full suit advice from OC/bethany beach area needed!

Matt why did you get the Flow over the Amp?

 

The term "Freely" is pretty subjective. You really need to focus on a realistic goal for what you want to achieve before you start getting convoluted about what suit you need. It's starting to sounds like flexibility is second to warmth, when in the beginning, you were looking for a premium wetsuit to take you from 70 degree water to 55 degree water and back again. I mean, you could do that in a 5/4, but a 5/4 is more geared for somebody (even those more sensative to cold) wanting to surf in water around 50 degrees and lower.

Some guys will tell you a 5/4 Mutant is the only way to fly. Others will say that a 2mm Patagonia will take you all the way through winter. They are impressed with their gear because it fits their expectations within their lifestye. Personally, my priorities are flexibility before warmth, but I like I said in my last post, I run a little hotter than some. Inflexibility in a suit cuts my session short before the cold does, but that's me, so my suit(s) are selected around just that.

Take a good some time to decide what you will do with your suit. Will you really go below 50 degrees if your head is sensative to cold? It doesn't sound like your core temperature is the issue. Do you want to wear a 5mm in September? Are you thinking you may change your mind and rock a hood? Based on how much you plan to BB, will you be more frustrated with a 3/2 in Jan or a 5/4 in September?

While you can make one suit work, you're going to have to make compromises somewhere. One suit is just not optimal for it all.

 

hoods

lol i do, but only because it keeps my damn hair outta my eyes after a duck dive.

 

O'neill has a patten on the detachable hood design.

 

IMO detachable hoods are a problem. It's just one more area to let cold water in and the last place you want that is your neck.

 

Look for an ATTATCHED hooded 4/3 with taped seams

 

I tried them both one and they felt the same . And there website says the same thing for each suit. The only difference is the Zipper in the front it looks to me .

Dont know how the Flow performs but if its like my other hyperflex suits it wont be disapointing .

Good Price

Quality Product

Warmth

Made in NJ

Great Customer service

Hyper Flex has me as a loyal customer

 

The newest generation suits are made of VERY flexible neoprene. I'd say yes.

 

A few points: try before you buy - not all suits are cut the same way. Two of the big wetsuit makers, Rip Curl and O'Neill have very different cuts - find out which is best for you. Then branch out to other brands if you want to find out what works for you.

In addition to wetsocks (these can be layered 1mm, 2mm, etc.) you will probably want some gloves - H2O makes some closed finger, 1mm neoprene gloves that will do the job into the mid-50s air/water temps, depending upon your metabolism and susceptibility to cold. [Cold is relative - I have seen several people in full suits and hoodies this week in the Cocoa Beach, Florida, area while I was trunking it, and I am a cold water wuss -- well, at least I like to stay warm.]

A Titanium pullover vest/shortsleeve with an integrated hood will extend your comfort zone into the mid-50s. I often use one under a 4/3 when surfing the cold waters of N. Oregon when not using the 6/4. Often times the hood goes on during paddleouts and off when I reach the line-up (if the sun is out and it is not raining!).

Lastly, once you are wearing 3mm of wetsocks you might very well need to use a larger size swim fin or your feet will cramp badly - depends upon your foot shape and the fin's foot pocket.

 

your are getting a huge amount of good advice so I will add my two cents worth. If you only want fall up to Thanksgiving say and early spring you may well be able to enjoy the OC Bethany surf in a top of the line 3/2 with gloves, booties and hood and still wear it alot of the the summer with out gloves etc. You will however have to spring for something like Bodyglove Vapor, O'niel Psychofreak or Psycho II suits with the fluid sealed seams. For example a Bodyglove Vapor 2/2 with fluid sealed seams in and out is warmer than other brands mid price 3/2. Make sure the brand you pick fits you best. O'neil and other companies all make additional garments that can be worn over or under a wetsuit. One option to add for fall and spring is a hood that is attached to a sleeveless spandex vest worn under the suit. I don't mind hoods at all. You just have to find the ones that fit you comfortably. good luck and have fun.

 

Just a clarification..I think you mean LATE spring not early.

 

I am going home for thanksgiving and hoping for some swell next week in nj. Will my 3/2 west front zip wetsuits, gloves, boots, and a hooded rashguard underneath do me good? I really do not want to bust out the 5/4/3 yet.

 

water temp is still up there, so it depends on air temp, and how much of a wuss you are.