Kallweit is well known in Germany and Europe for extremely high-quality drysuits that are often custom-made.
Their flagship top-of-the-line model is the Xenon Front XFT-XTREME or Xenon XTREME in short.
It is essentially the fully-equipped version of the Kallweit Xenon with extra Kevlar patches all around.
It is one of my personal drysuits that I use on almost every dive and it's a beast of a suit.
Of course, we also read other opinions online but in the end, nothing beats real world experience. So we took the time for a thorough Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-XTREME test and review! Below you find everything you need to know, including features, specs and what we like, and don't like about it.
Review Summary
The Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-Xtreme is my personal choice of drysuit and is for those who want to extend their limits in scuba diving. Relatively affordable in comparison to other manufacturers, it is geared toward cave divers and all those who want to heave that extra it of sturdiness.
Our Rating
What We Like
- Highest quality
- Great customer support
- Very flexible
- Looks super fancy
- Always custom built
- Extremely lightweight
- Pretty cheap in contrast to others on this list
Reasons to Avoid
- Only available in Europe (can be shipped anywhere)
- Kallweit ordering system is pretty awful
Get it here
First Impression
In a hurry and looking for the gist of things? Here is our review in short. Keep reading for the entire version.
The Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-XTREME is the drysuit I dive most often myself, whether I am by myself or with students.
It’s a powerpack of a trilaminate drysuit, looks super fancy, and is made for cave diving and other harsh environments.
I had mine custom-made like all Kallweit suits and it is the best drysuit I have personally ever worn (which is obviously why I use it so often). If you want to test the limits of diving, this is the suit to get.
It features everything you could want in a drysuit.
Two large leg pockets, premium dry zipper (plastic or metal available), super strong materials, quality seals all around…there is nothing I can find wrong with it.
The reason I like the XTREME over the regular Xenon Front are the Kevlar patches all around in the arms, legs, crotch, and other parts of the suit which make it virtually indestructible.
For cave divers like myself, that’s a huge plus because it prevents ripping and tearing of the suit in tight places or when bumping into sharp rocks or objects.
In my opinion, although Kallweit suits are definitely positioned in the premium segment, they offer an extremely high value-price ratio.
Every suit comes with a dry glove system, 10mm neoprene hood, rock boots (called gator boots), long-term warranty, and free zipper replacement guarantee in the first two years.
That is a very generous package in comparison to others that don’t even include a hood (*cough cough* Waterproof…).
At the beginning (15+ years ago), Kallweit had some quality issues and some drysuit models were hit and miss.
I am really happy to say that now they are 99.99% hit and have been for quite a long time now.
Today, when I show up at the dive spot, fellow divers nod in appreciation when I wear the Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-XTREME.
In over 350 dives with my current one, I only ever had one issue with the Apeks front valve.
I brought it to my Kallweit supplier…and they fixed it within 20 minutes free of charge.
Buying a Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-XTREME
If you are looking to buy a Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-XTREME, there are two options. Kallweit has a direct sales channel on their website which you can browse and select the suit and package you want.
The drawback? It’s German only.
The second option is to send us a message, and we will order the right suit for you with custom measurements and in the package that works for you!
Drysuit, rock boots, dry gloves, p-valve, customized patches, your name sewn in…whatever you are looking for, we got it.
Best part? We offer support in English, German, Spanish and other languages.
Specs & Features
| Type | ContiTech Octolaminat® Drysuit |
| Weight | 3.4 kg (7.5 lbs) |
| Materials | Suit: ContiTech Octolaminat®, Cordura, Kevlar |
| Available Colors | black / grey / red |
| Zipper type | Plastic & metal available |
| Zip location | Front |
| Boot type | Socks and GTB Gatorboot |
| Wrist seal | Latex, silicone, or neoprene |
| Glove type | Dry gloves |
| Neck seal | Latex, silicone, or neoprene |
| Hood included | Yes |
| Pockets | 2 |
| Valves | Apeks |
| P-Valve | Various options |
| Custom sizing | Always custom made |
| Other Features | Kevlar reinforcement of the arm, buttocks, crotch, and knee areas |
Conclusion
If you are looking for an indestructible drysuit for cave, technical, and advanced recreational diving in cold water, with mad in Germany quality, the Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-XTREME ticks all the boxes and then some.
It is by far one of the toughest suits out there and the entire suit is extremely well made.
Alternatives
If you want a true alternative to a Kallweit drysuit, you have to look real hard in the premium section of the most reputable manufacturers.
The Santi Elite Plus, as well as the DUI CF200X, come to mind, as they are both equipped with Kevlar reinforcements and similar and meant for serious technical diving in harsh environments.
In comparison, I like the Kallweit for its rugged look and for being much cheaper (by about $800).
However, the Kallweit Xenon Front XFT-XTREME is not entirely on the same level as the Santi one.
If you have any other questions or need advice, leave us a comment below and get the conversation started.
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