Having owned both the pyro pro and now the surf dry, my opinion is pretty firmly in favor of the surf dry.
Worries of it should there be a breach can be put to bed. Accidentally forgot to do up the entire zipper after stopping for a pee, and rode more than an hour before I even noticed there was an issue! Seriously. Multiple dunkings and at one point a cool trickle down the chest. I was a tiny bit disappointed as I thought it must have been water getting past the neck seal when it burped air on a wipeout, but lo and behold once I de rigged and started taking the suit off, I realized the entire zipper was gaping open! Firstly the hood is so good that no water flushed into the suit except that tiny trickle, and secondly the compression of the outer layer will allow the suit to function just like a wetsuit should you breach it somewhere else. No death bag potential.
Next, the mobility and swimability of the suit is vastly superior to the pyro pro. I once had a 40 min swim dragging my gear in from a total wind drop out in spring conditions. The bulk and front zipper set up on the pyro pro are pretty detrimental to quick swimming, and I am much happier with the streamlined nature of my new suit. It paddles and swims like a wetsuit. Think that alone would have cut my 40 min swim in half!
Lastly the fit. In the pyro pro I could feel that I hit the end range of its length when getting stretched out in railies. The arm cuffs would end up half way up my forearms. Granted, I have ape arms but the suit had no elasticity. The new suit can handle even my freakish range of motion without issue. See pic for example! This is a super bonus, as its a pervasive hassle that I deal with regarding all my shirts. I hate that most sleeves are 3/4 on me!! The surf dry inner bag is big enough to give me absolute total range of motion! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh, it also accommodates the life jacket better than the bulk and front zipper of the pyro pro. As seen above it can be done in a pyro pro…. I have the same life jacket.. but its just an easier fit in the surf dry. I also prefer the streamlined nature of the legs when my feet are close the rail of my board. You just feel less impact from whitewash and spray in the form fitting suit.
I plainly feel the surf dry is one of the best products OR has ever brought to market, and will recommend it to any and all likeminded individuals looking to bring as much warmth, safety and comfort as possible to winter conditions.
