I have been surfing for about a year and a half now and I try to get out every weekend or every other weekend. I am an intermediate and I live in the Boston Area. I am looking for a suit that I can wear through December and maybe start up again in March. Any suggestions that won't break the bank?
I have an oneill mutant hooded 5/4 (im wearing it in the profile pic) and I surf in RI. It is a great suit, but the hood can be a bit flushy when you duck dive. I used it all winter and if you have the right gloves and boots, you'll be fine. The best part is, is that it was around $245. I think thats a good price compared to those Ripcurl Flash Bombs.
Also, do you surf in like the Rexhame or Nantasket area often? We might be heading up there this weekend because RI is looking flat. I hope that waist high swell pushes into saturday, cuz thats the only time we can head up.
Idk man, I'm using this 7mm bare diving suit I found for 100 bucks this winter. It's like a 400 dollar suit but its last year's model so I got it cheap. Thing is warm as hell and works, but it feels like your arms are made of steel haha. Next week at least for us out here on mv looks like some great surf. Can't wait for some head high swells!
I wore my 4/3 through december last year, but stepped it up to a 5/4 in January until about April. I do have to include the fact that I was still rockin 8 mil boots and gloves with my 4/3. I'm sure a 4/3 will be fine through December, but water temps are still freezing in March. If you want my opinion on boots and gloves, Thicker is always better. Its SOO much easier to cool off the extremities then it is to heat them up.
8 mil boots? Damn bro that's pretty thick haha. Honestly 3 mil boots and gloves are fine for like 47+ degrees water temps for me. But I also wear a 7 mil suit so...
My O'Neil mutant 4\3 with zip attached hood kept me cozy most of the winter in jersey. There were a few days where I thought the 5\4 would help, but its usually the wind chill that burns my face and turns me into a girl. Mine was 329$ and well worth it.
654 with decent boots and gloves all winter for me. a 5/4 should get you well into December though. temps are ridic cold in mid jan-march.
Why limit yourself? If you really want to go every week, get a 6/5/4. I tired to get through my first winter with a 5/4 and it wasn't fun. In the end I bought a real winter suit and the 5/4 mostly sits on a hanger now. It might seem like a lot of dough but it's a lot less than a season lift ticket
You are not getting through the winter in MA/NH in a 4/3, so expect to at least get a 5/4 (even then there will be days when there is a wind blowing that you will be cold). I am not sure where the guys live that wear them all winter but they are not surfing in 35 degree water in Jan/Feb that's for sure.
Yeah 4/3 will not cut it year round. I have worn 6/5/4s and 5/4/3s for my various winter suits, ultimately now I wear a 5/4/3 even on the coldest days in the dead of winter, wore it on a trip to NS last January without issue, but it's a decently nice suit (Body Glove Vapor), you should invest in either a pretty good 5/4/3 or get a 6/5/4. I prefer spending a bit more on a high quality 5/4/3 in order to keep a little less rubber on the body so I can paddle better, but to each his own.
Just checked surfline for 2nd beach since I'll be in Newport this weekend. Looks like there could be a little something late Saturday into Sunday morning. I'm debating on whether to bring the gear.
