Camaro Black Tec 2.0 and Impact Vest Review

[Horton]

[Horton]

Correction from the above video - vest in not designed to be reversible

[A_B]

The pumpkin is a nice backdrop...

[Horton]

I am all about props

[Brady]

Do you know what sizes will the impact vest come in?

[Horton]

http://www.camaro.at/index_e.php

[gregy]

Love my impact vest. I think I prefer the old eagle vest when used over a wetsuit because it's stretchier. The impacts floats really well and is longer which I really like because I'm 6'2".

[Chuck_Dickey]

I bought the vest from Robby last month. Works great and holds no water, so very light weight. I have several of their suits and swear by them, very warm, thin and flexible

[Horton]

I was not super cold here today but I took two sets in the Camaro gear and holy crap was I warm. Water was 55ish and air was 65ish and I was literally toasty.

[gregy]

What's the specs on the suit, thickness etc. Does it let much water flush it when you get in the water.

[Horton]

I think it is all 2.0.

 

Very little water gets in. I do not understand it but it is by far the warmest most comfortable wetsuit I have ever used

[thager]

I think the biggest problem many skiers have with their wetsuits is they buy too big. I have a Psycho II and love it but it is thinner, smaller, tighter and warmer than any other suits I have had. Modern materials essentially have allowed a modern wetsuit to act like a much thicker drysuit with insane flexibility.

[BarneyLongden]

I just cover myself in duck butter to stay warm

[Razorskier1]

The camaro suits are super warm despite being thinner than most suits. Odd thing is when the sun hits the suit, it is like an iron was put on your back. It transfers way more sun heat to your body than a black suit, which makes no sense at all.

[Chuck_Dickey]

@Razorskier1

 

You are speaking of the Titanium silver suits picking up even a small amount of sunlight and radiating heat inwards? I have the 0.5mm and the 2mm Titanium and don't think I'll ever get another Drysuit. I'd be curious how this BlackTec 2.0 compare in warmth to the Titanium 2.0.

[gregy]

Two big things with wetsuits is evaporative cooling and the water flushing in when you jump in. Evaporative cooling is worse with waterskiing because higher speeds make it worse. With my spring shorty if it low humidity it can be worse than no wetsuit at all. The smooth skin or coated wetsuits almost eliminates the evaporative cooling.

 

2 mm in 55F water is awesome. My standard wetsuit is twice that thick and it would be a little cold at that temp.

[GOODESkier]

Where do I go to buy? And how much do I need to ask Santa for in US dollars for a good 55-65 degree wet suit?

[Razorskier1]

@Chuck_Dickey -- yep, titanium silver suit.

[davemac]

@Horton I would have interest in hearing your thoughts on the impact vest as well...particularly how much "float" it provides.

[Horton]

@davemac the vest is really nice. I have not worn it without the wetsuit so it is hard to say about flotation. Seems normal I guess.

[gregy]

@davemac the Camaro Impact vest floats you great without a wetsuit. I really like mine. The neoprene vest I have just barely floats me. With the impact I can sit in the water all day very comfortably, no sense of sinking and having to hold my head up. Used it most of last season and no problems with it.

[RichardDoane]

@horton - you need a gal to do the wetsuit modeling

[gregy]

Not sure about that if the gal fits Horton's wetsuit?

[Horton]

Would not be a good sight

[Chuck_Dickey]

@GOODESkier

 

Camaro gear dealers

 

http://www.hotwater.cc Provided Horton with the demo gear

http://robbysskishop.com/ Located on the West coast @ Sunset Ski Ranch

[buski]

@Chuck_Dickey what would you say are the rough temp ranges on the 0.5 & the 2mm Camaro suits, or when do you use which suit?

[Chuck_Dickey]

@buski

I use the .05 in the low 70's and mid 60's, the 1.0 open cell in the low 60's then the 2.0 in the 50's.

 

If the sun is out and the air is warmer all this can change since these suits are great for radiating heat from the sun. I can ski in the low 60's easily with the .5mm if the suns warm and the wind chill is not a factor.

 

Also, these are all slick skin and shed water, so wind chill is less an issue.

[countymountie]

I had a Aquasphere .5 that appears to use the same tech of the Camaro that I saw in Fla. The POS Aquasphere lasted less than two seasons. I'm very hesitant to drop more cash on the more expensive Comaro and get the same results.

 

I am in the market for a new vest when I'm on a public lake. I need a lot more floatation than my Eagle provides.

[Horton]

Camaro is not Aquasphere

[gregy]

So far the Camaro vest has been good for me. The zipper is not as large as the eagle but I've not problem with it. I've had several wipe outs and its held up.

 

I was told the smooth skin wetsuits you had to be a little more careful with, make sure you don't dig your finger nails into it as you put it on, etc. Thinking this one is a smooth skin suit.

 

[lakeo]

John is your vest the new 2013 version or the 2012 version? (camaro written in white vs camero written in a tan)?

[Chuck_Dickey]

@countymountie

All thin suits are fairly delicate due to the thickness and the new highly flexible rubber. These thin, slick skin suits have the fabric on one side only, so you do have to be more careful with them. I have older suits from O'Neill that are bullet proof, but they are thick, stiff and adversely affect my skiing. The suits that have fabric on both sided are more durable, but hold water. The newer surf suits use a more flexible rubber these days, but still thick and not the best choice for waterskiing.

[Wish]

The triathalon suite I purchased for my daughter has the crazy stretch smooth skin on the outside and the cloth on the inside. There's videos on YouTube showing the process for putting on a more delicate suit. Also several videos regarding the repair of finger tares from pulling to hard. Very very common in the triatholans as its how fast you pull off the suit (or on) that matters.

[countymountie]

@Horton

I need a new vest. How flexible is the Impact & does it float better than an Eagle?

 

As for the suit, for $300 I need a suit that lasts more than than a couple of seasons that isn't delicate as tissue. Performance wise, the suit was phenomenal......just don't expect it to last.

[wski1831]

I looked for the suit and couldn't find the Camaro Black Tec 2.0. Robbie's site only showed the titanium suit. Hotwatercc had more, but not the Black Tec, and the prices were pesos not dollars.

[Chuck_Dickey]

From what I heard, it's not going to be released until April 2013.

[SkiJay]

... just in time for summer.

[Horton]

On Austria that is early spring

 

[kfennell]

Don't bad mouth the aquasphere, they are very very thin and therefore kind of delicate. But they are super cheap compared to everything else, only around $150 I paid for mine and my wifes. We really like them and we are on our 2nd year.

[wski1831]

I called Robbie yesterday and she said they probably wouldn't have the new suits until March at the soonest. I ordered the silver one hopefully the large will fit.

[waterskigirl]

Placing my order for the 2013 Camaro BlackTec line and I ran across these 2 new items in their line. Both things desgined to solve problems waterskiers constantly are bothered by...slalom shorts that bucket and shin guards that never stay in place. Not sure how either will work out but, wanted the ballers to get the first views! Both cool ideas, I am going to bring in...we'll see how they work!

www.robbysskishop.com

[addkerr]

Not to do with the Black tech, but if its anything like the titanium 2.0 I highly recommend it. Went for a set yesterday in the 2mm titanium, water 41 and air 45. My body was comfortably warm and super flexible. These suits are great. Cant say the same for my hands though :)

[MichaelGoodman]

Does any one know the difference between the titanium suit and the new Black tech?

[waterskigirl]

Color...Camaro wanted to clearly change the look of Modetec suits from Titanium. There was too much consumer confusion when they looked exactly alike but were priced so differently...hence BlackTec.

[The_MS]

Mrs.MS and I both have the Aquasphere. She is on her 5th season and I am on my second. No problems and we are in Minn. Perfect April/May Sept/Oct suits. As with any cold water swim suit, you need to always be careful putting on off.

[Chuck_Dickey]

@waterskigirl

 

What is the Silver coating? When Aqua-sphere went away from their silver coating, their suits weren't as warm. So are you saying the Blacktec has the same "titanium" coating except its black?