does anyone wear a guard under their wetsuit for WARMTH? I know some use it for getting suits off and on! I heard and read, it can actually make you colder!
I do not wear one, so I can't offer any help. Now, last summer after being out for several hours, I started to get a rash in my arm pits from paddling. A rash guard would have prob helped this situation, but instead I rub a little vaseline in there prior to going out and it fixes that.
Well, in theory, it seems a little counterproductive. Why? Because, "in theory", rash guards are made of materials which tend to wick moisture away from your body, while wetsuits tend to trap a very thin layer of water between your body and the suite. Honestly, I wear rash guards frequently and have never noticed feeling "colder"...until, you remove the suite. Once exposed, those damn rash guards make you feel like you're freezing...until you take them off. I have one of those hood/rashy combo's from Rip Curl that I like to wear with my 4/3 backzip when the temps occasionally dip down. I really like the convertible option it gives me, and I don't have flush issues or having a bibbed hood work it's way out of the neck of the suite. But to answer the question: No. A rash guard has never made any of my suits feel "warmer" or "colder"...just more comfortable.
Yeah, I do. And it does keep me warmer, but just a bit. Any extra layering you have keeps warmer water closer to your body. Works for me anyway.
I have a 3/2 wetsuite that I wear year round, no 4/3. So when it's cold enough to wear a 4/3 I just start adding layers under my 3/2 and it works perfect. Just slightly colder than normal, throw a rash guard on and compression under shorts. Coldest days of the year I put on one of those thermal rash guard things that are kinda made out of fleece or some sh*t, idk, i'm not into fashion, I just know it works in 50 degree water and keeps me warm, plus I have some O'Neill wetsuite shorts that are thicker than the compression shorts. Throw in some gloves and boots and you're set. I have hood that I can use but I hate that thing, can't breath with it on, I think my neck is too thick for it.
Hotline wetsuits makes the warmest rash guards and compression shorts. They have really high necks too. Keeps you warm when you're changing. And they last forever. I know they used to be made by hand in CA near their HQ.
Dude it works great - I surf mid 30's LBI NYC and even a thin long underwear layer under your 5/4 works wonders. Actually started wearing this under the hood for the ultra freezing days and it works hella good too http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JS7XN8M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
