I picked up a chest zip hooded xcel drylock 4/3 last fall thinking i might try to use it through the winter. I'm really glad i bought it, because its very warm and noticably lighter and more flexible than my 5/4 xcel. With that said, down here on the Delmarva, with this winter being pretty average in both water temps and air temps, there were probably at least a half dozen days where it was worth paddling out and the 4/3 would have been a bit cold. If January hadnt been flat, there would have been even more. Basically, once the water got below 45, with cold air temps and some wind that suit was going to be chilly after an hour. Delmarva - borderline Jersey and further north - no way It obviously matters what you are wearing under it, and how easily you get cold. I'm pretty cold tolerant. It was absolutely the PERFECT wetsuit for all of December and March, and for some of the January February swells we got, so I'm really glad i got it, but glad i still have the 5 mil for the coldest winter sessions.
^Well put. In NY, a 4/3 drylock by itself would not cut it for Jan, Feb and March. 5 mil suit, 7 mil boots, 5 mil lobster claws for maximum comfort & warmth. I own both a xcel chest zip 4/3 and 5/4 and would not attempt the 4/3 during those cold winter months. All suits have a temp rating and they are pretty spot on when the suit is new. After time when the suits get some wear and tear those numbers fluctuate. Check what the suit is rated for and then look what the water temp is in Feb. Yeah u gonna be cold. . Of course some peeps will claim 4/3 all winter in the northeast so it comes down to personal comfort. 4/3 is great for late fall/spring in NJ and points North but if you surf a lot in the winter you will want a 5 mil or more.
