Wetsuit advice?

[chpthril]

Ya'll need to get on the same page............half are talking dry suits and the other half are talking wet suits.

[txmxer]

Go somewhere and try a few on. I surf using a 3/2 just because I get hot fast, but a 4/3 will be warmer so its up to you. Just depends how cold the water temps will get. Most people will probably tell you to go with a 4/3. If you can find one with a zipper instead of the velcro on the back get it. Like this excel:http://www.xcelwetsuits.com/products/us/surf

One of my pet peeves with wetsuits is how most of them have the velcro on the back above the zipper, it just ends up crumpling up and ruining the neoprene on your wetsuit when it sticks to the neoprene instead of the other side of the velcro. Excel, quiksilver, billabong, ripcurl, jetpilot, any of the major brands will be quality wetsuits.

edit: you dont need to spend $250. Just look for last years models. Check out surfshops online: huntington surf and sport, jacks surf shop, or frog house. They should all be able to ship to you. Oh and also Its really uncomfortable to wear boardshorts under your wetsuit, just go nothing under or if you have to wear something my friend swears by Jammers (speedo's that go down to your knees for competitive swimming).

[IDBoating]

Personal note: I'm a certified open water scuba diver. I also enjoy sports on the water's surface. So I've worn a lot of wetsuits. It's my experience that the thickness doesn't matter all that much for surface sports; the extra insulation doesn't make a huge difference because most of your heat loss is due to circulation under the suit. You're also not constantly submerged.

Diving is different. You are completely submerged and therefore the water can sink heat out of your entire body for extended periods. In this case thickness helps.

For surface sports, I go with thinner material to preserve mobility. If you need to be warmer, go full length on the arms and legs. But thicker material will just sacrifice flexibility for no real gain in warmth when it comes to surface sports.

Just my $0.02.

[Joeprunc]

Personal note: I'm a certified open water scuba diver. I also enjoy sports on the water's surface. So I've worn a lot of wetsuits. It's my experience that the thickness doesn't matter all that much for surface sports; the extra insulation doesn't make a huge difference because most of your heat loss is due to circulation under the suit. You're also not constantly submerged.

Diving is different. You are completely submerged and therefore the water can sink heat out of your entire body for extended periods. In this case thickness helps.

For surface sports, I go with thinner material to preserve mobility. If you need to be warmer, go full length on the arms and legs. But thicker material will just sacrifice flexibility for no real gain in warmth when it comes to surface sports.

Just my $0.02.

I never thought of that...great point.

[Timmy!]

Great buys on Hyperflex wetsuits on http://theclymb.com/brand-event/501/Hyperflex right now. You need to join the site to see the deals but that site is worth joining (it's free).
4/3 suit for $139 or a 4/3 kitesurfing suit for $124.95.

[WakerideN]

IMO skip the wetsuit.. go drysuit... we have bare drys and are able to ride into Nov here. Which is huge given it snowed last night above 7000