric is 2mm Yulex, which is soft to touch and easy to wear. Sizing seems fairly accurate and you can try the product as part of the rental scheme.
The shape of the wetsuit is flattering, especially at the waist and bum. The wetsuit is easy to get on and off, just like the shortie style, although I think I prefer a rear entry compared to the front zip of this wetsuit.
At only 2mm, this is not a wetsuit that will keep you toasty for long in winter cold water although it’s fine for a dip. The long sleeves and higher neck help to keep ff the chill, too. It’s an ideal wetsuit for open-water swimming in the summer.
Again, the price is quite hefty and time will tell as to how durable the wetsuit is. It appears to be well made with good quality zips and stitching etc.
Conclusion: If you prefer a wetsuit that looks like a traditional swimsuit with long sleeves, the Finisterre Women’s Nieuwland 2mm Yulex® Long Sleeve Swimsuit is a good choice. It’s easy to wear and also easy to get on and offer. The price is a quite high but Finisterre is a brand with a good reputation.
Review: Finisterre Tego Long Sleeve Changing Robe
Features include:
Sizes: S/M, L/XL
Lightweight and practical
Water-repellent FC Free DWR
Full front two-way zip
Adjustable hood with drawcord
Large side pockets
Made with recycled nylon
Transported by sea (less carbon-intensive journeys and avoiding air freight)
Fluorocarbon free
2 x colourways
Price: £145
See: Finisterre
At first, this changing robe seems like the poor sister of my other changing robes. It’s much lighter and less insulated. However, these features could be an advantage if you find that traditional changing robes are heavy and make you too warm. I think this is more of a summer changing robe, with the advantage of also being wind and water resistant. My other changing robes – the Zone3 Oversized Heat-Tech Polar Fleece Parka Robe Jacket and Flanci Huggle Dry Robe – are better for winter wear.
I confess that while I like a very warm dry robe after a cold water swim, I do end up becoming too warm in these robes on the way to the swim. It’s not easy trying to carry the heavier and thicker insulated robes in my pack because they are big and bulky.
So, I can see why Finisterre has made the lighter weight changing robe. The robe is easy to wear because it’s over-sized to fit a range of people of different sizes. I have the smaller size.
The inside is a soft and light towelling-fleece fabric, which soaked up water from my wet body when I got out of the water. I simply pated my skin from the outside of the robe to dry my skin.
I found I had enough room inside the robe when zipped up to change out of my wet wetsuit and into dry clothes. The two-way front zip is a useful feature.
The arms are just long enough for full coverage and the hood is a great extra if it is raining or if you want to shield your head and ears from the weather.
There are two pockets that are roomy enough but I would like to see a zipped security pocket as well. The opening of the hand pockets is a bit tricky to get into with cold hands, too. It’s a sort of overlapping opening but it seems to be back to front for easy access.
The outer shell fabric is nicely water-repellent and windproof. I also like the eco credentials of this changing robe.
Conclusion: If you are looking for a lightweight changing robe, most likely for summer use, this is a practical solution. It would be better still if there was an extra zipped security pocket.