Hey guys, I know there's a lot of wetsuit info on here, but I really need some stuff explained to me. Sorry if there's some master sticky with all this info up, if there is just point me in the right direction! But anyways... I'm fairly new to surfing, but late this past summer I had kind of a revelation, and I realized I need to surf as much as humanly possible. I don't know anything about wetsuits though. I surf Assateague most often, near OCMD. What kind of suits will I need? When do you need to start breaking out boots/hoods/gloves? Are all of these accessories interchangable, or do I need to buy it all at once? Honestly, before I started researching I didn't know people had such extensive wetsuit wardrobes haha, help me out. I want something that I'll get the most use out of, because I can really only afford one suit at this point. I doubt I'll be surfing much in cold winter months, but for fall/spring I really want to keep it up. Sorry if this is a confusing post, I just need some help, all of this info is really overwhelming and I live in NOVA so I can't just head out to a surf shop to get some legit answers. Thanks!
OCMD is a good area. If you're NOT surfing winter months, you will be able to get away with a 3/2, however if you aren't planning on buying more suits then a 4/3 will serve you perfectly. During fall/spring you shouldn't really need to have gloves/boots/hoods. Usually water below 50 degrees and you may need to start bringing them out. If you have to buy them, many suits come with a hood however you can get all 3 parts separately.
a 3/2 and a hooded 5/4/3 should get you through the entire year. have a set of 5-7 mil boots and 5 mil gloves and you should be good to go. start with the 3/2 sept/oct, then add boots, gloves till the 3/2 isn't up to it, then slip on the 5/4/3 for the rest of the winter. i think almost all 5/4/3 are taped/sealed, but when you buy a 3/2, I recommend getting a decent one with taped seams as well, it'll help you get further along in the season and you'll be able to break it out earlier in the spring
If you plan to skip january, february and March (the cold months) like you said, you can spend around $200 on a decent 4/3 and another $75 on 5 mm booties and gloves and you will be good to go anywhere on the delmarva as long as the water temps are above 50. You will need the wetsuit next time we get waves, will want the booties soon and the gloves by mid november.
Concur. Make sure you try that sh!t on. It doesn't matter how a great a "deal" you get if it doesn't fit. If the suit is too tight or loose in the wrong places, it's gonna make you very cold or very uncomfortable (or both). With all the crazy technology these days, the cheapest models from all the major brands will do ya just fine in terms of quality. I bought a 4/3 billabong "bottom of the line" suit 2 years ago, and it's done me just fine, even surfing in early march. If it fits and you take care of it, it'll take care of you and last a long time.
soo here are some basics. if your only looking into getting one wetsuit (thats how we all start, you'll want more later) get a 4/3. It has the most versitile temperature range. You also might want to invest in some 3mm booties. ^^i disagree with the post above saying you might need 5mm booties and 5mm gloves. When it gets so cold that you need them odds are you'll be needing a 5/4. Also remember fit is everything. It should be tight, uncomfortable even (don't worry, they loosen up a little when wet). Billabong Foil Steamers are great for the price, i would recommend going with that. A 4/3 setup should get you through september-November. My bet is by the time winter rolls around you'll be looking into buying a thicker wetsuit. When you surf for long enough its hard to stop just cause winters coming
^ I agree with what you said about the 4/3, OP should go with the 4/3 for sure, but as far as the gloves and boots, i would def go 5 mil for each. The use for 3 mil stuff is so slim especially if you have a 4/3, your extremities are going to get cold faster, so def go with the 5 mil. Its rare that i wear more then a 4/3 even in nj. only the coldest winter sessions call for anything more.
Awesome. Thanks for all the good advice! I'm gonna try and see if there's some place locally that sells wetsuits... if not I guess I'll just have to wait until I get back to the beach and I'll get whatever I can find... Thanks again!
