Heated Vests?

[JDawg]

Been thinking about a heated wetsuit vest this winter. I came across a website today, http://www.heatedwetsuitreviews.com. Anybody tried the new Thermalution heated wetsuit vests? Looks like twice the power of RipCurl or Quiksilver vests. I hate being cold, that's for sure!

[Ashsurf]

Debating whether to buy one of these myself! Can't hack the winter!

Couple guys been telling me to get one of them new 6mm Flashbomb Ripcurl suits instead, a godsend apparently! Gotta believe them when they're all splashing about in the water complaining they're too hot while I want to curl up and die from the cold!

[billie_morini]

It'd sure be nice if a manufacturer or shop would provide in-water demonstrations for potentially interested customers. It's done with boards and wetsuits. I'll bet the demand for heated vests isn't widespread and the product has a relatively high cost. Therefore, manufacturers and shops may conclude it's too expensive to demo. But, for you guys located where the water is truly cold, you might greatly benefit from the heated vests. Those that haven't surfed in truly cold water don't know how cold it can be or how much of an improvement even a little bit of heat can provide.

[Tassiedevil]

Have never tried the heated vest but started wearing just a normal vest / rashy under my wetsuit this winter and just that made a huge difference . I think where these would be great is to take away that chill factor where you get the initial flush through your wetsuit when you dive through the 1 st wave . I just wonder how annoying the battery pack and control device would be . If you do get one some feedback would be great

[AJ-Diver2770]

I got a Xcel 5/4/3 suit and I was actually hot for most of the time the other day, I never got cold once, well worth the £250 I spent on it....

[Lodato]

I LOVE my Thermalution vest! Tried the Quik and was not that impressed, but the Thermalution is world's warmer. Controller switch works perfect in my chest zip suit and is really easy to get to. It really makes the difference on those super cold days. Battery lasts me over two hours on low, which is usually plenty enough heat!

[Surf Hound]

I know the feeling... Here in Hawaii the winter months get pretty cold with the wind and all. Yesterday I actually wore my long sleeve top with board shorts and was still a bit cold waiting on the sets. Good thing when the clouds dont block the sun, its nearly perfect. haha... I dont know how you guys do it, I hate being cold. Yesterday I actually came in early because it was just too cold out there wating on the sets. Much respect to you surfers with full suits and booties. I could not imagine surfing not feeling the board with my feet. Another 2 months here and I can put up the 1.5 mil top for the winter

[surf patrol]

Lotado, I had a quick look at the Thermulation vest at http://www.thermalution.com/heated%20vest.htm
It looks a bit thick to me. Does it fit comfortably under a wetsuit?

[Lodato]

Surf Patrol,

My Thermalution is the same thickness as your typical rash guard, only it has the built in heaters and battery pockets. When I looked at the RipCurl and Quik vests, they both seemed to be more like 1mm or 2mm tops and had a little extra thickness. The Thermalution is much thinner material, like a rash guard or lycra top. I was weary at first of the controller switch, which comes out of the right shoulder. I tuck this in the front of my chest zip, and when the heated rash guard is off, I don't notice it one bit. It makes it super easy for me to push the controller out the side of the chest zip pouch, adjust my temp, and then tuck it back away, midsesh without having to open up the wetsuit.

I got mine from the US Distributors (I think out of NC?), at http://www.heatedwetsuits.com. Suit came in two days after I ordered. I'm spoiled as heck now. STOKED!

-Lodato

[surf patrol]

That rash vest version at heatedwetsuits looks like a much better fit. The first one I viewed looked like it was a made of a quilted material.
I hate the cold, and get cold really easily. I have been thinking about getting something like this for a while but keep putting it off. I'll have to see if I can swing one for a product review
They're not cheap at $399, but at the moment they are running a $100 off coupon (TAKE100BACK2012) at them moment if anyone's thinking of getting one.

[jaffa1949]

Same around here except the bird is also swigging from a can and swearing at the kids.

[Lebowski]

This was also discussed here last week:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=20306

I also bought mine from heatedwetsuits.com in the US. They were great to deal with. I'd actually missed the summer sale ($75 off) by a week but I asked via email if I could buy one for the sale price which they were happy to do. It also took less than a week to arrive (US to NZ).

As Lodato says, the 15m vest is the thickness of a normal rashy. There is a thicker version available, called the 70m, which is meant for diving.