I know this topic has been brought up before. I, personally, prefer to have the whole gamut of wetsuits. 6/5 and everything in between. I do my deal hunting and never pay full price. My current spring suit is dead, after 5+ years of service. I had a 2mm full suit short-sleeve. Great suit for a lot of conditions, but a lot of times in summer, the full leg felt excessively warm. How about short johns? Never had one. I have this idea of combining a short john with my 2mm long sleeve top for chilly summer dawn patrols. Then being able to shed to the top when the sun starts to cook. Combining different suits is generally a bad idea but I like the idea of having versatility for summer conditions. Thoughts? Thanks
the short sleeve full is my favorite. I relish any opportunity to wear mine & need a new one. I wore a long sleeve spring suit at one point for those days in the fall when the air was cooling fast but the water was still warm. I prefered it to a jacket because a jacket always slides up and gets flushed but there's something kooky feeling (and looking) about any short legged wetsuit and one with long sleeves even more so. I haven't worn it in years- it was very stiff as well- low end neoprene etc. I like a vest quite a bit-they seem harder to find nowadays. I think I'm with you- if the budget allows it get the right gear for the water/air temp. As far as mixing and matching I've never liked it- think it would be cumbersome and uncomfortable than you realize. Used to have hot skins and hooded neoprenes that were supposed to go under suits & they were both poor purchases.
anyone have experience with a long john full? for less than $100 i am tempted. but i would think it would flush like crazy. i would use for chilly summer/fall mornings. i too seriously love a s/s full but i cannot find one that i like that is a size large short. plus a 2mm s/s full these days seems pricey at over $100. i cut the sleeves off an old 3/2 and got a season out of it, but the neck/velcro is done for, so its trashed.
rvb, for chilly mornings, you want something that will cover your upper body, the part that's most exposed to the chill air. a long john isn't going to do that, as the upper body is mostly exposed by that type of wetsuit. they're great for those upwelling days in the summer, though, when the air's still in the 80's or 90's. chilly mornings call for longsleeve tops/jackets or l/s springs, IMO. oh, long & short johns are also great for distance swimming in cooler water & bodysurfing...
my bad i should have been more specific. i have never been a fan of tops, jackets or springs. i always prefered to have my legs neoprened as opposed to my arms - just personal preference. i didnt mean chilly as in cold. just summer mornings when the sun hasnt really warmed things up and a 3/2 would be a sauna. i rarely see anyone wearing a long john, suit, guess there is a reason. i will just keep trying to find a s/s full.
I get a lot of use out of my s/s full in the summer. I usually try and paddle out around first light in the summer before the air has warmed up and the sun has come out. Mine is a cheap Quiksilver Syncro, it's a backzip but next time I would go with a chest zip for more comfort. Keep an eye on eBay, I got mine brand new for $40.
I've got a long sleeve spring. It does seem a little kooky, yes, but f' it it's a great suit and I'm glad I have it.
robg - i have seen the quiksilver synchro but not for that cheap, usually around $100. problem is i am a large short (155lbs/5'6) in most suits and can only find the synchro in med or lg. what size do you have and how does the sizing run? i have never owned a quiksilver suit...
i have a few quicksilver suits- they are great! Would totally get more! Make sure they are taped, a while ago i got a synchro 3/2 and its old school seams- untaped... works great for a 3/2. I got all my suits from a guy in cali on ebay "surfs_you_right" he is awesome, and quick and will take returns if the wrong size. he usually has some weird sized like a short large
do they run pretty standard sizing? on the quiksilver website, reviews were saying order a size smaller..
I'm anti wetsuit quiver. I wish it were that easy with boards. I have a 4/3 xcel that I wear all winter and another other identical (but older) with cut off sleeves for fall and spring. Viola.
I really like my Quik suits, I have the 2/2 s/s full, 3/2 and a 4/3. I think the size chart on the website is dead on. I'm 5'8" 140lbs and the 2/2 and 3/2 are both size small and fit me perfectly. The 4/3 is a small tall and its a little big, on the chart I should be a small and that's definitely what fits me best. I got mine from Bargain Sports USA on eBay, they don't have as good of a selection as they used to but I think they still have some. Also check out departmentofgoods.com they have a bunch of Xcel and Hyperflex suits for cheap so you might be able to find something there.
