Hey all.
About to go out 'n get a suit...... need some wise words!
So windsurf specific suits? How big a difference and should I go out of my way to get one?
Thickness? It's a tad nippy at the minute I reckon. is a 5/3 enough for this time of year? And is it too much for the (UK)summer?
A vest underneath makes a big difference.? (My xmas jumper is just too big)

Cheers

I don't know if my words are wise or not, but here are my thoughts.

No need to go for windsurf specific these days. Neoprene is so flexible now that there isn't any need for windsurf specific. The main difference in them being slightly more room in the arms and shoulders to ease movement and prevent forearm cramps. Windsurf specfic suits are also more likely to be smooth-skin rather than double-lined which helps to wick away moisture quicker and prevent cooing from evaporation. I'm sure it does help a little but not that much and it does make the suit less durable... My latest C-Skins (surfing) suit is double lined with a special smoothskin coating!

5/3 is enough for the UK winter, espeically when combined with a hood and boots, it will be too much for the summer though when a 3/2mm full suit will be plenty and when it's 'really' warm (for the UK) a shorty is fine. This time of year a vest is good, or as I use a long-sleeved hooded 0.5mm rash-vest.... It may make you look like a gimp but it keeps you warm!!!

As always with a wetsuit, fit is important, but now that neoprene is so strectchy, not as important as it used to be... Good quality stitching and build is important and finding a suit to last more than a season is difficult for me.

Al.

Thanks Al. Wise words indeed.
So is a 5/3 a winter must? (Thinking of taking a run out this weekend - it might hit a balmy 8 degrees) Would I be better go for the year round 3/2 and your choice rash vest idea.....

I agree with what Al says 5/3 is must in the winter . I use a neil pryde semi dry with the zip across the shoulders then a thermal base layer underneath, Also 5mm boots balaclava, and either palmless mits or marigolds

Thanks for the advice guys.

my Spartan smooth skin semi dry 5, 4, 3 was the best thing since sliced bread till i got my dry suit for winter.
one of the many things that i like about the dry suit is never having to dry it out in the van for the next outing!

Those Spartan suits don't come cheap though do they! Nice though.

Al.

Sola Vortex semi dry with a dry brass zip and a lot cheaper than Spartan. I've been sailing with this in a Loch in North Scotland in February with snow on the ground and still been warm. I wear this with a 0.5mm thermal vest but switch to my summer suit in May when it becomes to hot.

Yeah, I used to have a Sola Semi-Dry as do quite a few people who sail here. They are a good substitute for the Spartan suits... Although now I simply have a 'standard' 5/3mm surf wetsuit as I don't like paying more than £150 for a suit..... It seems to do the job and isn't noticeably colder than the semi-dry suits.

Al.

Hi, ive got a Rip curl windseries 5/3 which i have never been cold in & the build quality is excellent, 170 quid good value as well. AS for the summer i cut the arms & neck sections off my old winter suits thus recyling them & saving a bit of money....

Thanks for all the comments guys. Gonna head out and get a 5/3 tomorrow.
London has everything.... except a coast and some decent wetsuit suppliers.
Any of you guys have a pointer or two for somewhere with a decent range in stock? (I'm of the tall but not wide variety)
My first stop (and only so far) will be Boardwise in Chiswick
---------------------------------------------------
Got down there for one today - an O'Neill 5/3 'Heat'. Seems to be a decent cost/build trade-off.
Right - time to get wet (or not).

[Edited on 28-1-2006 by johndoc2000]