2013 New England Wetsuit Recommendations

A 4/3 with separate hood usually gets me through the middle of December in NH. After that it's 6/5/4 through early April and then back to the 4/3. A 6/5/4 will definitely be excessive from now through the beginning of November.

Come on up to Pioneers Board Shop in Hampton, NH. I'll show you the goods.

 

I use a 7 mil dive suit, which I got for 100 bucks when it was like originally 400. I use that and a 3-2 separate hood with 3 mil boots and gloves and that usually gets me through the winter. You don't need a 7 mil at all. Out on mv its really chilly. A 6/5/4 would be toasty and perfect for Jan. - March

 

I get through the winters with a 4/3 + hood till December or so, 5/4/3 for the dead of winter until I get back into the 4/3 in the spring. I used to wear a 6/5/4 but didn't like the extra rubber, so I shelled out a little more for a higher quality and warmer 5/4/3, worn it in February from RI to as far north as Nova Scotia without issue

 

^^^ this is the right idea. A good 4/3 with detachable hood will get you through fall. For winter a good hooded 5/4 or 5.5/4.5 is all you need. Better quality wetsuits can be thinner and still provide adequate warmth. Check the used market...you should be able to score a used winter suit for ~$200. I just snagged a nice used RipCurl 5.5/4.5 ebomb from the dude at the surf shop for $150.

 

Can't go wrong with something like this:

 

What the Jacques Cousteau is that?!?! Nice find Ss

 

That is MV's 7mil dive suit

 

I woke up this morning with a bad hangover and my hood was missing again. This happens all the time. It's detachable.

 

I surf RI all winter and have never gone heavier than 5/4. I have a hooded flashbomb, but it flushed more through the hood than I liked. I have an Isurus iEvade now . . . lighter, stretchy and very warm. My Rip Curl could be for sale cheap if you want it.

 

Honestly, there's a lot of bad advice on here. The guy doesn't even have a winter suit and you're telling him to get a 4/3? You don't need a 4/3 around here. This isn't California. Buy a NEW 6/5/4 (don't buy a used wetsuit unless it's practically new and you don't mind being in someone elses piss bag - especially with a wintersuit). As soon as you start getting chilly in the 3 mil switch over to the 6/5/4. If you get a little warm just pull the hood back but it’s not like you’re gonna pass out from heat stroke. You can do a 5/4 in Rhode Island a lot easier because they get the Gulf Stream. There’s no Gulf Stream in Mass so don't cheap out on rubber. Also, I think you need go with the attached hood. I haven't seen too many serious winter suits with a detachable hood. Last two winter suits I have bought were the Xcel Infinity chest zip, both on Whiskeymilitia.com for $200. No complaints.

 

Haha! Nice

 

RI gets the gulf stream??? ..the water may warm but does it really effect temp that much.. southern and northern nc pretty much tells the tape of where the gulf stream really effects the water temp.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream

 

Umm ya I'm pretty sure Rhode Island feels the effect of the Gulf Stream. This is a quote from that article you posted: "Also, the Gulf Stream's proximity to Nantucket, Massachusetts adds to its biodiversity, as it is the northern limit for southern varieties of plant life, and the southern limit for northern plant species, Nantucket being warmer during winter than the mainland."

Also, you can see that the current temp is about 65 in RI and 60 around the Boston area.
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/natl.html

Believe me, every time I travel to RI I'm amazed at how much warmer the water is. Same goes for Cape Cod.

 

It's warmer than 60 in the EMass water today. Much warmer. I'll probs hit the PM sesh in a topper and baggies. Nice change from the 56-60 we've had here for a couple weeks. Mad cold Sept water. Forget that. All I heard for months was how great the swell and warm water of NE September is. Yawn.

 

Sure as hell isn't my wetty but I think it would be a personal challenge to try and ride a wave with it

 

TO ALL NEW ENGLAND SURFERS:
The water temps were low to mid 60s today. In no universe does that necessitate anything more than a 3/2. You can probably have a ball in a cheap back zip too. Just the same, mitts, booties and hoods are so inappropriate when we still have "summer" temps in the water. It was mid 70s and sunny today. You belligerent penguins. Feel free to inhibit your paddling and therefore, your wave catching, while I do the backstroke into takeoffs in boardies and maybe a topper if it's brisk in the AM.

All yous guys caught a case of "MV Surfer Syndrome". It's marked by excessive drapery of rubber on one's loins. If you're in Oak Bluffs, it's cool. Anywhere else in the 617/508/781/978 you're a stiff.

I mean really, 5mm claws? 75 and sun with 63 in the water. Wow.

 

you're quoting temperatures from two totally different areas.. boston area is further north of course the water will be colder..about nantucket being warmer then the mainland.. the mainland is always colder during winter!! unless the water is dropping into the 20s it will always be that way.much like it is cooler during the summer months.. the water affects the air temp! look at the temp colors of the gulf stream.. it makes a turn as it comes off hatteras.. thats the part of the gulf stream that really warms the water. down in snc the water will be 84 but the northern part of hatteras could be in the 60s to low 70s.. upwelling also effects the northern hatteras area too but the temps are pretty different

 

getting back to the original post: get a solid 5/4 xcel drylock and you'll be good through the winter

 

get a 14/2/11... with detachable 6/1/E.4 hood... chest zip, but button flaps around the butt... make sure you get the model with the pee already in the suit for added value.

i got a low end excel 4/3 back zip last april and wore it all spring, and let it wear out good through the summer surfing nh and maine. sported rip curl boots with the separate toe (3mm) and 3mm gloves. no hood on the suit, but picked up a vest with a solid hood and to be honest, this facilitated more water getting into my suit than anything else. ditched the hood in may, and the boots and gloves in june. only in 90 degree blistering heat was it "too hot". thats when you actually put shorts on and take a dip. dudes were out in board shorts and rash guards for sessions but if you're gonna spend the full day in the water, might as well stay warm. actually wore the 4/3 all summer.

picked up a new 4/3 flash bomb chest zip that i havent had to put on yet. still wearing that 4/3 and after patching a few worn spots its still my suit of choice. however it was grim and windy last week so i put on my hood/vest thing, with rashguard over it. not sure if that did anything other than make me feel stiffer, but I suspect it kept me a bit warmer.

will run the 4/3 until december, at which time i will go skiing until spring. if poseidon conjures up some amazing conditions, I will drive to tropical RI to surf with the 4/3 where its a few critical degrees warmer... not sure if that will do the trick, but im cheap enough to force myself to stay in the water since i drove across new england to get there.