Inbound: MYSTIC MAJESTIC

When it comes to wetsuits, finding the sweet spot between warmth, flexibility and durability is no easy feat. With the latest evolution of the Majestic, MYSTIC has taken a closer look at how materials, construction and design can work together to get more out of a 5/3mm suit. We sat down with Timon from MYSTIC to talk about the thinking behind the new Majestic, the introduction of Yamamoto 40 neoprene, and why sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference on the water.

The Majestic sits at the top of your men’s wetsuit range. What does a wetsuit need to do to be number one in the lineup?

Timon: It has to hit the highest stretch of any suit in its thickness class. Anyone can make a warm 5/3. The hard part is keeping a suit that thick moving like it’s thinner. If the Majestic isn’t the most flexible 5/3 we make, it hasn’t earned the top spot.

You’ve introduced Yamamoto 40 neoprene in the arms and shoulders of the Majestic. Why were those the key areas to target?

Timon: The Majestic is 100% Yamamoto. #39 through the torso and legs, #40 in the arms and shoulders. #40 is the grade you see in triathlon, where flex is everything. It’s the softest, most flexible neoprene Yamamoto makes, and it’s durable with it. But it’s also one of the most premium neoprenes on the market, so where it goes isn’t really a warmth question, it’s about cost and need. Your legs aren’t doing the same job your arms and shoulders are during a session, so that’s not where you want to spend your most expensive material. #39 gives you the warmth and shape retention the torso and legs actually need, at a cost that makes sense. #40 goes where the flex is non-negotiable.

How have you approached the balancing of warmth and flexibility in this 5/3mm suit? 

Timon: This came down to laminate development. We pushed for the highest stretch we could get out of the laminate without giving up durability. Some other brands get extra stretch by using a broken inner linings on the outside of the suit. It stretches more, but it trades away durability, since that lining isn’t built to be an outer surface and wears faster. We didn’t want to make that trade, so the stretch gain in the Majestic comes from the compound and laminate construction itself, not from weakening the outer layer.

Talk to us about Fox Fleece Ultra. It sounds pretty plush…

Timon: It’s built around maximum stretch and the inner feel first. It’s an ultra-low-pile lining with the softest feel we could get into a wetsuit, and the goal is comfort and reducing rash. A lot of linings prioritize warmth and end up rough or itchy against skin over a long session. We started from comfort and built the warmth in around it. Low pile, soft touch, so it moves with your body instead of grabbing at it.

The fleece contains 50% recycled content. What challenges are involved in getting to higher levels of recycled materials? Is it something you’re aiming for?

Timon: The outer nylon is currently 86% recycled and the inner polyester is 50% recycled. The goal is 100% on both over time. Just as important as the number itself is being honest about it.You’ll see 100% recycled claims out there that don’t always hold up. We’d rather state the real number and improve it year over year than round up.

Talk to us about the new ridged channel construction on the outer skin. 

Timon: The outer fabric construction is called FusionFlex, and it’s paired with Yamamoto 40 for maximum stretch. The outer fabric itself has different directional stretch properties built in, and what we did is design the wetsuit panels in 3D around that, so the fabric’s stretch direction lines up with how the body actually moves in each zone, rather than just following a flat 2D pattern.

Who is the new Majestic primarily designed for, and what would make someone choose it over another 5/3mm suit in the Mystic range?

Timon: It’s for someone who wants a long-lasting, high-performance suit, whatever watersport they’re doing. It’s not built around one discipline. It’s built to be the most durable, most flexible suit in the 5/3 category.