Billabong Furnace Comp Wetsuit Review

One of our favorites here at Cleanline, the Billabong Furnace Comp, packs some incredible features at a great price. Most notably, Billabong's graphene technology has increased their suits' thermal performance, flexibility, and durability while reducing weight. You are in the right place if you’re in the market for a suit to keep you toasty warm while being as flexible as possible. Keep reading to learn more about the Furnace Comp's great features.

"The Billabong Furnace Comp offers an outstanding combination of warmth and flexibility. With high-tech features such as the Graphene liner, partially recycled materials, and an ergonomic design, the Furnace Comp may become your new favorite suit."

Billabong Furnace Comp Wetsuit

Neoprene and Liners

The Billabong Furnace Comp is crafted from Smart Foam, partially recycled Neoprene. This Neoprene is highly flexible, lightweight, and provides a solid amount of warmth. The exterior fabric is comprised of Airlite 4D Recycler, which is 10% lighter and has 20% more stretch than their previous model. The added stretch will keep your motions effortless and unrestricted to keep you fresh throughout your session.

The Furnace Comp is lined with Graphene Recycler Plus combined with Airlite graphene. This Graphene liner creates a toasty warm layer close to your core by trapping your body heat for maximum warmth. The added warmth goes a long way in increasing your time in the water on the coldest days.

Seams and Stitching

The Furnace Comp's unique blend of seam features sets this suit apart from its competitors. The Billabong Furnace Comp sports glued and blind stitched seams paired with internal taping on all the seams to help prevent leaks and ensure more durability at the seam. The Furnace Comp has externally sealed seams on the back of the arms, down the sides of the suit, and through part of the leg. This feature is found on all thicknesses of the Furnace Comp. The added seam seal keeps water out and helps with the longevity of the overall suit.

Fit and Cut

At 6’3 and 195 lbs, I went with the large tall. I was impressed with the materials and construction of the Furnace Comp. It fit very snug and was plenty long on the limbs of the suit. The suit felt very flexible and comfortable, especially in the arms. You could notice the materials' flexibility when raising your arms above your head; the movement felt unrestricted. The hood was comfortable and snug. I tend to like to take my hood on and off during a session if I get too warm; the Furnace Comps hood was easy to remove and put back on.

Performance

During testing, the Billabong Furnace Comp proved to be worth every dollar. I chose to use the Furnace Comp 4/3 Hooded Chest Zip Wetsuit. The suit sealed nicely once worn in the water. The taping and exterior seam seals kept the suit from flushing and leaking throughout my sessions. The Graphene Liner warmed up really quickly and stayed warm for hours. The water temperature varied from 52-57° F. We recommend the 5/4 for 50° F and below, the 4/3 for 50°-57° F, and the 3/2 for 57°-64° F.

The suit's ultra-stretchy construction allowed for easy paddling, movement, and range of motion. I never thought about the suit feeling uncomfortable or needing to be adjusted. The Furnace Comp is the best choice if you are looking for flexibility as your top priority compared to the Furnace and Absolute Plus.

Value and Durability

Finding a suit with a lot of value for the cost is very important. The Billabong Furnace Comp performs extremely well and excels at being warm and flexible. With many high-quality features, such as the complete internal taping and toasty warm Graphene Liner, the Furnace Comp is worth every dollar.

Durability plays a significant role in determining the value of a suit. Throughout testing, the Billabong Furnace Comp showed minimal signs of usage. Adopting a routine to rinse out your suit well with fresh water after each use can go a long way in prolonging the life of your wetsuit.

Customer Feedback

"This suit is very warm! The name, furnace, does not lie. It is also very flexible and easy to move around in the water."

- Dustin

"Trying on these chest zip wetsuits can be a challenge and you can only do so many at once. I lucked out and the Furnace Comp was the first one I tried and it fit perfect. Having used it a few times now kiteboarding in 45 degree weather, on the Puget Sound, I am very pleased at how warn I have stayed and the comfort and flexibility of the suit. Also, once rinsed, it dries in about half the time of my old neoprene suit. If this suit fits your body, you won't be disappointed when you use it."

- Steve

Staff Feedback

"What I like most about this suit is that it's a step above other wetsuits and priced below its competitors. It's fully taped from head to toe and lined with Furnace Graphene + for extra warmth. Environmentally friendly too, this suit is made of recycled car tires. It has great flexibility, warmth, and durability and with all these features you would think it would break the bank, but it doesn't! So if you’re in the market for another wetsuit, but don’t want to break the bank, I suggest grabbing one of these."

- Dexter at Cleanline Surf

Final Thoughts

The Billabong Furnace Comp offers an outstanding combination of warmth and flexibility. With high-tech features such as a Graphene liner, partially recycled materials, and an ergonomic design, the Furnace Comp may become your new favorite suit.

Looking for something similar to the Furnace comp but more affordable? Check out the Billabong Absolute, one of the best-selling entry-level options. Or, if you want a bit more warmth and eco-friendly features, the neoprene-free Furnace Natural has you covered.

If you have any questions about the Billabong Furnace Comp or any other products, feel free to contact us at support@cleanlinesurf.com, call us toll-free at 1-888-546-6176, or leave a comment below.

Cleanline Surf

Established in 1980, with locations in Seaside and Cannon Beach, Cleanline Surf is the Northwest's Original Surf Shop and remains your leader for surf, skate, and kitesurf needs..