what wetsuit accessory(?) helps the most?

[tomcat360]

well, my dad and bro usually head to the beach for a boat show in mid-Janurary-ish, and they will probably go this year. I, have sadly never surfed past mid/late November, or any earlier than mid April. I didn't think that Janurary would be all that bad, but as of now the water temps are reading 40F (4-5 degrees celceius)

now, I've got a 4/3, but again, havent used it in really cold water, and im not sure if it'll keep me alive and enjoying it. Its a Jet Pilot 4/3, triple glued, double blindstich

its better for them to explain it

http://www.jetpilot.com/store/product_info.php/cPath/33_28/products_id/175?bfsess=63c2de84b2959f1136ad6636396c3298&options_value_id=

windchill is a mystery, VA is infamous (or famous?) for its very unpredictable weather, like a 20 degree day with 20 knot winds backed up with a 60 degree day with sunshine and no wind.


so what would be the best upgrade/accessory for a wetsuit to make it warmer? as in booties/hood/gloves/undergarments, etc?


thanks

[little waves]

from my experience here in boston (water is about 38 here now) you will def need boots and gloves - 5mm if possible. you will also want some kind of a hood/hooded vest or something like that. a thermal rashgurard (polyolfin or polypropylene and nylon/spandex mix usually) will also be a good bonus to keep you warm.

If its only for the short time though - get what you can afford, maybe find some used stuff at a local shop. a local site to me in boston, www.nesurf.com has a nice classified section with some winter gear, i am sure people would be willing to ship if you knew your size.

Good luck and have fun. The coldest part isn't the surfing, its the getting dressed in the parking lot/car after surfing.

[drowningbitbybit]

The order goes something like...

boots - gloves - thermal rashie - hood - stay at home

I add boots/gloves to the summer suit and that keeps me going for another month or so into autumn, and a thermal rashie sometimes... but by the time the thermal rashie comes out, its easier to just use a winter suit with all the trimmings

Another thing which makes winter surfing so much more pleasant is a warm van

[sinistapenguin]

A great thing to make it better is a warm wife waiting on the beach with a hot cup of tea and a pasty!!

[enzosdad]

A 4/3?!? Are you crazy...you need a 5/4 in anything below 50F waters. By all accounts you should be hypothermic in that temp water in a 4/3.

Seriously. most 4/3 suits are rated between 50-54F H2O temps.

You need a 5/4 with a Hood, one that's part of the suit, not a cap...and you need booties and some gloves.

Check out the Firefly GT Hooded @ http://www.hotlineonline.com

Dude, just take up a differnt hobby...hmmm...like maybe crab fishing off Alaska in the Bering Sea or something.

[PapaW]

A great thing to make it better is a warm wife waiting on the beach with a hot cup of tea and a pasty!!

or a phat bifta ready rolled inside a warm van :)

[tomcat360]

A 4/3?!? Are you crazy...

yup

[little waves]

tomcat, any luck? how'd it work out?

and yes....i have used my 4/3 down to 46 degree water till i finally broke down and got a winter suit.

[sinistapenguin]

I've used my 3/2 on New Years day in Cornwall!!

It can't have been very warm, cos I was freezing!

[drowningbitbybit]

My girllfriend - who insists she isnt a 'real' surfer who would contemplate the thought of winter surfing - surfs the whole year round in a 3/2

One day I'll convince here she's as much a surfer as I am and needs a 5mm suit!

[tomcat360]

tomcat, any luck? how'd it work out?

nope, haven't hitched a ride yet... although yesterday got up to 65 F while saturday was a high of 35.