wetsuit, H2Odyssey or xcel superlite???

[travel]

wanna buy my first surf wetsuit.. pondering between H2Odyssey Men's 4/3 Full Wetsuit and 4/3 xcel superlite.. similar price though. which one will you recommend???

or what other choices below US$150?

[drowningbitbybit]

Whichever one fits best.

[billie_morini]

Agree with drowning + wetsuits in the $100 to $150 range are all pretty much the same (inexpensive). You could spend the same amount of money on a good condition used suit and get more suit for your money. I've bought two suits like this from the ladies that own and operate the kitesurfing business in Alameda. Its' called Board Sports School and Shop (http://www.boardsportsschool.com/contac ... #Locations). Get their address and directions from their website because their little business is located on City park property. On the way to their shop, you'll probably see another kiteboard shop located at a street address.

[travel]

thx for both replies... is kitesurf / windsurf using the same wetsuit as surf? if so, that definitely opens up more options...

[billie_morini]

travel,
Yes, the same type of wetsuit is used for kitesurfing as for wave surfing. The two wetsuits that I have purchased from the Board Sports shop are Xcel suits that have been used extensively for surfing. I've also used one of them in an unusual way. We were having a mighty big rain one December day at my northern California home. Most of the gutters on the house and out building were blocked and needed to be cleared so that the water wouldn't cause any damage to gutters or edges of the roof. I put on my good, used, 4/3 suit, booties, and hood; grabbed a ladder; and very comfortably worked in a heavy rain for 45 minutes. A small neighbor's kid saw me and thought I was a super hero of some kind. You don't see too many people in wetsuits in suburbia.

Even if you don't find a suit at the suggested place, you can try surf shops that rent suits. If you catch things at season's end, you will have lots of selection. Another option is to see what you can find on Craig's List.

[travel]

hey billie_morini buddy,
thanks for the good tips, and all the more reason to get a wetsuit..

just fyi, I've ordered the H2Odyssey wetsuit online and hopefully it arrives today so that i can wet it tomorrow. I'll start with this basic one and maybe get a better one after I'm more into the game...

Oh, that alameda place is close to where i live, so will definitely drop by someday and check it out.

Just realized u r from San Barbara... what r the spots u go regularly? Not that I'm going there tomorrow, but in case I'm in town sometime...

cheers buddy
paddle paddle paddle...

[billie_morini]

Dear travel,
If I tell you about my surf breaks in Santa Barbara, they will not be secret any longer.
Billie

[travel]

spot on... i will pm u then if i ever come to SB. hopefully u can share some then... btw, is SB much better than Bay Area? I've been surfing at the TacoBel place (so u know where it is)...