**Official wetsuit review thread**

it's called a 4/3 because of the thickness of the neoprene. But to answer your question yes, a new 3/2 with the newest technology (sealed/welded seems, high tech neo, etc.) is probably going to provide the same warmth as an older 4/3 (we're talking 8-10 year old technology) that isn't sealed and uses pretty standard neoprene. This is just my opinion as others will probably have differing opinions.

For example, let's take it back to the mid 90's. In certain areas of the northeast you would want a 6 mil for the winter. Nowadays in those same areas you can easily get away with a 5/4/3 that has decent technology and you will be warmer.

But the way the suits are described 3/2, 4/3 and 5/4/3 won't change. You will just be wearing your 3/2 further into the fall, your 4/3 further into the winter and you'll be getting out of your 5/4/3 earlier in the spring. Eventually if the R&D continues and the technology keeps going, 5 mils will be a thing of the past...

 

does anyone have experience with the patagonia R4 5 finger gloves ?

I usually wear 5mil lobster claws & my single finger will still get cold after awhile, but with patagonia's reputation for quality and warmth I thought maybe these would be warm enough - i'd like the 5 finger flexibility, but warmth is more important.

Or would i be better off going to something 7mil ?

 

a lined wetsuit gives you an extra millimeter of warmth in my experience.

 

get anything that's glued, taped and sealed and add a fireskin, charcoal poly or merino wool interior lining and you can comfortably delete 1 mm. A high quality 4/3 can get you into the mid 40's water temp, easy. But you'll want to make sure you have adequate boots and gloves.

 

Just ordered my xcel infinity 5/4. glad to be part of the clan. this thread definitely helped. thanks guys

 

hurley fusion 3/2 taped seams and super flexible. Flushes a little easy at the ankles but other than that best suit i've owned for sure

 

So read most of this thread and just pulled the trigger on a new wetsuit. From Florida but surfing in San Clemente at Trestles and was using my 3/2 Phsycho2 that I've had for 2 seasons now. I was freezing. I get cold pretty easily but its in the 40s in the morning and water temp in the high 50s. Anyways I was ****ing cold for the first two days, to the point where I was so miserable I got out. So I switched with my brother who just got the Physchofreak 3.5/2.5 and I was decently warm, get a little cold after 1.5-2 hours or so. I was looking at getting the rip curl flash bomb for a while and came across one brand new for $300 even. So I jumped on it. Now rip curls don't fit me too well. I'm 5'9" 135lb so inbetween a S and M rip curl. Oneil small fits me perfectly just for reference. The small felt like it was trying to shrink me a few inches so I got the medium. Took it out first sesh a few hours ago and all I have to say is AWESOME! The Flash is super warm and surfed 2+ hours till the sun went down and only barely felt a little chill at the end. Sweet suit, it's hanging up now and you can literally watch the water drain down out of the suit! Pretty cool! See how tomorrow goes.

 

Cant really comment on the suits as Ive always wore Billabongs but you would want a 100% stretch suit and in my opinion the chest zip is much more flexible than a back zip by a million times over for the simple fact the metal zipper and connecting area will be more ridged. Not to mention less flushing with the chest.

 

5/4 XCel Drylock (2012)
4/3 and 3/2 O'Neill Psycho 2's (about 4 years old - time for new ones soon)

I absolutely love the Xcel... Warmest I've ever been in the winter and was broken in after 1 session. The Psychos are awesome suits as well. The other companies are catching up but to me the O'Neill rubber is the most advanced as far as weight/warmth/flexibility go. That's not to say they are the absolute best suits but their rubber is ridiculously stretchy.

My main complaint about ALL wetsuits and their manufacturers is their sizing. I am 6-4, 230 lbs and am an XL in everything and a 36 long... I take a 3XL wetsuit. My XCEL fits great but the tag claims to be sized to fit up to 6-6 260... NO WAY. Same with the O'Neills. I realize most surfers are little gnats (no offense - it definitely helps to be smaller in the water most of the time) but come on... Plus... people on the whole are getting bigger anyway so it would behoove the wetsuit companies to size up... Rant over. Waves for Jersey tomorrow.

 

Anyone have any experience/opinions will billabong wetsuits? im looking into getting the Billabong Mens 5mm Foil (C-Zip 2012)
thanks for any info

 

So we are in mid-late January. Anyone have any updates on their new purchases? Particularly an F-Bomb reports? Looking at a few new winter suits since mine is shot and have had my eye on the RC F-bomb/e-bomb and the Quiksilver Cypher. I know it's been flat for a while, but, someone must be out paddling around.

 

The most extreme example with my E-Bomb 5/4 I have is from late December (16 degree air, low 40s water, howling W winds) I was surfing a beach south of Portland, ME for three or so hours and I never shivered once, never felt restricted. Highly recommended. I even picked up an 3/2 E-Bomb because I like it so much.

 

Thanks. Happy to hear that. I was actually looking pretty hard at the 5.5/4.5. I am still looking at the possibility of doing a quality 4/3 and grabbing a vest/hood combo for winter. Think I'd cover late fall, winter and early spring with that setup in NJ. But I really do like the thought of not shivering after a few hours of go time. Years ago I would just deal with a 4/3 straight thru the winter and be unable to move by the time I got out of the water. Getting to be a bit of a puss as I am getting older and value my warmth a bit more now!

 

The suit is super flexible. You will hardly notice the extra bit of rubber movement-wise and you'll be happy to have it warmth-wise!

 

Sweeeet. I was concerned about the 5.5/4.5 being a little more restrictive due to the added rubber. Also didn't know if it was overkill for NJ. Was really considering the most versatile setup that I can pull off, hence a good 4/3 for fall/spring and maybe adding a hooded vest for the extra insulation for winter. Still have some homework to do, and this thread is making the decision all the more complicated. BUT, knowing that the e-bomb is nice and toasty does make me feel pretty good about it.

 

So i wore my 4/3 buell for the 1st time yesterday....yew let me tell you.... it felt like i was wearing a 2mm comp fullsuit. the most comfortable, stretchiest suit i ever wore. no water penetration and warm. GET A BUELL.

WWW.BUELLWETSUITS.COM

 

Love my new 5/4 ebomb, don't even notice the extra rubber, super stretchy, and super warm, i recommend it. But on a day like yesterday it was a little too warm, don't know if I would want it to be my only oct thru may option. (tho too warm is better than too cold)

 

How's the sizing Gnar, I was considering one, but was fortunate to find a patagonia r3 for 1/2 price in my size. Was sketchy on ordering a suit without trying it on first.

 

its great, actually perfect. I was actually talking with buell himself and he was telling me how the big wetsuit companies (xcel, ripcurl, quiksilver ect) try to make their suits leaner to make them look more aesthetically pleasing, but his are more true to how the actual body is. I usually feel kind of uncomfortable the 1st few times wearing a new wetsuit on land, usually my pits are hurting until i get into the water, but the buell literally feels like a second skin. stoked on it. I got a MS, then traded it in for a M and it fits amazing, maybe a TAD big but i like that so i can grow into it. I mean it fits really really nicely. I'm 5'8.5 158 and it feels like butter. people, look into them - they are BUILT TO LAST

 

BTW: Swellinfo, the wetsuit guide (recommended suit for the conditions) is a sick sick sick addition to the site. Nice job!