Wetsuit for SF Bay Area

[skubaman]

Hi Guys,
just moved from SoCal to Bay Area and I am planning to get a 4/3 so I can surf around here. I have a tendency to get cold and was planning on having a hood also.
Here is my dilemma. From what I see, the wetsuit models that offer a detachable hood (Oneill Mutant and Rip Curl insulator) are not the top of the line (maybe not even 2nd on line) from each of those brands. So I am not sure if I should get a top of the line (psychofreak, f-bomb, excel infiniti) made with warmer/better materials and get a stand-alone hood, that won't be fully integrated, allowing water to flush in, or if I get the Mutant or Insulator since once I decide to use the hood, it will seal much better.

If the water is not so cold to justify a hood, then maybe I need a regular wetsuit with the warmest qualities.

It would be great to get your opinions.
Thanks

[billie_morini]

scuabman,
I used to live and surf in the SF Bay Area. It's where I learned to surf. I like the colder water there.

Any medium to high quality 4/3 suit will serve you there. I had an Xcel 4/3 in which the zipper was in the back. I like the newer Quiksilver Cyphers. One style, like I have now has a chest zipper. This really keeps the water out and keeps you warmer. The other style is a back zipper with a thin layer of neoprene inside the suit that covers your back.

In the cooler months and the bright sunshine, my favorite head protection was the Oneill Ozone hood. It is a very thin, stretchy fabric. Here is one product ad, but their photo makes it look thicker than it is ( http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/4296 ... r-Men.html ). I don’t like thicker hoods, which are usually neoprene. After awhile I removed the visor from the hood. It was easy to remove. About the only place I could find them regularly available to purchase was the big Oneill shop in Santa Cruz. You need to go there just to see it.

In the 2 or 3 colder months of the year, I’d wear a sleeveless rash guard and rash guard shorts under my 4/3 suit. I never wore gloves because I don’t like them. I also used a very thin pair of “Ninja-toe” booties. I think they were 1.5 or 2mm thick. I don’t like thicker booties and found this to be all I needed.

Oneill has started selling the Ozone hood I like attached to a long sleeve shirt ( http://www.oneill.com/#/men/asiapacific ... d_1/white/ ). You might find this is all you need under a 4/3 suit for the cold months.

If you elect to use hoods similar to what I like, as well as, rash guard underneath wetsuit for the truly cold 2 or 3 months, then you may find the not-top-of-the-line wetsuits will be OK and save you some money. And for those that say, "You won't be saving money if you buy rash guards and hoods," I say, "Rash guards and hoods can be used in many circumstances and an expensive hooded wetsuit cannot."

[skubaman]

Thanks. Any more opinions?

[volcomism]

Lived and grew up in Santa Cruz. I always surfed in my Excel Infiniti Drylock 4/3 and booties (I only wore a hood in winter). No rash guard needed. That suit kept me toasty on cold windy days and on warm summer days I'd do a quick flush in the neck and I'd be good to go for another few hours.

Getting a quality suit is worth every penny.