Surfing Waves

Hi all,

As its going to get cold soon (optimist) and my birthday is around the corner I'm looking for a new winter suit. I've currently got a ST Excel 5mm x flex from last year. First 'proper' suit and I love it although it does feel a touch restricted on the shoulders but I think that may be a size issue. Im 5'11 75kg 32" waist and 36" chest, basically built like a racing snake.

So... I like to have 2 suits and have been looking at c skins wired (only ever seen 2 people wearing them), all excel (top end, warmth is what I'm expecting), E/F bomb (concerns over build quality and longevity) and most recently Patagonia r4 (worth the money?).

I'm due to try on the bombs and a patagucci next time I go out at a local store but without wanting to sound like a complete test pilot I have no idea what to get. Hood/no hood, flexible or warmth? Will merino wool stain/smell if I piss in it (guaranteed).

My local break is Scarborough, I'm still a bit xxxxx and spend a lot of time in the water bobbing/drowning. In my current suit with a thermal rashie and built in hood I can do 3hrs plus in 6-7 degree water as I'm quite a warm/hairy person.

If anybody has any comments to share on experiences with suits mentioned above, suits not mentioned I'd be glad to hear from them.

Cheers.

Dan.

My view is that the difference between the top end suits, indeed even their second level suits, is pretty minimal when it comes to warmth. The key in cold water is to get a suit that fits properly and doenst allow flushing - so look for ones that have extra features around the wrist and neck eg able to tighten the opening or have some wool along the forearm or whereever. People say 'xxxx' brand is the warmest they have ever worn, but I think its just because that is the brand that fits them best. At your build most suits will fit; although shoulder width in particular varies amongst the brands (front zips are better for bigger shoulders).

I fortunately dont have to wear a hoodie, but my preference would probably be to have a separate hoodie so you dont have to wear it, during the warmer months, but can still use the suit.

The wired suits get good reviews for warmth - they are probably the only brand that has something extra that might be worthwhile. But I'm not sure how long the battery lasts.

Longevity is a strange issue - some people seem go to through suits in a season and for others they last years. I suspect its more to do with the user.

TBH, if you can do 3 hours in your current set up, thats very good and there may be little point changing it. It works so dont go searching for 'something better'.

dtc wrote:TBH, if you can do 3 hours in your current set up, thats very good and there may be little point changing it. It works so dont go searching for 'something better'.

Fair point. I do like to have 2 suits though so ill look at something a bit more top end but maybe not get too carried away. I'm going to the local spot tomorrow and will be trying absolutely everything on. I've narrowed it down to Ripcurl, Xcel, Cskins and O'Neil.

Will report back!

Dantastic1985 wrote:I'm going to the local spot tomorrow and will be trying absolutely everything on. I've narrowed it down to Ripcurl, Xcel, Cskins and O'Neil.

Will report back!

When I bought my suit I tried on 7. At the end of which I was totally exhausted... its hard work, plus you start sweating in the shop and then can't get things on. Anyway, bring along a plastic bag and do the bag trick, definitely worth it. Actually, bring a couple since they usually rip.

Ha ha. I tried on a 6/5/4hooded flash bomb in the shop as they had no others in that I wanted. Bloody hell, it was soaked when I took it off. Couldn't see me getting cold in it! Think I'm heading towards a flash bomb (worried about it falling to bits) or an xcel Infiniti. Think I'm heading for a built in hood too.

Bought a suit today but don't think it fits right. What's more important, freedom to move or comfort?

Isnt freedom to move and comfort the same thing?

Yeah it is. I think I meant being able to move freely or it being a really nice fit. Think I know what's going to happen. Just dished £360 on a hooded revolt and its the wrong size. Too big. Can grab bunches of rubber around my chest. Also feel like I've bought a rolls Royce surf but am a fiesta style surfer. Do I need a top of the range suit when last years xflex was mega.

Well, given that the purpose of a wetsuit is to keep you warm, and given that a loose fitting wetsuit will not keep you warm and will allow flushing, I guess you know the answer. A little bit of looseness in parts is ok, you cant get around that, but not bunching. Plus if it is that loose, inevitably it wont be smooth when you are on the board and you will get a pressure sore etc.

I guess you either return it or get a bigger chest

Spoke to the shop today. It's going back and I'm going to go for a slightly less top end suit. Decided that as both my boards cost a total of £275 spending more on a wetsuit is unjustifiable.

Thanks for your replies