ION Products Seek Select Hood Front Zip 5.5/4.5 2026
Reviews / Mens Wetsuits
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At A Glance
The Seek Select 5.5/4.5 Hood Front Zip sits right at the top of the ION wetsuit range, and it feels every bit the flagship model the moment you put it on.
This is a premium cold water suit. The recycled inner jersey adds some welcome eco credentials, while the generous graphene warmth lining runs through the legs, chest and back, targeting the areas that matter most when the temperature drops. The integrated hood is part of the package, making this a serious winter option for riders who refuse to sit out the cold months. This is a new suit for the 2026 season, and it replaces the older 6/4 that many readers will know I love.
That was one of the warmest suits on the market that still had plenty of flexibility. I’d been wearing it for years, so I was keen to see how this new version stacked up. It’s slightly thinner, so it should be more flexible, but will the missing 0.5 mm lose any of the heat? It’s great to see it’s fully taped on the inside and the outside, helping to massively reduce any water ingress.
On paper, this suit is all about warmth and protection from the elements. In reality, it manages to balance that with impressive flexibility where you need it most.
On The Water
The first thing you notice is the overall feel. Everything about the Seek Select feels refined. The materials are soft, dense, and high-quality without feeling bulky. It slides on well for a winter suit, and once it is zipped up, it feels secure, and you are properly sealed against the elements.
The graphene lining makes a noticeable difference. Coverage across the legs, chest and back is generous, and those core zones stay warm even in biting wind. Combined with the EXO Shield outer panels across the chest and back, which do a great job of blocking wind chill, the suit feels built for harsh conditions rather than mild autumn sessions.
The integrated hood is excellent. It fits snugly without feeling restrictive and adds a serious layer of insulation around the head and neck. For wave riders and surfers spending time duck diving or taking sets on the head, that extra warmth is a real advantage.
Despite the thickness, the arms remain impressively flexible. Paddling for waves feels natural and unrestricted, and there is no heavy, overbuilt sensation through the shoulders. For a 5.5/4.5, that balance between warmth and mobility is not easy to achieve, but it works here.
I’ve worn this suit a lot the last few months, and it’s a welcome upgrade on the previous version. My only small gripe is that the older one had an internal neck seal that stopped water from entering the suit when it came through the face seal of the hood. I loved that feature, and I’d love to see it make a return here.
That said, the suit is still incredibly warm. The double taping on both the inside and the outside does a great job of keeping water out. I used to wear a neoprene hoodie in the depths of winter; it’s February now, and it's been redundant and gathering dust. If you want warmth with excellent flexibility, this is it!
Overall
The ION Seek Select 5.5/4.5 Hood Front Zip 2026 is a genuinely premium winter wetsuit.
It is warm, thoughtfully designed and built from high-end materials, with graphene insulation and EXO Shield panels that do exactly what they are supposed to do. The flexibility in the arms makes it just as at home in the surf as it is under a kite, and the integrated hood rounds it out as a serious cold water weapon.
We would love to see the internal neck seal return, but even without it, this is one of the most refined winter suits on the market. If you want a premium suit that will see you through a good number of seasons, the build quality here is second to none. You won’t be disappointed!
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By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
