I've burned through Rip Curls and Quiksilvers in under a season. I had one Xcel and the seams popped within 6 months - fixed under warranty, but still. I was pretty happy w/ Billabong suits for the last few years until they changed their sizing, and now they don't fit me as well. They have a good balance between flex and warmth, and I liked their furnace lining. Now, I just picked up an O'neill Mutant for the winter and it's lighter and more flexi than the 'bong, but maybe not quite as warm. It's my first O'neill, so we'll see how it holds up. So far it's the most comfortable suit I've owned, though.