Surfing Waves

I haven't surfed in awhile, as I have been visiting landlocked family. Came back today to 40 degree water... yikes. I'd assume that my 4/3 7 seas Vissla wet suit isn't going to cut it at this temperature. I do use 5mm gloves, 5mm boots, but I do not have a hood yet. Debating getting a hood, or a thicker wetsuit with one attached.

I was wondering if a 5/4 wetsuit like this guy, with an attached hood would suffice:
https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/PROD/MWFUGXH5.html#.WlWNBb9zJPY

Or should I go for something even thicker?

For reference, I'm in the Virginia Beach area. Would it be worthwhile to get a winter suit around here?

Appreciate the help

Edit:
Oh, forgot to add if you have suggestions... I'm only interested in a chest zip suit.

I have basically the same suit minus the hood, and I love it. I wore it until about December, then I switched to a 6/5/4 Quiksilver that I got from leisurepro or wetsuit wearhouse for like $300. For sub 40 degrees, I'd go with the 6/5/4, but the 5/4/3 would work. The billabong neoprene is nice, it's got a real smooth liner & coating and goes on easy.

Tom

(PS, I'm in RI, so it's a bit colder up here!)

tomthetreeman wrote:For sub 40 degrees, I'd go with the 6/5/4, but the 5/4/3 would work. The billabong neoprene is nice, it's got a real smooth liner & coating and goes on easy.

I agree with Tom and would also upgrade to 6mm boots. When your feet are numb, it’s hard to pop up, turn or feel the wave.

This is like asking what clothes to wear hiking at a particular temperature; it's highly individual and on a given day you'll see a huge variety.

My advice would be to use your existing knowledge and a single wetsuit/temperature chart to extrapolate. In other words, pick a temperature that you have experience of and compare what you would wear with what the chart says. Then look up what the chart says for 40 deg F and apply the same correction to find out what you'd wear. For example, if a chart says a 5/3 at temp X and you know you're happy at temp X in a 4/3, then you know you're slightly less sensitive to the cold than the person who drew the chart; so you can then look at what they say for 40F and apply the same correction.

That said, a seat temperature of 40F is extremely cold, and I'd expect the least sensitive people to be totally maxxed out (7mm hooded suits, 7mm boots, thick gloves etc), and the majority of people to not be in the water at all.

You guys are nuts

(Tries to justify being proud of how tough I am when surfing mid winter sea temps of 60F and air temps about the same. It’s hard guys, stop laughing)

Cold water protection at its finest!