Thread: Extra Warmth?

Short of buying a 4/3, is there any way that I can get my 3/2 to handle 50 degree water temps? I'm thinking about picking up a 3mm vest with a hood, but what can I do so my balls don't freeze up. I've heard about wearing polypro underneath your wetsuit for additional insulation. Will the same stuff I use for skiing work, or will I need to get a surfing-specific set?

Get a surf specific set. I wear a pair of polypro shorts under my suit. Works pretty well.

drink a gallon of coffee before you head out....just try and not get the shits.

Originally Posted by tuffy109

drink a gallon of coffee before you head out....just try and not get the shits.

Its gonna take more than coffee to stay warm in a 3/2 in 50 degree water.

Go for the hood/vest combo - instantly adds a few mil to your core and reduces the rinsing of cold water down your back and chest.
The anti-rinse benefit is the best if you have any flushing at the neck or back zip with your current suit.

it was 54 the other day here. i was fine, but couldn't feel my feet when getting out of the water.

a 3/2, booties and hood should be enough.

You could try getting a rip curl Heater rash gaurd. But a hood will make a huge difference!!For the nads try these O Niel makes them!!
Thermo
Thermal Layering. -8oz.
The 8oz. Thermo features P2 Polyolefin fabric. P2 keeps you drier and
warmer than any other fabric. It has incredible thermal properties
and is exceptionally lightweight. Use as a thermal layer, rash guard
or as exterior U.V. protection.



Thermo Shorts 8oz [ 0006 ]

do what Dale does and pour warm water in your suit before you get in the drink...

Originally Posted by gonzo

do what Dale does and pour warm water in your suit before you get in the drink...

but save some for after. it makes the entire session worthwhile.

webb, dunno how into it you are, but supreme worked with peter saville (factory records designer) to put together some skate decks.

http://www.beinghunted.com/v40/reviews/2005/march/

and true, i always thought the hot water was for after.

Originally Posted by snoogens

3/2 isn't warm enough for 50 degree water?
I use my 3/2 once it hits 46.
But then again, it's an O'Neill heat.

Have your balls reached your stomach yet? 46 is fing cold for surfing a shortboard in a 3/2. Try a scuba shop for a vest/cap combo - some of them have way cheap neoprene, much especially on deals. Better than surfshops.

Originally Posted by tuffy109

and true, i always thought the hot water was for after.

No no no. When you first get in, your suit soaks up cold water. Prime the pump with warm water ( a small thermos down the neck seal will help) and you will not have such a shock when first going in.
As a result, you wil last longer and more comfortably.

Originally Posted by Core Shot

When you first get in, your suit soaks up cold water.

really?

daflkjdaf

Originally Posted by tuffy109

drink a gallon of coffee before you head out....just try and not get the shits.

Fuck that shit. Drink a gallon of gatorade and wait until your piss is clear and odorless before you head out so you have your instant hot tub in a wetsuit effect.

Avoid asparagus and shit.

I'm with Snoogens -- over 55F water temps = high summer here (Maine), rashguard only -- and even then you're tempted to take it off. In a 3/2, with hard paddling, you can get warm.

Right now, temps are about 45, cold enough that a 3/2 alone is chilly. Wear full polypro long underwear underneath, drink hot hot coffee before, and pour warm water in before getting in -- helps displace as much cold water from rushing in once you get wet.

So why not a new flexible 4/3 ? That's what I have for surfing Central & NorCal winter. Toasty warm for hours w/ booties and a hood, if it is windy at all. Now 5/6 wetsuits, thats a different story! Must be for that Stony Point wave in Lake Superior. You see that in the new Surfer?!

Originally Posted by mountainbored

So why not a new flexible 4/3 ?

Money. One of these days I'll stop in at the dive shop down the street from where I work and see what they say.

Snoogens- do you surf Seaside Hts. Much? There's a longboarder there who almost never wears a wetsuit.

Originally Posted by Plakespear

Money. One of these days I'll stop in at the dive shop down the street from where I work and see what they say.

Noooooooooo.

Unless they sell surfing suits also, do not get a dive suit.
You need room for arm and shoulder motion, etc., and many other features that require a surf (or at least active watersport) specific design.

Originally Posted by Core Shot

Noooooooooo.

Unless they sell surfing suits also, do not get a dive suit.
You need room for arm and shoulder motion, etc., and many other features that require a surf (or at least active watersport) specific design.

I was just going to see if they had the layering. And hoods and gloves.

Originally Posted by tuffy109

webb, dunno how into it you are, but supreme worked with peter saville (factory records designer) to put together some skate decks.

http://www.beinghunted.com/v40/reviews/2005/march/

and true, i always thought the hot water was for after.

careful dude. tuffy is a yanks fan. he may be trying to lure you into a homosexual interlude or some shit...

you're slippin' gonz. in your younger years, it didn't take three days to come up with tried and true gay yankee fan jokes.

Originally Posted by Core Shot

Unless they sell surfing suits also, do not get a dive suit.
You need room for arm and shoulder motion, etc., and many other features that require a surf (or at least active watersport) specific design.

Divers don´t move their arms It´s a wetsuit.

If you play it carefully you can get much better deals at scuba shops. Check out scuba.com has cheap decent quality stuff for less than you pay at most surfshops. example 5/3 hooded vest for $50 vs. $70 for the Bilabong 2mm. Oh, and they are cut the same.

The anatomical build and the range of motions are entirely different for diving and surfing. If you use a dive suit that is too tight in the shoulders and back, you will be spent after a short time paddling. Why fight the rubber?
No "dive" suit ever made was designed for your arms to easily go over your head in a paddling motion.

Here's one more among many reasons:
smoothskin is proven warmer if there is any breeze whatsoever.
Divers do not need smoothskin since they are underwater.

Here's another reason:
Since divers arent getting worked by waves, or sitting up on the board (and draining the suit) regularly, they dont worry as much about things like seam sealing and neck gasketing to reduce flushing effects.

Also, most cheap dive suits do not use the quality ultra stretchy modern rubber. You do get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by cj001f

Check out scuba.com has cheap decent quality stuff for less than you pay at most surfshops. example 5/3 hooded vest for $50 vs. $70 for the Bilabong 2mm. Oh, and they are cut the same.

Yeah, 5/3 is definitely the same as 2mm.

I personally would favor the 2mm Billabong.
1) its cut for range of motion and surfing comfort (I really doubt they are cut the same)

2) its 2mm, which is all you need, since he already has 3/2 suit, the extra 2mm will be enough and 5mm on top of 3mm, makes 8mm on the chest. Also, teh 2mm hood part will be more stretchy, comfy and easier to turn and look behind you than a 3mm. Plus, the main point is to stop neck and back zipper flushing, not to make an 8mm suit.

3) I'm guessing that Billabong should use decent rubber if they want to get respect for their gear - the off brand dive hood is questionable.

4) the billabong one might be stretchy enough that you can pull the hood over your head (through the face hole) if you are too hot or if you are chillin on the beach waiting for the next sesh. A dive hood/vest might have a smaller piehole since they are trying to seal all the area around the mask (a.k.a. "gaper gap") In fact, I think the one you are looking at for $49 has a "trimmable" face hole for maximum coverage.

What's $20 anyway? Better to get the good shit.

Originally Posted by Core Shot

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1) its cut for range of motion and surfing comfort (I really doubt they are cut the same)

3) I'm guessing that Billabong should use decent rubber if they want to get respect for their gear - the off brand dive hood is questionable.

What's $20 anyway? Better to get the good shit.

$20 is a lot if you arent making a professional salary. It took me 3 days to spend that in S. America. And they arent that much better.

Both are VESTS! No arms! Nothing to interfere! Strechy rubber dont matter that much! I own one of those off brands. Its very good.

That said, ja, surf suits are *better*. All depends on where you want to spend your money. Id rather buy a plane ticket or a season pass than fork out the dough that they charge for the *surfspecific* (hardeeharhar) suits they have now.

Well, I went to the dive shop today- they have a 1.5 mm vest with a hood for about $35- looks like it should fit the bill as far as keeping the upper body warm. Now I just gotta find some way to insulate my balls...