So I was wondering what you guys wear through the different seasons. What's the thickest you go in the winter and the thinnest? Also in the early spring, fall etc...
summer: from 3/2, short arm full. springsuit. to boardies. Fall: boardies. springsuit. shortarm full. 3/2. 3/2 with boots Winter: 4/3 or 5/4/3/ with hood. 7mm boots 5 mill 5 finger gloves. if you wear 4/3 it's good to get chest thermal with attached hood, there awesome. Spring: 4/3 with 7mm boots 3mm 5 finger gloves. 3/2 w/ boots. 3/2. short arm full.
march-may = 4/3 june-sept = board shorts oct-nov = 4/3 Not going in this winter, and I only have one suit so I need to make it work fall/spring. not using my hood, gloves and boots when appropriate
End of december through march - 5/4 - 5 mil boots and gloves April and may- 4/3 -5mil boots - 3 mil gloves june - 3/2 3mil boots no gloves july- 2/1 spingsuit - but i bring my 3/2 just in case August and sept - boardies, but i bring my spring and 3/2 just in case oct 3/2 - 3 mil boots nov and december 4/3 5mil boots 3 mill gloves This is all a rough estimate based on air temps and water temps. Inbetween seasons I usually bring different stuff just incase because i'd rather be hot than cold.
Spring - 3/2 and booties (I refuse to wear a hood of any type) Summer - Trunks Fall - Trunks to a 3/2 Winter - sweat pants and a hooded sweatshirt while I sit on my couch.
So if you guys only had enough money for one suit what thickness would you go with? I was thinking a 4/3 or a 3/2...very tough decision
There are pros and cons to both 3/2 and 4/3, which is why people have both. If I had to buy just one, I would get a good 3/2 and make sure the seams are sealed. I have an ONeill Epic 2 and it works great. I think it was like $150 brand new. I had a very cheap Quiksilver suit (was like $90) that didn't have sealed seams and that thing leaked like a BP oil rig. While 4/3s are obviously warmer, 3/2s are less restrictive and weigh less and with a sealed seam, you can go in a little colder water. With a 4/3, to really optimize it's use, you will need gloves, booties and a hood (yuck). You can't go wrong with a good 3/2. Just my $0.02.
yeah, but it doesnt really get in the way at all. look into the Oneill mutant and Rip Curl Insulator.. they both have detachable hoods. Oneill is your better choice though
Yeah you can get a Poly Pro with the hood buildt in . If you get the 4/3 ius will give you a little extra warmth
^ yeah get the 4/3 then you can surf all winter (cant in the 3/2). get a hooded vest and then you got a 5/4/3 for winter and a 4/3 for fall and late spring.
4/3 in late fall/winter with 3mm boots. usually don't go in around this time until late February or early march. Spring/Early fall 2 mm top and shorts or a 3/2 at times. my gf's uncle wears a 3/2 year round. guess he's got it broken in good.
It's good to know that you can get away with that in the Delaware area. But I guess everybody is different as far as tolerance goes. This is my first winter in the mid-atlantic, and already I've been in between sessions for longer than I can ever remember due to inadequate equipment. I got my 4/3 during the holidays, and a hood and 5mm booties on order. Hopefully that would be enough to get me through this winter, until I can slip into my 3/2 again and leave the boots/gloves/hood at home. At around which month do water temps hit mid 70s again? So far this experience made me respect a lot of the northeast chargers who continuously jump into 30 degree water + 20 degree air year in and year out.
may-sept im in trunks. oct-april 4/3, 5 mil boots, 3 mil gloves. Hooded vest underneath on those COLD days. Thats usually good for vb/obx winter. I dont go north this time of year.
if you can't decide, rob a bank and get an r3: http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/detail/shop_landing.jsp?OPTION=WETSUITS_LANDING
I consider my setup to be minimal to surf this area all year. This setup allows me to go as far north as RI in the winter and still surf. perhaps i could go further, I just haven't -2 mil long sleeve Spring Suit. Not necessary, but sure is nice on a chilly spring summer morning -3/2 fall suit. I don't buy a real good one, I by a mid level one, save some dough and just throw my winter suit on a little sooner -6/5/4 hooded wintersuit -7 mil mittons -5 or 7 mil boots I used to use a 5/4/3 for winter, but I much prefer the thicker warmer 6 mil. Then again, I'mover 200lbs so the extra thickness doesn't really bother my already pathetic paddling. I don't think I could hack a winter in a 4/3. I go for long sessions in the winter, and my feet are a weak point. After seeing favorable reviews, I'm gonna try those poly socks under my boots.
Upwelling sucks - I always have a shorty in the car just in case. I have a 4/3 Rip Curl and a 5/4/3 Mutant. If I could only have one I'd choose the Mutant. I'd rather be too warm than too cold. Its nice to have both though.
I have a 5/4/3 xcel infiniti for winter along with 5 mil boots and gloves. For the fall / spring and some days in the summer I'll wear a 4/3 (hate being cold). Always have a shorty on hand in the summer when I'm out in boardies just in case.
