Surfing Waves

I'm taking a trip down to SC with some friends and figure I'll probably need a wetty. I've always surfed warm water spots in the past (coldest i've surfed is Nicaragua and that was still doable in a rash guard and shorts). So anyway, I plan to move to CA in the next year or so (once I finally finish school) so I'd like to get something I could use in both places. What should I get? 4/3? 3/2? I have no clue.

where in CA. I mean in socal you can get away with a 3/2 all year well thats what i wear. But norcal gets a hella lot chillier

isaluteyou wrote:where in CA. I mean in socal you can get away with a 3/2 all year well thats what i wear. But norcal gets a hella lot chillier

I hope San Diego, I fear Norcal. Just depends on who wants to give me residency position. Oh well, any wave is better than no wave (which is what I have now).

FormosanSurfer.
you should be OK in San Diego with a 3/2. You may want to have a sleeveless rash guard shirt to add and a hat or hood in the colder months. If you are talklng about Santa Cruz and north, then you will want a 4/3. In the summer months a 3/2 is OK for Santa Cruz for many people, but not all. North of Santa Cruz you will see me with a sleeveless rash guard under my wetsuit in the colder months. You'll also see me with 1.5mm booties.

You will also find tons of surf shops along the California coast, so you may wait on buying the wetsuit until here. Another great way to get a suit at a good price is to shop Craigslist in San Diego, Los Angeles, and SF Bary Area.

Depends on you realy but as temp goes San Diego is realy a 3/2 suit area and you can survive with a 3/2 up to the central Cal area then it's 4/3 suit for sure and in winter sometimes don't feel like enough. General rules apply Fit is most important not just the insulation value, and a 4/3 can allways be cooled down (with a dunk) but ya cant make a 3/2 warmer.
Say you wait till you arive here then shop around and don't buy anything till you put it on and make sure the fit is "hand in glove" so to say.

I hate being cold !!!! and would rather have a warmer suit than a cooler one. From living up in central/northern Cal can say Brrrrrrrrr!!! even with a 4/3 still welcome a rash guard under it and for sure want those booties and a hood to keep my feet (sitting in cold water) and head (sitting in wind) from freeeezzzzing off.

billie_morini wrote:
You will also find tons of surf shops along the California coast, so you may wait on buying the wetsuit until here. Another great way to get a suit at a good price is to shop Craigslist in San Diego, Los Angeles, and SF Bary Area.

Thanks for the info. The only reason I'm pushing to get one now is because I am going to SC in a few weeks and would like to get in the water there without having my testicals ascend up to my chest.

oldgrom wrote:Depends on you realy but as temp goes San Diego is realy a 3/2 suit area and you can survive with a 3/2 up to the central Cal area then it's 4/3 suit for sure and in winter sometimes don't feel like enough. General rules apply Fit is most important not just the insulation value, and a 4/3 can allways be cooled down (with a dunk) but ya cant make a 3/2 warmer.
Say you wait till you arive here then shop around and don't buy anything till you put it on and make sure the fit is "hand in glove" so to say.
.

Yeah, I'd really rather just wait but I need one (see above). Might just get a used one and try to resell it if I don't like it.

I hate being cold !!!! and would rather have a warmer suit than a cooler one. From living up in central/northern Cal can say Brrrrrrrrr!!! even with a 4/3 still welcome a rash guard under it and for sure want those booties and a hood to keep my feet (sitting in cold water) and head (sitting in wind) from freeeezzzzing off

yah dude, I feckin hate cold weather (which is why I pretty much only travel to warm water spots when I can help it) but I guess it can't be helped in Cali. Come on Global Warming

Na,,, used is a good comprimise say get a good to great used 4/3 then for sure your able to do winter surf pritty much anywhere and tolerate it and could rashguard or 1mm vest,booties,hood if your testies are gettin frostbite,,, ha ha ha and besides what's wrong with having a good back up suit??? I got a few and damn happy about it !!! Cheaper wiser and yes you could sell it latter.

Then you'll be ready to tear it up now and ready for ??? later.

water at Folly Beach SC is 62.5F as of 7PM today.

Depending on when you get here and what the winds are doing, a 3/2 will be fine. The water in SC rarely gets below 52F, but can be much colder. If you're going to be here in Jan/Feb, a 4/3 will be nice, but even then a good 3/2 will probably keep you toasty.

The water, in the middle of winter, is colder in SC than most SoCal spots south of LA.

Have fun and take lots of pictures!