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| The Lomo Venom wetsuit on test on the West Coast of Scotland. (©Brian Pollock) |
Star Rating: **** (4 Stars)
Recommended Retail Price: £99
from Lomo
With Spring now upon us, we
recently had an opportunity to test the Lomo Venom 5\4\3 mm Wetsuit, designed
primarily for 3 season water sport use. If you're in the market for a new wetsuit
to see you through the season ahead, Lomo's top of the line offering may be
just what you need.
If you've ever cycle commuted in
the Glasgow area, you'll have heard about Lomo (https://www.lomo.co.uk/) - their wet weather
bike luggage can be seen being put to hard use on a daily basis. You may not
know that they have an extensive collection of wetsuits and other outdoor/
water sports equipment and that their wetsuits have been their longest standing
in-shop item, so they know what they're doing with it. Lomo products are
proudly designed in Glasgow and available to try on in store but equally
available online.
So how did the Venom fair...
Firstly and perhaps most
importantly, fit. When first trying on the Venom we found it fitted snuggly
throughout with only a little wrestling required to get it on (like every
wetsuit). Our tester is 5 foot 10 inches, 30 waist and 40 chest. A size medium
was ideal off the shelf with just enough extra material to grip for ease of entry.
Around the back and shoulders, the fit was tight creating a good seal. This
eased off after a period in the water but not so much so to compromise
function. From the torso down the fit was snug but comfortable so a slightly
larger waist (32 inches) could be readily accommodated.
Next, features. In this regard, the
Venom punches well above its weight, competing with well-established brands
charging more than double the price (the Venom retails at a mere £99). From top
to bottom, the materials and (glued) stitching feel premium. The Venom uses a
combination of (double lined) 5mm neoprene in the torso, with 4 and 3mm panels
on the legs and arms to facilitate an optimal range of motion in use. The entry
is by back zip which can be challenging to close solo but that's what friends
are for. The inner utilises Lomo's 'Bat Wing' system which is effectively a
second inner bib and creates a double seal at the neck to mitigate flushing as
well as increasing warmth. This is complemented by Lomo's 'flushguard' system
which effectively channels any water which does get in back out of the suit via
purpose-built holes at the base of the back. At the knees, Lomo have used
highly abrasion resistant Armaprene™ panels which enhance durability at
arguably the more high wear area. All in, you're getting a lot for your money
with function being paramount - there is nothing notably extraneous in Lomo's
design.
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Getting the suit on in the parking lot. (© Brian Pollock)
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For paddling and general ease/ range of motion, we couldn't fault the Venom. The body-mapped panelling affords a good degree of stretch, particularly, once it has had an opportunity to relax in the water.
So what are our final thoughts?
Overall, you don't just get what you pay for with the Venom, you get
considerably more. Long term durability remains to be seen but we have no
obvious concerns so far. Fit and function are spot on. If we had to find fault,
it would be the fairly prominent branding and colouring. Orange isn't
everyone's colour - although if you were to find yourself in a difficult spot,
standing out could be crucial.
We liked: Incredible value for
money, Versatile and feature-rich, Performed admirably in 3 seasons plus
We didn't like: Lack of integrated
hood, Prominent branding