Wet suit help please

[winchman]

Hello
I need to know some info about buying our kids wet suits.
Daughter is 15 and 5ft 10"
Son is 12 and 5ft 9"
The will be going surfing in April in Cornwall ( couple of lessons)
Daughter wants her own suit as she is in the cadets and will be doing a lot of water sports off the south coast in the summer
So best places to buy? what to look for ? will one suit do both tasks?
Thanks

[winchman]

Oh whats a steamer???

[drowningbitbybit]

Ah, The Tall Family need wetsuits...

A steamer is a full wetsuit ie full arms and legs, so what you'd think of as a 'normal' wetsuit.

For April and into summer, you'll want a 3/2mm suit (3mm thick on the body, and 2mm on the arms and legs) which might be a bit chilly in April, but they're kids, they'll survive.
A surfing wetsuit is specifically for surfing (reinforced knees and all that) but will be fine for most watersports. The other way round isnt so true though - a dive suit, for instance, wont be all that comfortable surfing.

Any surf shop will be able to get what you need. Avoid the really cheap ones from supermarkets etc, but after that its all down to which one fits best.

[surferdude_scarborough]

Any surf shop will be able to get what you need. Avoid the really cheap ones from supermarkets etc, but after that its all down to which one fits best.

This is a key bit of wesuit buying, you can spend the earth on a wetsuit but:

If it doesn't fit, Its SH!T.

[winchman]

Daughter feels the cold so I was thinking of a 5/3
Any recommended shops in Cornwall? Will be stayinmg near newquay, or any in Merseyside so we could buy before we go?

[drowningbitbybit]

5/3 will be way too warm in summer.
If you're in Newquay, any of the shops will do - there's dozens.

[Toj]

yeah a 5/3 will be very warm in the summer. expecially with the sun out she might over heat so a 3/2 might be better. as said before if you speak to any good surf shop and explain what your after they will be able to advise you. it might be worth just getting a cheapy pair of boots and gloves as they will keep more of the heat in. if you cant get both i would advise the boots over gloves to start with.

[winchman]

Think I might end up buying her two suits

[RonG]

Think I might end up buying her two suits

A 3/2 wetsuit can also be extended significantly by wearing a layer underneath, like a neoprene rashguard and shorts. Unless she'll be doing serious winter surfing, it might be a cheaper and more flexible option than a second, heavier suit.

[billie_morini]

winchman,
along the lines of what RonG suggested:
do what I do (for your lassie) - for cold water, I use a 4/3. In the middle of winter, I add a sleeveless rash guard and 8oz. rash guard shorts under my suit. It's perfect, doesn't require two suits and costs less. Plus, I have a rash guard and shorts for when only that is required. Ex. when I swim laps in outdoor swimming pool in winter or skim board or wade in tide pools, etc.

Oh, another idea & thing to know about: a neck-entry, chest zip suit keeps almost all water out compared to most back zip suits. I'm much warmer in chest zip suit having less neoprene thickness than in my thicker back zip suit. Look for this design. True, it's a little more difficult to get out of when wet (and you'll find this design costs more), but it's great to be warm in the water.