2008 Dainese Wetsuit One S/S Review

Italian company aims to protect PWC enthusiasts

“Head-to-toe protection for people who engage in dynamic sports.” This is the mission of Dainese, an Italian company that is a world leader in the manufacturing of protective clothing for motorcyclists and dynamic sports.

Its headquarters are in Molvena, in the province of Vicenza, where the management, research & development and production departments are located. In addition to its leadership in Italy, Dainese products are selling strongly in countries like Germany, England, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Holland and the United States.

Dainese was founded in 1972 by its current president, Lino Dainese, and started out as a manufacturer of leather pants for Motocross. Since its inception, the company’s history has been intertwined with that of riders who have made motorcycling history. From Giacomo Agostini and Barry Sheene in the World Speed Racing Championship to Cavellero and Alborghetti in Motocross, champions have been wearing Dainese gear as far back as the 1970s. A tradition carried on by the most illustrious names in motorcycling, riders like Kenny Roberts, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Freddie Spencer, Tony Mang, Eddie Lawson, Luca Cadalora, Carl Fogarty. Today Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Daniel Pedrosa, Olivier Jacque, and many others are still protected by Dainese products.

Dainese is still fairly new to the water sports market, but the company has quickly built a following.

Dainese’s relationship with World Champions has always gone beyond a simple sponsorship. It has had much deeper implications, tied to the research and development of innovative solutions for protecting bikers and athletes.

Recently Dainese got involved in other dynamic sports, including mountain biking, snow boarding, skiing and water sports. In 2006 Dainese entered the personal watercraft scene by producing a complete lineup which included a wetsuit, a vest with built in back protector, gloves and a watercraft-specific helmet.

Italian racer Alberto Monti was the first rider who trusted the Italian quality and used Dainese products all year long on the European Tour.

Dainese’s lineup also includes water pants, board shorts and a Lycra T-shirt. The first wetsuit was a long-john type without a top and accompanied by a Lycra rush guard. It was redesigned the following year with a close fit on the neck and short sleeves.

I have used the Dainese gear during practice as well as in photo shoots and I have come to believe that the Italian firm has done its homework very well.

Dainese: Wetsuit One S/S
The Italian firm has recently released a new wetsuit for personal watercraft riders. It is constructed from 3mm neoprene and it is totally redesigned. It utilizes a new cut around the neck, short sleeve and it has soft injected rubber inserts at the knee and lower leg. The close fit and ergonomic cut remain unique features of the new Dainese wetsuit and the back-opening zipper is very ergonomic. The new looks are enhanced by the fresh thermoformed logo on chest, though I believe that the use of brighter colors would have enhanced the overall aesthetics.

Dainese: X-Splash Helmet
The X-Splash helmet is a full-face watersports helmet with an outer shell of fibreglass, inner shell of mono-density polystyrene (EPS) with a collapsible core and ventilated structure. It has a band with a micrometric quick-release buckle, inner lining in Sanytized-treated hypo-allergenic fabric and polycarbonate adjustable visor. Frontal and lateral vents with rear air extractors ensure maximum level of ventilation. It comes with decals and racing graphics.

The helmet provides a good, tight fit even when it gets wet. It has superb ventilation and when you get hit by the water it comes out of the holes immediately. Additionally, the goggles are not obstructed and have a secure fit at all times. The quick release fastener is ergonomic and easy to use.

Dainese Waterglove
Dainese has released a new glove that was specifically designed for personal watercraft use. The gloves are constructed with a synthetic material at the inner part of the palm and neoprene at the outer part. The gloves provide a very good feel and superb grip. Additionally, they feature a spongy material at the lower part of the palm that enhances grip and minimizes the vibrations. The gloves remain secure on the hand by a good quality Velcro strap. These gloves are available in white/red, white/blue and white/grey colors. These gloves ensure the perfect fit and feeling that you need when riding to the limit.

Dainese Impact Vest
Dainese got seriously into designing the perfect personal floatation device for the personal water craft rider and racer. The brand new Impact Vest is equipped with a protective spine brace that is fixed at the outer cell of the vest. The vest allows the rider to move without feeling it. Additionally, it has straps that are adjustable to the upper body. The new Dainese Impact Vest is available in all sizes. When I used it on the close-course track I never felt safer. It provides good mobility, perfect fit and maximum protection.