Surfing Waves

Do you think there would be any point in buying a used windsurf wetsuit for surfing if the price is right. Would the lack of knee/belly reinforcement make it a waste of money?

This is really a dumb answer as it doesn't help you keep warm at all but at least you can laugh at Uncle Jaffa, I thought windsurfing wetsuits were exactly the same as run of the mill type wetsuits.
BTW how's oncoming winter going? we are suffering the wettest coolest flattest spring in about fifteen years. Lots of ding repairs and chores around the house getting done. Happy wife = happy life

heh, well I don't know much about it myself so we can just leave the snickering to other people

It's not been a great fall, my friend hurt her back so we haven't been out in ages. the winter suit I ordered is indefinitely backordered so I've been scanning the local used ads. I found a hooded suit for sale by someone who doesn't know much about it but sounds like she'd sell it pretty cheap. It doesn't have the knee or belly padding that surf suits have and she says she was told it was for wind/kitesurfing. I wonder how quickly you'd put your knee through a suit that wasn't made for that kind of stress...

Sorry to hear about your spring, I sure hope we all get out again soon!
If only the surf widows/widowers caught the bug too eh? But I suppose we need someone grounded in our lives or nothing else would ever get done eh?

Can you find out the wetsuit brand and model name? The smooth skin chest on the belly of most surf wetsuits is for wind chill and to help you stick to your board better. It does not provide extra reinforced to the chest area. Make sure the wetsuit is the thickness you need for your water temp. I would look the wetsuit over really well and try it on before purchasing. Also check to see if the seams are glued and blind-stitched, verses flat-lock stitched, or over locked stitched. Glued and blind-stitched seams are sealed and help keep you warmer. It usually takes a while to wear through the knees completely.

Good luck!

The suit was left behind in a rental unit and the landlord/innkeep took it to a scuba shop. They told her it was in excellent condition and told her to put a $ of 200 for the suit and boots together. It's all she knows about it. It's a hooded ProMotion (the hood makes me suspect it's for cold water). She told me she just wants it gone and is willing to drop the price. Maybe I'll have a look at it Friday if she's available.
This is the ad if its of any use:
http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s ... Z328219381

Thanks for the tips Tony!

It looks like an older style wetsuit. I think $200. is high priced for an older style wetsuit. If you go and look at it check the seams out, and the flexibility of the neoprene. A lot of the newer wetsuits on the market are super flexible, so don't pay to much for it. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Hi Buttertoes I had a look at the Pro-motion wetsuit website they are advertising super thick 6/4 wetsuits for surfing at $275 so it may not be a complete bargain but then again because it is in Halifax shipping will be a lot less than from California.
Both suit types seem to have knee reinforcement.
Most important of all, weld seams and thickness or if it is in good condition the label could have the model type, then go back and check the site.
Good luck

Thanks for your thoughts! We may be heading out that way in the next few days so might get a chance to have a look but it'll have to be a very good deal

Buttertoes wrote:put a $ of 200 for the suit and boots together.

S200 for a second hand suit? No chance.
Second-hand suits, even good ones, should go for next to no money.

And the odds of this being the right suit, and fitting you perfectly, are next to none - and no matter how cheap, a suit that doesnt fit and therefore doesnt keep you warm will never be a bargain.

Does anyone have any experience with international orders from 'Dogfunk.com'? I placed an order for an xcel drylock at a local shop, but a friend just pointed me toward this website. With shipping and customs/brokerage included it looks like it could save me about $150 on the suit! Of course when things seem too good to be true...

For the use of anyone wondering the same thing, shipping would have brought the price right up with what I would have paid at a shop. So went ahead and bought a 5/4 drylock, boots and gloves. All set for the winter ahead

Exceptional news, Buttertoes. You've supported your local surf shop. I did tbe same a few months ago. Wanted a 2nd pair of Oneill 8 ounce thermo shorts. So, the last time I was in Santa Barbara, I bought these shorts at a local shop. Why? Because they work hard to make things good for local surfers.

Good on ya!

PS. Now you will be warm.

Now we knows
that buttertoes
and her toes
are snug, warm
and no longer froze

Go get em girl!

thanks I'm pretty excited to get back out there! So glad it isn't over for the season. Hoping for a good photo this winter with the snow coming down

I just bought a GuL full smooth skin 5mil winter wet suit for £6.00 from a local charity shop! (pic with receipt on request!).
(I'm quite stoked actually as this is the very same year and model wetsuit as my second ever wetsuit - I have had a few!).