Stretch baggies are one of the great modern surf advancements. If any of you old cats (like me 49) are still rocking your old canvas baggies, do yourself a favor and try some new stretch baggies. I had pair of older ones that I finally realized they were binding my legs on takeoff. Kept making me eat it. My favorite ones are the Oneil Jordys. What baggies do you like for warm water and why. And are there some that are better for wetsuits?
The only baggie under my suit is more of the fleshy nature. The binding you speak of is definitely an issue with non stretchy boardies. The stretchy ones kinda outline/reveal my junk head trying to pop out the bottom, particularly the lighter colored ones. They make you feel more naked and free. If you get super freaks you can do 720 airs, guaranteed.
Really...do you have to ask this question in December while we're just starting to freeze our nutzz off up here? I kid...kinda. Weren't canvas shorts pre-birdwell beach britches? If the manufacturer still makes the ones you own, you ought to contact them with a testimonial to the construction of their trunks. You might get a feature ad in a mag or somethin. That is unless they're just cut-off, too small levi's from the 70's. Then a full mustache is required as well. Myself, I just grab whatever I find on sale at TJ Maxx or a local sample sale.
The stretch baggies are the best thing since sliced bread!!! More important than number of fins, fin selection or wax brand, astrodek placement or even how many beers/blunts imbibed before/after surf. I'm an old surfer, and that split second getting to your feet gained by having stretchies (I prefer Volcom) is like years added to your surf life. It really matters on a shortboard in good surf, when you have to make a fast drop. It really sucks getting bound up in the knees and lip launched wearing the old non stretch baggies, and my junk is too big for 70s style short shorts. Just sayin'.
That's what I'm saying brother. I combined stretch baggies with eps in PR and it changed my game. Shortboard is all I surf and it reallly matters on the drop.
I still love canvas board shorts, my favorite is a pair of Patagonia standard red I've had for about 5 years now. I like stretchy ones too, but I don't wear ones with inseams that go below my knees except for my backup pair that I hardly ever wear. Speaking of stretchy... I've become a convert of wearing compression shorts under my board shorts. It started last winter experimenting wearing them with wetsuits, which is awesome btw, and just progressed from there. The only time I don't wear them is if I'm going to be hanging out at the beach instead of splitting right after surfing--they just don't let the package dry out in what I would consider a prompt manner.
My son thought I was nuts for wearing compression shorts under m board shorts and wetsuit. He said under the board shorts they'd trap sand and I'd be raw. I just flush 'em after I get rag dolled. Under the wetsuit they keep me a tad warmer and keep everything in place...
RipCurl Mirage series baggies are the chronic. Best out there, stretchy, comfortable and hydrophobic material. I dig canvas boardies too. Have some 18" pairs. Only compressions I wear are neoprene and it's for warmth while wearing baggies instead of wetty like I'm doing this week in SoCal. 3mm shorts do the trick with 2mm topper. Lycra/spandex compressions may help with chafing but you want your wetty fitting snug on the boys and the kidneys.
old skool phrasing... the stretchy ones are nice, but i've found that as long as they don't cover my kneecap, it's all good. 19" is my personal favorite length for trunks. long enough to keep everything covered & where it should be, not so long that people mistake me for a wannabe thug.
Can we please stop talking about how trunks inhibit your surfing. Try a 5/4 with booties as thick as my computer screen. Trunks inhibiting your surf....geez!
I have found the lycra compression shorts to be a huge benefit in the wetsuit, the ones I wear are around .25 mm or something like that. My uber-scientific findings: -Warmer where it counts -No more ball-suck -No more Big Al and the boys getting out of place to be accidentally sat or laid on (not in the good way) -More range of motion... This was the biggest surprise. I never realized how much neoprene likes to stick to bare skin in the waist and hip area and how much resistance it creates. The compression shorts are essentially frictionless against the suit so you can get all Gumby torquing your body through your full-rail turns... or something like that
+1 Ever since I picked up a couple pairs i haven't gone out without them on, so much more comfortable and keeps me from getting any sort of rash, cause my sessions are typically 4-5hrs, changed my life
Ha Ha! Sorry brah! I'm a warm water loving/living thin blooded ( but thick skinned like a gator ) aquaphileatic amphibian. Booties..I like big butts and I can not lie!
