When I bought my suit, the oneill mutant (one in pic) I was told I could only go till about Januay. I didn't have any other suit so I used it the whole winter. It was warm enough, but the hood stinks, and it is only a 5/3. So, I have the ripcurl e-bomb youth in mind. Does anyone have any other reccomendations?
i know you're further north, but i can't imagine the water gets too much colder there than it does here, mid-upper 30's, on average. i've always been fine in a 5/4. if you think that's too thin, then try a 6/5/4 from whatever brand you prefer. also, a few companies have been making 5.5/4 or 5.5/4.5mil suits these last couple years. might be worth looking at those thicknesses as well.
6/5/4 xcel. do it for RI. 5 mil gloves 7 mm booties. paddle out in late feb early march with the wind howling offshore youll be happy.
Man, I feel like such a puss when we talk about winter and wetsuits! I just don't know how you guys "UP NORT" do it!?! Seriously, those of you who surf the winter up there are hardcore "M" "F" ers!!!! Anyway since I live in Florida results will vary..... I have actually been out surfing in a 3/2 and it just wasn't enough and I had a springsuit laying in the trunk of my car so I threw it on over the fullsuit and it actually worked out pretty well! Was technically a short john so it didn't have sleeves which probably made a huge difference, but I had plenty of flexibility and stayed really warm! "Hey look at the kook with two wetsuits on!!!" Actually though my problem is my feet and my head. I always get an ice cream headache for awhile but my feet I just can't get adjusted too. I've tried the whole booty thing and I just can't feel my board right with them on. I can actually feel my board better with numb feet than the booties! So gang, unless its utterly going off (which has to be head high or more, glassy, off shore) and the water temp is below 65 degress, you just aren't going to see me out there. When I say this I don't just mean that I'm uncomfortable or shivering or just plain being a puss. I really try to force myself and just can't. Maybe I've reached the age where I can't do cold water anymore because I don't remember it being this bad when I was a kid. Another thing is that I try to surf as much as possible as the temps start dropping because my theory is that maybe I can adjust slowly and be able to handle the colder temps better later on in the year. Props to you "YANKS"!!!! You guys are hardcore!!!
I'll say thanks on behalf of the Yanks! And that was me the first couple times in cold water as a kid...springy layered over my fullsuit.
