Surfing Waves

been surfing winter with a 3mm wetsuit, but now it's getting old so i'm shopping for another. i'm slighly confused about wetsuit thicknesses. what exactly does 4/3mm and 5/3 and 6/4 and 6/5/4 and 3/2 mean? you get the idea. i cant seem to find the way this works. any help? thanks guys

First number is the thickness for the main torso and the second number is for the the arms and legs.
3/2 is usually a summer suit and 5/3 winter
If you do a google there will be guide for which suit for what temperature

And a 5/4/3 will be 3 thicknesses.

One for body, one for upper legs (mebe upper arms) one for arms/lower legs.

But usualy you pay more for thiner wetsuits that can cope with the same conditions.

Its easy to stick thing neoprene together, but it doesnt make the best suit.

Slightly thinner stretchier neoprene with blindstiched/sealed/taped or liquid sealed will cost more.

Also build of how you get into them is important, batwings, over the head stuff, or even neck entry wetties tend to cost more and stop water getting in.

Techie stuff like polypro linings and titanium neoprene can reduce the thickness you need for the same warmth.

Also, if you surf in windy conditions, single lined neoprene on the outside will be warmer, because it sheds water so less wind chill, although the suit won't be as durable.

Bright coloured neoprene is usually colder, because it's white rubber not black, which is a shame, because I like lime green wetsuits.

There's some small ozzie outfit making suits out of a different material that can give a 5/4 warmth with a 2mm suit. I'll search out the name later - they are supposed to be really good too, as used by Ozzie special forces etc.

Ozzies are better at making wetsuits than they are at rugby.

Hang11 wrote:Ozzies are better at making wetsuits than they are at rugby.

This man speaks the truth

Am off to Oz in a week tomorrow ye ha yipy for xmas, was thinking of buy myself a full summer suit to maybe use in oz and when i cum back to the UK

any one recomend good quality wetys to go for and the ones to stay away from

or is it the same as over here (Xcel, body glove GOOD - Ripcurl Bad???)

Johno wrote:Am off to Oz in a week tomorrow ye ha yipy for xmas, was thinking of buy myself a full summer suit to maybe use in oz and when i cum back to the UK

Full summer suit? As in 3mm? For Australia? You'll boil!!

At the moment, Im in a 2mm shortie if its breezy, or board shorts if its not. The water temp is TWENTY TWO DEGREES! if you're cold, get in the water for a bit!

drowningbitbybit wrote:At the moment, Im in a 2mm shortie if its breezy, or board shorts if its not. The water temp is TWENTY TWO DEGREES! if you're cold, get in the water for a bit!

drowningbitbybit wrote:

Johno wrote:Am off to Oz in a week tomorrow ye ha yipy for xmas, was thinking of buy myself a full summer suit to maybe use in oz and when i cum back to the UK

Full summer suit? As in 3mm? For Australia? You'll boil!!

At the moment, Im in a 2mm shortie if its breezy, or board shorts if its not. The water temp is TWENTY TWO DEGREES! if you're cold, get in the water for a bit!

Come for a holiday to Christchurch, NZ in July - 8 degrees average in the winter, but it gets colder if it snows up on the mountains. Certainly makes you think twice about going in.

I had an extra two adams apples this year for a couple of weeks of good swell, but it's nice being able to surf and snowboard in one day.

Dbbb

Full summer suit? As in 3mm? For Australia? You'll boil!!

The plan was get a good summer suit at a bargin price so i can use it in the UK, av got a cheep shorty from Aldi witch I wear in walse July Aug but its not tailerd for the neather regens an is realy painfull

will all the surf shops not be selling off summer suits cheep cheep cheep like they do with the summer suits when its going into winter????

What Ozi brands are the ones to go for?

Johno wrote:will all the surf shops not be selling off summer suits cheep cheep cheep like they do with the summer suits when its going into winter????

What Ozi brands are the ones to go for?

Some shops are selling off their 'winter' stock, but its not a big thing. Its not such an issue here.

Wetsuit brands are similar to the ones sold in the UK - at least at the top end of the market. There's cheap cr@p around just like the UK too

5 more working days and am on my way ye ha

Johno wrote:5 more working days and am on my way ye ha

I'm already here!