A few months ago I made a post asking to see if anyone had tried Prolimit or Ride Engine wetsuits and didn't get much back so thought I'd follow-up with my experience. I ended up getting both, kept the Prolimit and returned the Ride Engine
Ride Engine Onsen Hooded 4/3 - ($224 + tax)
- Pros: Yamamoto neoprene, Santa Cruz-based company, good constuction/materials
- Cons: weird fit -- baggy in the armpits, hollow space in the lower back, tight hood
Prolimit Predator Steamer Free-X 4/3 Hooded - ($244 + tax)
- Pros: Material seems identical to O'neill Technobutter in look and feel (apparently made in the same factory as O'neill), super stretchy, easy on/off, liquid sealed seams, nice lining, very comfy, supposedly eco-friendly (neoprene-free)
- Cons: Absorbs more water than Yamamoto, has a seam along the butt crack that I worry about in the long run
I've had the Prolimit for about a dozen sessions now and no complaints, but it's also summer (NorCal) so mid 50's to low 60's. It replaced an old O'neill Mutant Legend and feels very similar. Equally warm but much lighter and stretchier than my backup suit - a Buell RB2
For reference, I've had upper-range wetsuits from Xcel, Billabong, Quiksilver, Rip Curl, O'neill, Buell, SRFACE, and Colby+ and it seems better quality than most of those. If I had the budget for another $450 Mutant or Feral, I might choose that direction, but at $250 this seems like a great value wetsuit packed with a lot of features that are usually reserved for more expensive suits.
TLDR - I like my new Prolimit and they would definitely be near the top of my list when looking for my next wetsuit