We all lean into gear with lots of bells and whistles when it comes to anything sailing, but sometimes a product comes along that reminds us just how valuable simplicity can be. Take, for example, Mustang Survival’s Quadra Drysuit. There’s a zipper to get in and out of the suit, a waist adjustment, velcro cinch straps on each leg, and the rest is, well, a drysuit. So let’s start by talking about the suit itself.
Mustang Survival has a reputation for providing top-notch, high-tech cold water gear for professional use. Think winter-water rescue teams, ocean fishing and the like. When they rolled out the Quadra this past August, the goal was to provide a drysuit with a quality level comparable to their professional models, but at a recreational user price-point. The suit’s proprietary “Marine Spec” BP fabric is composed of three breathable, waterproof and UV-resistant layers that include a face fabric, a waterproof membrane and a nylon tricot backer, which not only protects the membrane but is also soft to the touch. Even though you’ll likely wear a warming layer underneath, the softer inner layer should minimize chafe. Handling the suit you can feel how robust the fabric is, yet it’s not particularly heavy or stiff—at least for a drysuit. Mustang claims it stands up better than other waterproof breathable membranes against marine specific conditions including saltwater and, get this, “fish guts and engine fuel.”
Clearly, this is the real deal.
The fabric extends down into each foot, making it easy to slide into the footwear. And, the Quadra really seems to shine when it comes to reinforcement in high-wear areas. The extra heavy-duty Cordura seat reinforcement extends well down each leg and will easily accommodate a wide range of inseam lengths. Knee pads are of the same material and similarly large. As a result, you can hike, sit on the rail or kneel on a textured deck with little concern about wear. The super-soft latex neck and wrist seals are easily trimmable, with built-in concentric trim guide marks and detailed instructions on the Mustang website.
We’re told Mustang pressure tests and water tests each drysuit before it leaves the factory, which is good insurance to have before ending up in cold water for the first time, and each suit comes with a two-year warranty from the date of purchase.
Oh, and about those few details, such as the zipper, waist adjustment and leg cincher. We really like the front positioning of the zipper—you don’t need a friend to help you in and out of this suit—and a large T-handle on the pull makes the zipper easy to operate. In the spirit of simplicity, the adjustable webbing at waist level works, to a degree. The belt has about 3 inches of adjustable range, and with a 35/36-inch waist and testing out a size large, we could not get it as quite as tight as we’d like. Maybe it’s just that we like the security of a snug waist fit, or perhaps a size medium dry suit would have fit better. Just below each knee is a velcro cinch strap that helps minimize bulk.
With a sharp design that comes in either red or admiral gray for men and bluefin or admiral gray for women, the Mustang Quadra should definitely be on your list of finalists if you’ve got your eye on a new drysuit for the upcoming colder months. $849.99.
