Elios website is confusing, am I missing something obvious?

[Gab]

Hi all, since everyone raves about Elios wetsuits I decided to have a look with the intention of ordering one. I went to their website and I must admit I am a bit stumped... I was expecting to see what suites they had, the options, price estimate, etc but it's not really like that. You can see the suits but there isn't much info so it makes it hard to compare. I have read on forums about different internal coatings but couldn't find anything about those, their hydro-camo is advertised on the main page but that is the only place it is referenced, etc.

Can someone please enlighten me on how to see the options available, choose, order, etc?

Thanks,
Gabriel

 

[Jonny250]

Hi gab, the elios website is famously poor, unlike the wetsuits! I always email elios and tell them exactly what im after and they come back with prices and a zillion options with details...

 

[Gab]

Ok, thanks Jonny! And to think that this is supposed to be the new website, I'm afraid to ask what the old was like

 

[grantl]

As Johnny said - drop them an email with details of typical temperatures and type of spearing you do and they will give you 8/10 or so different recommendations.
Its the only way to make any sense of their site Id say

 

[Ula]

In my experience Elios' ordering procedure in general will try your patience. The website is one of the easier steps. After a month long process of sending sugar coated extra polite emails asking for a solid color lined wetsuit, and then waiting at least 4 days for email responses suggesting nothing but unlined camoflouge suits, I was ready to throw in the towel. I did in fact finally get a suit in the end, but the the fit was off. Arms for example were a full 5cm too long. The Elios suits can be nice, but the language barrier and pride issues at Elios aren't worth it.
.
The last wetsuit I bought was from Polosub. One very pleasant US phone call and the exact suit I wanted was ordered. Fit was absolutely spot on (off the exact same measurements I gave Elios) and the durability was a much better. I spent 5 minutes total ordering this wetsuit. I spent 5 weeks dealing with Elios.

In the end I thanked Elios for the wetsuit and asked if the process could be made more streamlined for US customers. I got a stream of rapid emails (voila no 4-5 day wait!) One more irate and unproffesional than the next. "It is not like buying bubble gum in America!" was the last thing I ever heard from this company.

Just so you know where the frustrating website might lead to next...

 

[chrismar]

In my experience Elios' ordering procedure in general will try your patience. The website is one of the easier steps. After a month long process of sending sugar coated extra polite emails asking for a solid color lined wetsuit, and then waiting at least 4 days for email responses suggesting nothing but unlined camoflouge suits, I was ready to throw in the towel. I did in fact finally get a suit in the end, but the the fit was off. Arms for example were a full 5cm too long. The Elios suits can be nice, but the language barrier and pride issues at Elios aren't worth it.
.
The last wetsuit I bought was from Polosub. One very pleasant US phone call and the exact suit I wanted was ordered. Fit was absolutely spot on (off the exact same measurements I gave Elios) and the durability was a much better. I spent 5 minutes total ordering this wetsuit. I spent 5 weeks dealing with Elios.

In the end I thanked Elios for the wetsuit and asked if the process could be made more streamlined for US customers. I got a stream of rapid emails (voila no 4-5 day wait!) One more irate and unproffesional than the next. "It is not like buying bubble gum in America!" was the last thing I ever heard from this company.

Just so you know where the frustrating website might lead to next...

Never had this, or heard of issues of this level, from Elios before. Have bought 5 full suits and two vests in total from them and helped another half dozen buy suits. Total of something like 15 that I've been in direct contact during and know of at least another 10 just here in NZ. One had dodgy glue and had to be sent back for regluing and one maybe two with imperfect fit? Never had to wait a week for an email back.

Either I'm very lucky or you really aren't.

 

[Ula]

I know a few who have ordered suits without problems. Each of them said "yes" to a random suggested suit in the first email reply though. I think where things go awry is when you ask for something particular. Which to my thinking, is the only reason you'd custom order a suit in the first place.

Trying to ask someone with limited english and pride issues for specifics was one step too far apparently.

 

[Ula]

Once was enough for me.

Glad to hear someone else got lucky.

My Elios suit lasted only briefly anyhow, so my dealings with them are now history. While donning the suit the neck separated from the shoulder. First suit in 25 years of diving to fail so catastrophically. I had four Yamamoto suits before this that held up without any problems.

Ordering time and effort aside. For spearing, where durability is paramount , a spearfishing wetsuit company like Polosub would seem to make more sense.

 

[spaghetti]

One of my elios suits is nine years old and still ok. Nothing else to say other than.....horses for courses?

 

[cdavis]

Surprising stuff about Elios, first time I ever heard anybody extremely unsatisfied.
Granted the ordering/fitting process seems designed to make a direct minded American crazy(scared me to death), but the result for me was perfect. Very custom suit is now 6 years old and still perfect.

Connor

 

[chrismar]

Glad to hear someone else got lucky.

Not just me, it seems.

I've had extremely specific suits from them (3mm smoothskin with 2mm arms & hood, arms forward cut is pretty specific). Arrived as specified. Did the suit rip or separate along a seam?

 

[Ula]

Surprising stuff about Elios, first time I ever heard anybody extremely unsatisfied.
Granted the ordering/fitting process seems designed to make a direct minded American crazy(scared me to death), but the result for me was perfect. Very custom suit is now 6 years old and still perfect.

Connor

The ordering process alone should be enough to put anybody off.

Suit ripped on the seam. Have had a number of Yamamoto suits previously, this was the first to fail.

I had no previous allegiance to Elios, no sponsorship aspirations, etc. It was company I bought suit from, they blew it spectacularly, I put up a red flag.

:cheers

 

[Jonny250]

well maybe you could try the Picasso gear which is getting great reviews at the moment: http://forums.deeperblue.com/uk-ireland/96717-dorset-spearfishing-2013-a-19.html#post905423
contact camanche killer or portland spearo on here for more info.

 

[Whopperhead]

I have 3 suits from Elios. The first time ordering was a little tricky, but in the end I received a great suit that is going on its 7th season. Great suits!

 

[spaghetti]

Folks, Elios is obviously regarded as one of the world's best wetsuit brands, the choice of many world champions, international competitives et cetera. Fact.

But don't expect any ultra-tech facility with aerospace machinery or anything like that: bear in mind it's only a small taylor laboratory where wetsuits are passionately handmade in limited numbers by a handful of skilled ladies.

That's the "secret" of Elios quality, but also the Achilles's heel as for long waiting times, puzzling communications and so on.

See in the pics where your Elios wetsuits come from:

 

[baiyoke]

I have a great Elios suit. Everybody I know of recommends Elios. People I've met around the world, people I train with at home. Never heard anything bad.

Except perhaps for the 4!!! posts Ula has posted in this thread... hmmm... That's a bit strange...

The ordering however can be difficult, but in part I think it's also because of the many choices... it's simply difficult to choose... And that is where the website is of no help unfortunately... Many people also want a wetsuit that can be used for several different conditions... whereas Elios recommend not to buy a suit to do two things...

I'm not saying there's not other good brands, I just don't know wich, because everybody always recommend Elios...

 

[cdavis]

Yeah for low tech! It sure works good.

When I got my Elios, I was surprised at how simple the panel cuts were, none of the fancy, hi-tech looking, diagonal panels you see in other suits that are supposed to make them fit and flex better. For all that, the suit is BY FAR the most flexible, best fitting and easiest to wear suit I've ever owned, and I've had other, good quality custom suits.

I'll gladly accept their wacky Italian system(no offense meant, Spagetti) if that is what it takes.

Connor