For $550 might as well get a custom Cyber with smoothie wherever you want it.For $550 for a 4/3, I would want smoothie on the front as well as on the back.
It's completely fvking stupid.Does Isurus think we're never going to surf unless it's offshore? I don't get why they'd only put it on the back panel.
That said, most of the major brands aren't using smoothie at all until you go beyond a 4/3, so even stupider.
Reason is they want to sell you another wetsuit.
A 3/2 or 4/3 without smoothie is only half a suit. Putting smoothie on a suit increases the warmth factor tremendously.
When the water is 60-62 and the wind starts blowing they want you to be cold so you go out and buy a 4/3. Even though all you needed was a little smoothie to block the wind/absorb less water.
There's actually research that's been done on how much warmer you stay with smoothie. It's significant.
That's why kite surf wetsuits all have smoothie.
The whole thing is one big DUH, the surf wetsuit manufacturers know they are scamming you.