Similar to a survival film, this is designed to reflect body heat. It is very comfortable to put on, despite the six millimetre neoprene thickness on the body, it is easy to slip into. This is due to the rather wide cut, but above all to the great stretch of the material and a large access hatch at the neck. A good feature: to minimise water ingress at the hatch, a rubber flap on the front of the chest is fastened with press studs before the actual neck gaiter is pulled over the head from behind.
All seams are taped, and water ingress is kept to a minimum here too. At temperatures between six and ten degrees, the Mercury was cosy and warm without a bonnet in the practical test - whether this is due to the new inner coating remains to be seen. The ProLimit cut is ideal for normal to strong builds, very slim/thin surfers should choose an intermediate size, as otherwise water will noticeably enter the rather wide cut ends and the hatch.
surf conclusion: The Mercury TR for around 350 euros (available from summer 2019) is an extremely comfortable, warm and cosy neo for the transition period. The features are well thought out. There is also a version with an integrated bonnet for tough winter surfers.
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
