Orca launches 2015 wetsuits
Orca showed the 2015 range of wetsuits and apparel at Playitas in Fuerteventura, and we were there to learn about the changes and additions to that line. In addition to wetsuits and apparel Orca will also offer a large variety of accessories and compression gear, but today we will look closer at 3 wetsuits from that brand that was originally born in New Zealand but is now driven with passion in Spain.
The 2015 Orca Alpha in action in the Olympic pool at Playitas. This suit is best for an athlete who is a great swimmer and comfortable in the water who would actually prefer to race without a wetsuit. The MSRP for this suit is $699.
Orca product manager Pablo Trujillo modeled the 2015 Alpha suit for us. It features ultra thin 0.88 Free material in the arms and just below the arms. It is a five layer Yamamoto construction that has a patented heat reflective titanium coating and in a laboratory setting has tested almost 3 times more stretchy than the commonly used 44-cell neoprene, also from Yamamoto. When touched it indeed felt like nothing this editor ever had his hands on, and this material is exclusive for Orca through 2018.
Up close with the 0.88 Free sections of the 2015 Orca Alpha.
Exo-Cell panels on the rear of the Alpha suit are meant to optimize the swimming position, and are 5mm thick.
The super thin neoprene collar is very comfortable and it has the soft part of the velcro on the outside, unlike other wetsuits.
We coerced Orca Marketing Manager Raúl Casañas to model the 2015 Predator for us. This suit is best for the athlete who is not so comfortable in the water and looks for a bit more support. MSRP for the Predator is $899.
The 2015 Orca Predator also has some of the 0.88 Free Yamamoto material. But only on the shoulders and the arms.
The CLS or Core Lateral Stabilizer panels us a less flexible material on the side of the hips to stabilize the body in the water.
Brand new for 2015 is the Orca Open Water wetsuit. This ultra bright orange visible suit is a new entry level suit for Orca and is meant for the beginner athlete. It is also ideal as a backup training suit for those folks who want to keep their expensive race suit out of harms way when not needed. MSRP for the Open Water is $170.
The suit is very bright indeed and according to Orca it was very difficult to get it done. Similar to surf wetsuits, the Open Water has the textured surface on the outside where it is orange.
Even when wet, the Open Water shines bright orange.
A matching orange neoprene skull cap is also available and so is this new swim drag bag that allows you to schlepp your non swimming gear with you. The bag however is a prototype and will likely be orange like the cap and suit.
The new Orca wetsuits come in boxes like this and that shall make stocking retailers happy. They stack well and all the info is very easy to read.
As was promised on the outside of the box, there is indeed a wetsuit backpack inside the box too.
Orca also provides gloves and booties to allow the customer to get that suit on faster and without immediate tears.
The whole suit was packed very nicely and well protected. Impressive.
It is not very often that you get to hang out and race the 2014 Ironman World Champion in a swim relay race.
Orca actually offers 8 different models for men, plus 8 models for women. Colors, cuts and placement of buoyancy panels were actually designed with women in mind, and aren't simply rehashed male ones.
All images except for the final one are © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com
