Surfing Waves

Hey everyone,

- What kind of an extra layer do you use under the wetsuit for colder/winter days?

I somehow got cold the last few 6am windy sessions in under 60F water and am looking to get a hooded vest. It's mostly my head that got really cold when diving. I mostly surf in about 60F water, plus minus several degrees, with 5-15mph winds using a 3/4 RipCurl Flash Bomb, it's unhooded, I wear 3mm booties, no gloves. I have a few total beginner questions regarding hooded vests in general:

- When not using the hood, i.e. having it tucked in the back of your head, does it limit your range of motion? I like the option of either putting it on or off when in the water depending on how strong the winds are.
- Is there any thing in particular to keep in mind, e.g. vest thickness etc. when selecting the under layer vest?
- Do these vests move away from the waist area during surfing? As in when you move your arms up etc. most of them do not seem to have any string at the bottom to keep the vest in place. I imagine they are supposed to be fitted tight enough that this does not happen.

Here is the RipCurl one I am thinking of getting:
https://www.ripcurl.com/us/flash-bomb-h ... l#754=1834

I’ve only ever worn a vest under my wetsuit, which works pretty well - although I don’t have a hooded vest. That stops it riding up, although it can create a gap around the wetsuit neck

However I can’t see any particular reason why wearing it outside the wetsuit would be any less effective, so long as it didn’t ride up.

A string isn’t much use as I don’t know what you would tie it to....

I see, thanks dtc! Following prolonged use, did you find that the vest stretches out your wetsuit?

dtc wrote: However I can’t see any particular reason why wearing it outside the wetsuit would be any less effective, so long as it didn’t ride up.

I did not mean having the vest over the wetsuit (interesting idea though!). I meant having the vest under the wetsuit, but the hood not on. I was wondering whether the hood limits the range of motion, either when on or off.

I fortunately don’t have to wear my vest very often but i assume it might cause some stretching after prolonged use (keeping in mind that suits are very stretchy and so can ‘rebound’ pretty well). You could wear it over the suit - get a size up and, sure, might look a bit weird

I also fortunately never have had to wear a hood. But if the hood is off (but connected) there must be a risk of it filling up with water. However hopefully someone who has had to do it can chime in with some useful advice (All the UK and Europeans!)

I have one... it is made to go under a wetsuit and the few times I’ve worn it it was perfectly fine, I didn’t really even notice it.

Tom

armantas wrote:- When not using the hood, i.e. having it tucked in the back of your head, does it limit your range of motion? I like the option of either putting it on or off when in the water depending on how strong the winds are.
- Is there any thing in particular to keep in mind, e.g. vest thickness etc. when selecting the under layer vest?
- Do these vests move away from the waist area during surfing? As in when you move your arms up etc. most of them do not seem to have any string at the bottom to keep the vest in place. I imagine they are supposed to be fitted tight enough that this does not happen.

For the hood, I have pulled mine off and don't notice any limit in range of motion with it down around my neck, but I also have a tiny neck, so I think this is very individualized. And I do notice some drag of course, when it's down, but nothing too crazy and it doesn't pull on my neck.

You don't want to go too thick because it's an extra layer and you don't want to pull on your wetsuit over it and have it squeeze the life out of you. I know a lot of people who wear 4/3 wetsuits with 2mm hooded vests underneath in the Fall locally here.

They generally stay in place, but some of them (Xcel has one) actually have a little half zip at the bottom for easy removal and to tighten. I have one of those I like but it's too thick hence the 2nd point above.

For what it's worth, if you're happy with your wetsuit and it's just your head that is getting cold, they do make hoods on their own you can use.

Have fun, stay warm!

I should have clarified, mine is a hooded vest, but the vest is just fabric. I got it at my local shop, to use with my non hooded 4/3 when it gets to that time.

Tom

I swear by my Bodyglove Insotherm hooded vest. It’s only 0.5 mm thick. Made of this rubbery titanium skin. I also like you added to my 4/3mm F-bomb when it gets windy as it doesn’t have rubber on the chest panel.

For those who happen to read this:
The above are all very helpful suggestions. I ended up getting a hooded O'Neill Thermo-X vest and it worked like a charm!