Quality, Long-lasting booties and gloves.

I like to use Xcel drylock or even the infiniti series boots/gloves. But i would check out the Patagonia gloves and boots. They say their suits last long and I bet so do their boots/gloves too plus their probably extra warm if they have the Merino Wool inside them.

 

After only a few sessions my Oneill Lobsters actually split.My Oneill boots are great thou.Next time around im going with Hyperflex gloves.

 

I got some Hyperflex 5 finger gloves and they were warm but I am not a glove perosn and I any glove makes me feel I am paddling slow .

 

Really, it doesn't matter what gear you purchase. Nowadays, most companies offer the same thing, it's more about how you take care of your stuff. I'm an advocate of taking care of wetsuits, booties, ect. Make sure to read about what your buying and how to care for it. For example, washing your booties and gloves instead of leaving them in your car. This makes the neoprene last longer and it dries faster as well. Also, it WONT stink. Another major thing to do is make sure you pull on the pull up cord and NOT the neoprene. I've ripped too many booties trying to get them on quick. So, just buy something that seems too your liking and take care of your ****, it's too expensive.

 

two recent glove reviews -

Hyperflex 5 mm gloves...horrible gloves that were so cold I gave them away after using them like 3 times.

X-Cel Drylock 5 mm gloves...really warm but not holding up very well because the drylock feature makes them tough to pull on and is stressing the seams. Id say 20 sessions (one winter) they are falling apart.