Wetsuit help

[dansadler3]

Hey guys how's it going? I have a few questions about wetsuits if anyone can help. I'm relatively new to surfing, in the process of getting a longboard shaped for me, and lost as all hell about wetsuits. I'm on the east coast (US) and it's winter here now. I'm planning on starting my surfing in early May, and the average water temperature at that time is around 57. It rises pretty fast throughout the summer, highest temp around 74 in July. But based on all the new costs of surfing, I'd love to just have one wetsuit. I'm torn between a 4/3 and a 3/2. I have a low tolerance to cold, but also don't want to be too restricted in learning proper paddling etc. Would you guys recommend the 4/3? Or could I get away with a decent 3/2 and possibly just wear a 1 mm longsleeve underneath? And would I need gloves/boots in that water? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Dan

[Surf Hound]

I wear a 4/3 as soon as water gets to 54 or lower. Depending on how long the temp is in the mid 50's you can get away with a 3/2 on colder days, just wear booties and maybe a hood. If the water is 55 and it's a sunny day I will wear a 3/2 but if it's cold outside and overcast I wear a 4/3. If you are not gonna get in the water until May I would think you could get away with a 3/2. Booties on cold days but once the water is 56 and up I don't wear them unless it's super low tide. FYI. I surf in Santa Cruz which is central Ca. -- kinda NorCal.

[waikikikichan]

If the 3/2mm you get is properly fitting, it's going to be hard to put the 1mm sleeves of a longsleeve top inside. I would recommend getting a Bodyglove Insotherm hooded vest. It's only 0.5mm thick and a type of metallic titanium lining. Also for you 3/2mm fullsuit, get a GBS ( glued and blind stitched ) chest zip if you can. Do not get the cheap Flat Lock stitched suits.

[LostAtSea]

I would go to a local surf shop and ask what the locals are wearing. Chances are 90% are all wearing the same thickness suit.

I am surfing in water temps of mid to high 40s with a 4/3, plus a 1mm hooded top underneath. I think my booties are 7mm and my gloves are thick too.

If Im getting cold its because Im not charging hard enough.

[billie_morini]

Dan, some comments to specific topics follow below.
1,. "...don't want to be too restricted in learning proper paddling etc.": A modern 4/3 will not be too restrictive. Flip side of coin: If you are cold you will be more restricted than by suit thickness. You'll be shivering and surf badly. You'll even surf less. Therefore, being cold is more restrictive than a 4/3 suit.

2. "I have a low tolerance to cold,...": This really drives you to a 4/3. You will be doing so many things wrong as a beginner that you won't really be surfing. When you're not really surfing, you will be colder. Therefore, go for the 4/3 suit.

3. "Or could I get away with a decent 3/2 and possibly just wear a 1 mm longsleeve underneath?: Well, I sort of do this. On the coldest of days,I wear a sleeveless rash guard shirt and rash guard material shorts under my 3/2. When I lived in NorCAL and used a 4/3, I did the same thing on the coldest days. Know that rash guard material is not 1 mm thick. You will not fit into a properly fitting wetsuit with more than rash guard fabric.

4. "And would I need gloves/boots?": You might like a pair of thin booties. I use them, mostly to protect my feet. My feet were cut up badly as a kid and, following this, I had foot surgery. Therefore, I am very sensitive about my feet. However, in the coldest periods, they are nice to have. I do not recommend big ol' thick booties. I do not know how people use them. My booties are more like split-toe socks. It's just enough during true cold. I cannot surf with gloves. I prefer to feel the board and the water. I also notice when trying gloves they cause noticeable resistance when trying to glide while holding the rails.

Overarching advice: buy a good 4/3 wetsuit and go surfing. If your body is still cold, then add a rash guard. After that, if your feet are cold, then get booties. After that, if your hands are cold, then buy gloves. You do not need to buy everything all at once.

[billie_morini]

Dan, one final thought to help sort you out. If you are surfing in August and find the 4/3 suit is too warm, then get a thick-ish long sleeve rash guard and O'neil thermo shorts. Where this instead of the suit. You're talking about many tens of dollars instead of many hundred for wetsuits.

Okay, one additional comment. JJGreenberg provided an excellent suggestion. Find out what surfers are using where you want to surf.

[dansadler3]

Can't thank all of you guys enough, this really helped me out.

[billie_morini]

Dan,
I'm guessing you are located in south Florida based on the high water temperature you reported. Assuredly, the 4/3 suit will be too warm for this. But, you'll switch to rash guard and board shorts for these high temps.

Make sure you buy a good wetsuit. Good is defined as taped or sealed seams and as few panels as possible. Stretchy is good, too. It's amazing how much the stretchiness has increased in the last 10 years. This is part of the reason a 4/3 suit won't hold you back.

Keep the stoke!

[dansadler3]

[quote="billie_morini"]Dan,
I'm guessing you are located in south Florida based on the high water temperature you reported. Assuredly, the 4/3 suit will be too warm for this. But, you'll switch to rash guard and board shorts for these high temps.

As surprising as it probably is I'm actually from New Jersey haha. Based on what I've read the water doesn't hit 60 until early June. I'm assuming the 4/3 may even be able to get me in the water before May, so I'm pretty stoked about that. And when you say limited panels in the 4/3 what do you mean? Is there any way to tell this if shopping for them online?

[billie_morini]

Hey, Dan! Too funny. I once lived in Wildwood Crest! I love the sea and spent many days swimming, fishing, and boating around there. Winter was kind of raw, though. Before living in the Crest, my family would take Summer holidays in Beach Haven. All of us kiddie cousins would go together.

You asked about panels. I'm referring to the pieces of fabric. The more pieces of fabric, the more seams there are. The more seams there are, the less stress and less flexibility the suit has. Yes, you can determine this when reviewing websuits. This is pretty easy and even easier when they show pictures of the suit inside out. The ideal is to have as few pieces and seams as possible. Some of the "good" manufacturers will tell you they have few seams or few panels. When you see very few seams, it usually means the "stretchiest" neoprene is used. You pay a little more for this and it is worth it.

By the way, certain designs keep you warmer than others. I like neck entry with chest zip. This is the warmest I've encountered. One or more manufacturers add a bat wing or flap with drain on back zipper to keep the cold water from running down your back.

[dansadler3]

"Hey, Dan! Too funny. I once lived in Wildwood Crest! I love the sea and spent many days swimming, fishing, and boating around there. Winter was kind of raw, though. Before living in the Crest, my family would take Summer holidays in Beach Haven. All of us kiddie cousins would go together."

Haha that's so ironic! That's about where I'll be doing most of my surfing. Really appreciate all the seam advice too, I think I have a great idea of what I need now. I have one more quick question for you considering you were a local at one point though. Can I surf at any of the beaches? Or are some spots more productive than others? Seems that most spots, regardless of street number, seem to look about the same.

[OlegLupusov]

Definitely 4/3 if you want to be in the water more than 1 hour!

I surfed in 3/2 in similar temperatures less than 45 mins and was totally fine!

But got really frozen after 1/5 hour! Cramps in both calves, etc

And I would recommend a hood and booties. They do make a difference!

[billie_morini]

Hey, Dan.
See the private message from me with some additional details. There is some surf there, but it's not great. But, it is what it is. Don't let it stop you.
billie

[Millsy82]

I wear a 5/4mm wetsuit at the moment and don't feel restricted at all.

I spoke to my surf instructor after freezing one day and having a really bad day as to keep warm I paddled constantly which meant my arms were too tired to catch the waves so I went for slightly steeper and I kept nose diving. He advised me to go for the suit I'm in and I wear a hood at the moment and 6mm boots and I'm generally toasty and the temperatures around me at the moment are between 3c-10c and the water temp is around 11c (sorry don't know what that is in Fahrenheit)

[Brian]

If the 3/2mm you get is properly fitting, it's going to be hard to put the 1mm sleeves of a longsleeve top inside. I would recommend getting a Bodyglove Insotherm hooded vest. It's only 0.5mm thick and a type of metallic titanium lining. Also for you 3/2mm fullsuit, get a GBS ( glued and blind stitched ) chest zip if you can. Do not get the cheap Flat Lock stitched suits.

I think this is great advice. I just bought a new 3/2 xcel suit for christmas (supposedly from my wife ) and went this route after considering a 4/3. My suit was over 400 dollars after being marked down from 500, but I have found myself very comfortable in 55-60 degree water without booties. That being said, air temp has been in the 60s.