Wetsuit Recommendations

[TEXASS]

I’m getting old and the winter chill in San Diego is getting to me
I’m looking at companies like Matuse and Isurus and wanted to know if anyone has one
When most would be wearing a 3/2 , I would want a 4/3 so I need extra warmth without the thickness
I know their are newer materials in the market today

[sb]

https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/pro...41730349072564

Wet suits work by thickness, colder = thicker.

So many good wet suits out there, I picked up this Oneill dry suit for river use and at some point will add dry bootie socks to it.

I have multiple NRS and Henderson suits of various thickness and designs. I often mix and match for the conditions.

Some good deals out there now.

Gitusum

[Lee Murian]

Last year I finally splurged for a Feral suit with Yamamoto rubber and will never go back to regular neoprene, yulex, whatever. It is half the weight and thickness of a comparable standard suit. I've had a bunch of different wetsuits from Patagonia, O'Neill, RipCurl, etc. and regularly surf in 50-60* water temps. Nothing comes close to weight, comfort, flexibility, and warmth. Plus they dry really fast. I found Feral from an Adventure Journal post, they're a couple guys from NorCal just trying to make a solid product, would recommend.

[sb]

Limestone injected neoprene is superior.

[Xover]

Personally, I've always been an O'Neill guy. Superior construction and fits my body well. I picked up their 3/2 Psycho Tech a couple of years ago and can't believe how warm it keeps me when the water down there dips into the upper 50's. It really is more like a 4/3 without losing any flexibility than it is a 3/2. When the water gets back into the low 60's, it is almost to much for me. I too am starting to feel the chill more as I get older. I've found I really need to keep my lower back (lumbar fusion) and right hip (replacement) especially warm, otherwise I lose quickness and flexibility making even popping up a challenge sometimes after I've been in that temperature of water for over an hour. Just my $0.02.

[soul_skier]

I've had good luck with patagonia and o'neill, but it all about your body type and what fits you best. I'd say that you should really try a bunch on before making a decision, even the best materials and build quality will not work if the suit doesn't conform to your body properly.

[TEXASS]

I tried on around 15 wetsuits , some were 4/3 and some were 3/2 . I would try on a 3/2 in case I wanted a suit in 4/3 of the same manufacturer
I tried on the following
Patagonia , Matuse , Isurus , O’neil , Rip Curl and Billabong
I went into the search thinking I would get a Matuse , but they felt heavy and stiff .
Billabong was the only brand I couldn’t get to fit me in any size
As I stated I was looking for something different , more high end .
I have worn O’neil for the past 40 ? years
I would have choose a Rip Curl or O’neil but got lucky and found a Isurus that fit
4/3 chest zip no hood . I did pick up a hood and gloves from Isurus also
The suit fits like a glove . It’s thick but really soft and flexible.
Won’t get to wear it till Dec 26 but did try it on .
I’m really impressed with what I see in the construction and materials.
We will see how it performs

[The Suit]

I just saw this. I got the Evade 4.3 for kiteboarding in San Francisco bay. I haven't worn it for a couple years because I kite in Maui now, but I was really happy with it. Enough so that I got a 2.2 zipfree that I use a lot and love.

[jamoce]

Matuse wetsuits are praised for their use of Geoprene, which is derived from limestone, making them lighter and more environmentally friendly while providing excellent warmth. Their Dojo Triathlon Wetsuit, for instance, offers varying thicknesses across different body areas to ensure warmth where it’s needed most without restricting movement. Isurus also offers wetsuits with impressive features. They use Yamamoto Neoprene Rubber, also limestone-based, which is known for its superior warmth, lightness, and flexibility. The Evade 3.2 and TI Evade 4.3 models are particularly noted for their comfort and muscle stabilization technology, which could be beneficial for your needs.

[PB]

Get thee to a kiddie pool, chat-bot.

[Ottime]

I buy off the outlet rack at RipCurl when I see LS in a model I like. They fit well. The F-Bomb has solid seams, But I'm getting a 4/3 for $150-170 out the door. So driven by price. I try to get a new suit each year for the cold days. I use the older suit for warmer days. Sometimes I skip a year. But I feel that new suits and new seams that are not compromised at all, make as big of a difference as thickness.

I actually have a 2/2 F Bomb I wear in summer. It is almost as warm as a 4/3 with old seams. I've had this suit for a decade but the neoprene and seams are still solid. I think I paid $80 for that suit because no one wants a 2/2.

[CascadeCrudSkier]

Last year I finally splurged for a Feral suit with Yamamoto rubber and will never go back to regular neoprene, yulex, whatever. It is half the weight and thickness of a comparable standard suit. I've had a bunch of different wetsuits from Patagonia, O'Neill, RipCurl, etc. and regularly surf in 50-60* water temps. Nothing comes close to weight, comfort, flexibility, and warmth. Plus they dry really fast. I found Feral from an Adventure Journal post, they're a couple guys from NorCal just trying to make a solid product, would recommend.

This. A friend recommended Feral this summer but I still just went the usual route and grabbed a Rip Curl at the outlet; it was fine. He still kept insisting that I was missing out so I decided I'd order one and give it a shot. I was shocked at how much better it is. They're a pain to get on/off at first but they are so much lighter and warmer than anything else. I'm still wearing a 3/2 when I'd normally be in a 4/3.

It's completely mail order and you can exchange them for 30 days so it's a relatively risk free experience. I'll be buying more over the next year to completely change out my wetsuit lineup.

[PeachesNCream]

How gross is buying a used wetsuit? I imagine I’ll be living in SD 2 more winters and would like a 4/3 for the winter months. Hesitant to spend $300+ on a wetsuit I’ll only use for a few months in the winter. There’s a lightly used matuse hoplite in my size which retails for $470 listed for $80, pretty good deal. Anyway I can clean and sanitize the crap out of it and it not be gross? Or maybe I’m better off finding something new on sale?


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[nickwm21]

If it’s “gross” don’t buy it. But otherwise go for it. You can get rid of a little funk with a hot water soak and scrub with a smidge of dish soap.

You’re just trying to get the original owners piss out of there for one session until you can replace it with your own piss….


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[XXX-er]

I would look for obvious damage or rot cuz someone didn't hang it up to dry and just let it get moldy, it alwasy amazed me when people would let a suit get gross and then ask

https://rescuecanada.ca/shop/sink-th...ar-deodorizer/

https://www.amazon.ca/Gear-Aid-36132...0009RRTO4?th=1

https://www.rei.com/product/852525/m...inator-8-fl-oz


you could try this ^^ stuff or vinegar will neutralize odors,

in paddling WW kayak it was often rancid sweat more than piss

holes/ split seams are easy to fix with solvent based contact cement, dab some on each edge let it dry to the touch and stick the edges permanently

[Atrain505]

Do not buy a used wetsuit. That’s a dumb idea. People sell wetsuits because the seams start to leak. The neoprene over time starts to degrade so even if you repair the leaks they will just come back worse quickly. Buy a cheapo new 4/3 but definitely not a used suit. In Southern California lots of shops will have sales.

My wife and I this last year upgraded to yamamoto rubber wetsuits. Definitely the nicest neoprene I’ve ever had. Way way lighter, especially when wet. Don’t think I’ll be able to go back. Colby+ for cheapest option. Feral for slightly nicer option.


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[durangobrad]

Do not buy a used wetsuit. That’s a dumb idea. People sell wetsuits because the seams start to leak. The neoprene over time starts to degrade so even if you repair the leaks they will just come back worse quickly. Buy a cheapo new 4/3 but definitely not a used suit. In Southern California lots of shops will have sales.

My wife and I this last year upgraded to yamamoto rubber wetsuits. Definitely the nicest neoprene I’ve ever had. Way way lighter, especially when wet. Don’t think I’ll be able to go back. Colby+ for cheapest option. Feral for slightly nicer option.


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Wetsuits leak? Don't they purposely leak from day one? Like they aren't designed to stay dry? Is called a wetsuit?

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[XXX-er]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetsuit


thats ^^ what i thot, a THIN layer of water is warmed by the body and thats where the warmth comes from,

you also get some bouyancy but you probably still want a real PFD for water sports

I never was a board surfer but I surfed a lot of WW kayaks in cold water here up narth,

I bought a used neoprene dive suit in a bar and it was OK, it was 3/8ths and actualy too thick

but coated nylon Dry suits for paddling were the game changer

and then gortex Dry suits (wider range of comfort) were the next game changer, I could wear the same layers i surfed in to the bar cuz they were dry

you got them 2nd amen dment rights to bare arms down there but give me a full gortex dry suit any time

[Atrain505]

Wetsuits leak? Don't they purposely leak from day one? Like they aren't designed to stay dry? Is called a wetsuit?

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This tells me you don’t surf cold water a lot. Yes wetsuits are designed to allow any water that gets in to warm up against your body in a thin layer. But a new wetsuit every seam is sealed. You are nice and warm and the suit is flexible. An old wetsuit perhaps the crotch seam is separating. Then you have icy cold water shooting against your balls constantly. If it’s really used the neoprene will be worn down in high use areas like your shoulders and knees to the point where 3mm becomes .5mm thick. If you are getting a thicker wetsuit to stay warm for a couple months of the year then getting a leaky, old suit is not ideal. A new sealed 3/2 is absolutely warmer than an old leaky seam 4/3. Same goes for 4/3s and 5/4s. Canada surfer with 4/3’s for the summer and multiple 5/4s for the winter in rotation.


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[Shredhead]

Wetsuits leak? Don't they purposely leak from day one? Like they aren't designed to stay dry? Is called a wetsuit?

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I prime mine with a jug of hot water, just to cut the edge when jumping in.
I'd go new. They last a long time with proper care.

[Ottime]

How gross is buying a used wetsuit? I imagine I’ll be living in SD 2 more winters and would like a 4/3 for the winter months. Hesitant to spend $300+ on a wetsuit I’ll only use for a few months in the winter. There’s a lightly used matuse hoplite in my size which retails for $470 listed for $80, pretty good deal. Anyway I can clean and sanitize the crap out of it and it not be gross? Or maybe I’m better off finding something new on sale?


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I just bought a Manera Seafarer for $240 out the door. For Santa Cruz. I love it, but you for sure could buy a cheaper 4/3 than that and you don't need as much quality seams for SD.

OTOH, if that suit is really lightly used, the seams might be fine. I'd ask the seller if they would let you fill it up with water. You can check seams that way. Hold up the legs, arm and neck and fill with water. You will see where the water passes through the suit. It it is at specific seam, you have a leak. You can also have a leak in the neoprene based on boulder wear as described above. Knees also can get worn. IF water is only beading through the neoprene evenly, there there are no leaks.

[CascadeCrudSkier]

How gross is buying a used wetsuit? I imagine I’ll be living in SD 2 more winters and would like a 4/3 for the winter months. Hesitant to spend $300+ on a wetsuit I’ll only use for a few months in the winter. There’s a lightly used matuse hoplite in my size which retails for $470 listed for $80, pretty good deal. Anyway I can clean and sanitize the crap out of it and it not be gross? Or maybe I’m better off finding something new on sale?


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If you're wanting a 4/3 now then you'll still be wanting it until the end of April. The water temps in San Diego during March and April are just as cold as the winter, though the air warms up in the spring. We get a lot more wind activity during the spring so it generates upwelling and pulls cold water up towards the surface. Sometimes it'll still be 60 in early to mid May. Once we get a good S swell the water warms quickly.

As Atrain mentions, durability is an issue w/ a used wetsuit. I haven't worn a Matuse in 10 years but I had durability issues within a month or two of purchasing it. Anecdotal but I'd pass.

You can still pick up cheap 4/3 suits at the Rip Curl outlets, the best selection is San Clemente but the one at the bottom of the hill below USD is the most convenient to SD. Still, if you're using it for 3 seasons from Dec-April then suddenly spending $430 for this is a solid investment. A Rip Curl purchased today won't be in great shape in 2027.
https://feralsurfing.com/products/hooded-3mmplus?
My 4/3s are gathering dust and I still haven't used booties this winter and I get cold pretty easily.

[PeachesNCream]

Thanks for the recs everyone. Seriously looked at those ferals, but they’re out of my size (LT or XL) and out of my price point. Isurus seems to be a comparable brand and there’s an isurus XL for sale for $220 that’s been used twice. But the model looks like it could be 10 years old. Question is, will a wetsuit go bad sitting in a closet?


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[XXX-er]

IME Neoprene will last a long time unless you put it away wet and dug it out 10 yrs later

My WAG is that people buy new wetsuits cuz of fashion and they wana buy something, It looks to me like the conspicuous consumer surfer has almost nothing to spend money on compared to a lot of sports

[Atrain505]

Old neoprene gets stiff and brittle over time. It just does. Just like rubber. Colby+ is 100 bucks cheaper than feral and the same nice Yamamoto rubber, but surf shops in California will have tons of sales on the big brands.

XXX. You are out of your element here. Wetsuits for surfing are purely function and there is a big difference between a new suit and an old stiff leaky suit in how they function. Warmth and flexibility and weight make a big difference in how long you can stay in the water and how shit kicked your body is the next day.


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