Summer is on the way and boardies will definitely be the go!

But what about getting wet for the first-light early before the sun has a chance to warm things up, or when the wind is howling and the evening shadows start to creep across the water?

If you want to surf your best, comfortably and for as long as you want, you're going to need some extra protection, and that's where the mid season wettie comes in.

Kelly knows the value of the right suit at the right time, putting a Quik spring suit through it's paces in some early morning glass above and below

It's the perfect transition solution between winter and summer, to keep you in the water regardless of what might be happening with the elements. Quiksilver and Xcel have a couple of the best offerings in the market and we've put them through their paces.

The Quiksilver Ignite short sleeve spring suit is a bright summer looking design. It looks good and your mates will have no trouble picking you out in the water.

The rubber is light, though a generous 2mm, and is the latest tech called Hyperstretch II and feels supple, flexible, yet with substance.

Quiksilver's Ignite's Summer colours

The suit is fully sealed, apart from the zip, using GBS glued and blind stitched seams. What this means is that the seams are butt glued together so they're flat, and then stitched, but the stitching only appears on one side, the outside, away from your skin so there's no bulky seam and stitching to rash you.

The GBS provides a completely waterproof seal and the suit's interior feels smooth and seamless.

Although GBS is not new technology, Quiksilver have refined it and it shows in the Ignite's good finish, super comfort and wear-ability.

Tape is used minimally on the seams, with small circlets over the high stress points around your shoulders and tape along the crotch, and is unnoticeable when worn.

Other features include the super stretch of the rubber, which can stretch to double its original size, providing flex for your most outrageous maneuver.

The shoulder cut is classic one piece raglan and provides good paddling flexibility. The test suit was a short sleeve spring and paddling was a breeze.

Ignite's GBS: On the left, no stitching on the inside creating a smooth comfortable finish next to your skin, and note the cut of the shoulder and underarm - no seams there maximising flexibility and reducing the chance of rash. The black dots are tape reinforcements in key areas. On the right, all the stitching is on the outside

The body panel is all one piece of rubber from your thigh to your neck. This is especially useful in the back as it allows the suit to stretch around the zip section when you crouch down for those small summer barrels.

The thigh and bicep cuffs are smoothie rubber, with joined seams sewn over, making a small ridge that keeps them snug acting like an extra seal keeping out the water and stopping riding up.

Ignite's Glideskin & Hydroshield zip: On the left the green arrows indicate where the zip finishes preventing it sticking you in the neck. On the right the internal finish of the cuffs and neck are smoothie creating a good seal. The neck is half smoothie half neoprene and is 'comfort plus'

The neck is half smoothie and half nylon on the lower edge making for a high comfort finish where it might rash. The neck closure is Velcro with a well thought-out pattern of both horizontal and vertical pieces. Quiksilver calls this Glideskin,  allowing you to get the closure just right. And it extends half a hand length keeping the zip from poking you in the back of the neck.

The short Hydroshield back zip starts above your lower back and does a good job of keeping the water out when you're paddling and sitting on your board. It is however the main point of water entry as the rest of the suit is sealed.

That being said, the back-zip's benefit of ease of entry-&-exit is a big positive if you're surfing a few times or more a day, on the weekend for example.

As a whole, the Quiksilver Ignite is comfort plus, provides good warmth, is easy to live with, and is fun to surf in!

Quiksilver has taken the classic spring, enhanced all the features, and got 'em all right.

Powerhouse Bede Durbidge, one of the best WCT surfers, generating heat in his Xcel Infinity Spring

The suits uses a mix of 2mm rubber in the body and 1.5mm rubber in the arms. The arms are like a 'second skin' that peel on and off.

 The Infinity is a collection of purposeful innovative design features.

Sharp professional theme. Note the predominant curved seams on the arms

First thing you notice is that there are a variety of body panels and curved seams running down the arms - as opposed to straight seams. These are joined together using GBS, but there's no stitching visible on the outside or on the inside, as the stitching on the inside is taped over with Xcel's Fusion seal, a flexi-smooth rubber tape thqat is exclusive to Xcel.

What does all this mean?

The idea is that when the curved seam gets pulled the curve just straightens out removing any stress from the stitching. The Fusion seal, because it's a rubber tape, stretches along with the seam. So when you're getting into the suit, pulling on it, or slamming into a high speed move, the seams and rubber stretch together giving you maximum flexibility while making the suit more durable.

With a variety of body panels you get the best possible fit from the cut of the suit. For example the rear  lower back consists of two pieces and the suit fits real snug into your lower back. And there are also contoured panels that have their own shape, for example under the arms, that prevent bunching up and rashing.

Infinity's GBS & exclusive Fusion seal: Xcel use GBS but there's no stitching on the inside or outside. Xcel use a Fusion flex tape that is pressure bonded down to .5mm providing interior streamlining, sealing and durability. The chest panel and lower panel in the left image are eco-green bamboo fiber

The underarm panel s a single piece from your waist to wrist and the shoulder is all one piece of Ultrstretch. This provide for unmatched stretch and long sleeve paddling performance.

And there's no back zip, improving both the fit and body movement.

All this together goes to make a snug, good fitting suit that maximises your surfing performance while reducing any likelihood of discomfort, and wear on the suit itself.

Xcel also incorporate a number of eco-tech innovations such as bamboo/charcoal infused fibers in the front and rear interior body panels that are water and odor resistant and add warmth. The suit also makes use of recycled PET fibers and limestone instead of oil based products from suppliers that are low energy and enviro-friendly.

Xcel has  major eco initiatives that underlie their products including using recycled and natural fibers, and suppliers that have Green production processes

Does all this eco stuff work?

Xcel provided this suit to us back in Winter and we surfed it in freezing waves with howling winds. It wasn't as warm as a steamer and bare legs were dangling in 14 degree water, but the core body stayed warm - no small thing for a 2-1.5mm suit.

The Xcel website is packed with good things

The identifiable Xcel front zip setup provides for noticeable improved body flexibility over a back zip and has received extra attention for durability around the inner neck. It does add extra bulk around the upper chest and back area, but this can be a good thing when it's cool.

The inside neck is total smoothie rubber that's snug. The wrists are finished off with an inner tape cuff. The thighs have a stitched cuff. There's also a key holder on the inside of neck!

During summer the Xcel's long sleeves provide extra sun protection, and the smoothie chest and back provides extra protection on those windblown days.

Overall the Xcel Inifinit 2.0 is a hardcore, eco-tech performance suit that can take you through summer and well towards winter.

Both Quiksilver's Ignite and Xcel's Infinity come in a full set of sizes including mid sizes like MS, MT, LS, so make sure you try on those half sizes to get the best fit!