The producers of the Channel Five hit TV Series, The Gadget Show approached us a little while back in order to help out with a little wetsuit test they were about to embark on - and we were only too happy to help.

The “hands-on” test was going to pitch the very latest in wetsuit technology against each other. In the blue corner was Billabong’s brand new solar-heated wetsuit - the Billabong SG5, and in the red corner the favourite - the Rip Curl H-Bomb (supplied by the Wetsuit Centre).

Once the Presenters, Gail Porter and Jason Bradbury got all togged up it was time to take on the wetsuit cold water challenge, a series of cold water tests designed to see who would stay warm the longest.

The face-off started with a ice-box challenge, with Gail wearing the Rip Curl SG5 and Jason in the H-Bomb sitting in an ice-box for a full 5 minutes. Then it was a mad dash to pick up a couple of lilos and head off down the rapids at the Nene Whitewater Centre. With thermal imaging cameras runnin alongside the intrepid twosome, it was easy to see which wetsuit was holding the heat.

You can check out the video for yourself - but just so you know ….. our Rip Curl H-Bomb romped home a worthy winner. (Ok it is three times the price of the Billabong SG5 - but it looks like the bar has been set for other winter wetsuits manufacturers to catch up).

Watch the Gadget Show Wetsuit Challenge

Impressed by the reviews?? Buy the Rip Curl H-Bomb online or give the Wetsuit Centre a call on 01202 302943 to give one a try.