Lords of the SI forum, please bestow upon me your Winter Wetsuit Wisdom. The Backstory: I am a humble beginner who is determined to surf through my first full winter in NY. Fundage is minimal. I currently have a HyperFlex 4/3, 5mm boots & gloves, and a hooded vest. I've stretched this gear into mid-40's air and water, and I was... less than comfortable. I'm 5'7", 145 lbs. (An entire foot taller than PJB...). The Issue: I'm debating purchase of a 6/5 Xcel Infiniti X-Zip2 in MS; They're popping up on Whiskey for $190. I've had trouble finding reviews of the suit... Do you guys think it will be too warm or thick for most of the winter? Has anyone had this outdated but well priced suit? (I know many dudes survive all year with a 5/4 alone, and there's also the rare 4/3 Jersey Winter Seatroll, but a dude in the water recently told me the 6/5 is necessary). I would prefer to give my money to a shop, as I have thus far, but I'm broke, barely working, and don't want to miss out on any half-decent wave, ever again. If anyone in the area has a used suit in the right size, let me know... I can offer some bottles of Tide... a Chemtrail-Rated gasmask... vodka, or even cash. We'll talk. Thanks in advance guys.
Slashdog... I was in an old 6/4 O'Neil suit the past two winters and it was fine.. everyone else i know is in a 5/4.. I think you will be okay with the 6/5... better to be a little warm then a little cold...go for it dude...
You'll never be too warm during a normal to cold winter..........Man, you shouldn't even be hot in 6 mil if the water's 50F as long as it's not 100 degrees in the air. Many winter sessions are windy. And that wind will cut through you. You will not be too warm. Ahhh you can only wish.......Oh, take a chug of whiskey before paddling out in the winter. That's what the cool kids do. This website is the only place you'll hear a few rogues claiming to be too warm from November to April. It also has some unique characters that wear three mils in March(in NJ) when the water is 40-44 F.......and they were warm then too. Don't listen to those dudes. Keep the 4 mil for freak warm winters, but we had one a few years ago so that probably won't happen for awhile. It's going to be cold this winter. And no, you're not a foot taller than me. You're 9 inches taller than me. You got me by an African P#@#S.
Go warm. I got the Excel 4/3 hooded suit for last winter and I never got cold. However I surf in the mid-Atlantic so a 5/4 or 6 in your area with 7 ml booties and gloves will serve u well. I was warm in and out of the water with the Excel. Awesome
Gain some weight. All the fat on my body from years of drinking Jack Daniels and eating Doritos and TastyKakes has given me a needed edge when surfing in the Winter. I'm serious. Also, you have to time your entry into the water in the Winter with taking a leak in your suit. It is orgasm-like in its warming effects. As Paddy pointed out, the wind is the biggest b!tch though. The thicker suit will help cut down on that friggin wind blowing through you.
Every time I think about shedding pounds I also think about how the only time I'm cold in winter is when I'm actually getting out of my suit.
Ohhhhh, man, Chavez points out critical pieces of info. Fat helps herds in keeping you warm. Get some fat on you and coupled with the neoprene, make warm. And drink tons of urine happy fluids so you can counterbalance the shock of your initial entry into a frozen ocean. Watch out for seals.
Dude that's the same suit I bought off Whiskey Militia a year ago. Buy it! They're great suits, super stretchy and comfortable and totally worth it. 6/5 is the only way to go in the winter. Plus they last. The last Xcel chest zip I had got me through 3 winters before I outgrew it. It would've last longer if I didn't buy a stupid medium. Last winter I went out during a Noreaster. It was snowing, the wind was blowing offshore 15-20 knots, air was 20 degrees and the water might have been 40 tops. I stayed out for 2 hours and stayed toasty the whole time (well, relatively toasty). Try that in a 4/3!
That is something I need to experience at least once, snow falling while surfing. I've been in the snow before but never while surfing. Tell you what, you switch with me one day in the winter. I'll get to surf in the snow, and you get to surf in board shorts or maybe a spring suit, not during the 3 days of real winter we get of course, but the other days.
