Help me make my next equipment purchase.

[Bub]

Ok here is where I stand with my surfing inventory. I've made great strides over the last month or so. Only about 7-8 degree water temp to go before I make a day trip to the beach (60 degrees is my low-end quota).

Got my 3/2 wetsuit...all holes "aquasealed" over the winter. Now I must explain that this is a hand-me-down medium O'neil Reactor wetsuit and I probably should really be in a small (I'm 5'9'' and weight about 140lbs). The only time I've worn this particular wetsuit was in 60 degree water and 70 degree air temp w/ sun and some breeze. I was pretty cold and shivering after 1 hr in the water...but there were a 2-3 small holes in the suit at that time of which I've now sealed up pretty good.

A new wetsuit nor a surfboard purchase is not in my finances this year. I have a relative that has 5+surfboards and I can borrow one at any time (except for his Walden Longboard which is off-limits..thats his "Ferrari"...)

Just purchased 5 mm H2O Oddessey bodyboard fin socks (I plan to sort of duel-sport it this year for a while...surfing/bodyboarding. Now these "socks" have traction on the foot bottom. Will they be ok to use for standing on a surfboard as well?

So that's where I'm currently at. What would you suggest for a next priority purchase... gloves? hood? rashguard for summer? Bottom line is I really hate being cold (why I'm not bothering with water <60 degrees)!

[isaluteyou]

Go for a thermo rashguard (longsleeve) I've found they are an excellent bit of added insulation.

As far as the fin socks go - i guess they will work if they have traction try em out and see

[tomcat360]

Where exactly are you? Mid-atlantic means from New Jersey to NC for a lot of people, and right now in NC it's 65 in Wilmington, about 55 in NJ, and around 60 in VA. So 10 deg difference up and down the coast.

Now I would be using a 4/3 full, probably no booties, no hood, no gloves. Around 55 is when I bust out the booties. I can't paddle worth crap with gloves so I just suck it up. This year I didn't make it in after December, so I didn't have to get out the hood.

So I would just sit back and chill for a while with the purchases (not physically) because what you have now should cover it. My 4/3 is not that high quality and it keeps me warm this time of year. Patching those holes is going to make a big difference.

So I would say don't buy anything new, just buy a bunch of gas to go surf more!

[Bub]

Go for a thermo rashguard (longsleeve) I've found they are an excellent bit of added insulation.

As far as the fin socks go - i guess they will work if they have traction try em out and see

Thats a good idea regarding the thermo rashie. I could wear it under the 3/2 fullsuit I already own and might be able to go down a few more degrees below 60 (add 2 more months out of the year to surf) and also could wear the thermo-rashie as stand-alone when the water temp is like 65-low 70's. Heck, even 75 degree water feels cold to me in late August around Maryland, I'd still wear it.

[Otter]

You lose 80% of your body heat through your head. 'nuf said.

[isaluteyou]

Go for a thermo rashguard (longsleeve) I've found they are an excellent bit of added insulation.

As far as the fin socks go - i guess they will work if they have traction try em out and see

Thats a good idea regarding the thermo rashie. I could wear it under the 3/2 fullsuit I already own and might be able to go down a few more degrees below 60 (add 2 more months out of the year to surf) and also could wear the thermo-rashie as stand-alone when the water temp is like 65-low 70's. Heck, even 75 degree water feels cold to me in late August around Maryland, I'd still wear it.

Im the same even in 70+ water i get the chills really easy. So instead of wearing a suit all year round when its warm enough i'll use my gooru jacket. Never seen the need for a spring suit cause by the time it hits 70+ i jump out the 3/2 into the jacket