Wolfman
Beach Bum  
Member #: 334 Posts 24
Registered: 25-8-2003 Location: In reality Hull, In my dreams Aber Member Is Offline Mood: Wishing I was in Aber
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| posted on 4-10-2003 at 16:09 |
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Keeping Warm
Ok I'm sick of being cold so I think it's about time I invested in a new wetsuit. Only thing is of course there are just so many
manufacturers and models out there and you never really know if you've got a good one till you get wet and by that time it's too late!!
What with K-tron kneepads and batwings and ultraflex it all gets a bit confusing all I want to know is does it mean I'm going to be
able to move my arms and hands enough to unlock the car when I get back to the beach after being out in February!!
Anyone got any good suggestions for winter steamers/semi dry's comments on flexibility with a dry zip.
I'm thinking about a Rip Curl Ultimate Elasto or possibly a Rip Curl Raptor slick skin since Ultimate Elasto's seem impossible to get
hold of
PS. I'm on the skinny side and I really feel the cold  so I'm not worried
about getting too toasty, going to be using it for surfing kite surfing and maybe some windsurfing.
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paul
A Force-of-Nature ** 
Member #: 5 Posts 445
Registered: 24-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood: Well Chuffed
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| posted on 4-10-2003 at 18:52 |
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I have a Rip Curl Ultimate Elasto, it's the best wetsuit I've ever had, very flexible and very warm and mine fits like a glove.
My advice for warmth is go for something that fits perfectly and if it doesn't get a custom made Snugg wetsuit, a better fitting
wetsuit will always be warmer than a badly fitting one even if it's not the state of the art wettie.
good luck
Home Page
http://www.nationalwindsurfingweek.org
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justal
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| posted on 5-10-2003 at 07:05 |
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I've now got a Sola Concept Semi Dry as my warmest winter suit. Semi-Dry 6/5/4/3mm suit, and it really is warm...usually too warm for
me. its not really suitable for surfing though as the horizontal rear zip is a little restrictive for paddling.
I will say that the last two suits I had were Gul ones and they were both crap. They replaced the first one for me because I ept going
on to them about how crap it was... It fell apart and was really cold. But the new model they replaced it with was no better.
I've only heard good things about the Rip Curl Ultimate Elasto too.
Al.
URL: Pixelwave Design - Website Design Wales
Shop: Website Templates
Personal Weblog: A Simple Life of Luxury in West Wales
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simonzz
Hot shot
Member #: 12 Posts 35
Registered: 27-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 5-10-2003 at 12:27 |
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A lot of the the Hi-Tec suits are fine as long as you are aware that you are trading off flexibility against longevity.
My Elasto is now a few seasons old. Its still very stretchy but , in doing so , the seams are just being held together by the
stitching and so are no longer 100 % waterproof , allowing cold water in.
Conversely I've had a couple of SNUGG wetsuits where the only reason I've replaced them was curiosity as to the hype surrounding
these super fangled stretchy little numbers. On both occasions I've regretted it.
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Airborne
A Force-of-Nature ** 
Member #: 325 Posts 486
Registered: 19-8-2003 Member Is Offline Mood: Well and truly Stoked!
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| posted on 5-10-2003 at 19:39 |
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Has anyone seen the new(ish) RipCurl Raptor wetsuit? I've heard that it's supposed to be quite good, plus it looks really sick! But i
suppose that's not important.
Airborne. 
[Edited on 5-10-2003 by Airborne]
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Wolfman
Beach Bum
Member #: 334 Posts 24
Registered: 25-8-2003 Location: In reality Hull, In my dreams Aber Member Is Offline Mood: Wishing I was in Aber
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| posted on 11-10-2003 at 17:21 |
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Thanks guys Im still confused what to get but looks like I've narrowed it down to a snugg or the elasto of course maybe I should just
save my money quit my job, move somewhere warm and live on coconuts Could
probably get quite a few coconuts for the price of a new suit these days!
Yea the raptor is cool there is a Kite surf one that has what look like silver panels (ok sounds a bit naff but looks cool) a bit like
Tron!! but haven't found anywhere that stocks them.
Yea I have a diving dry suit that I tried going out in once but the dry zip was a bit restrictive and the inflation valve didn't do
much for my board either
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micky skinner
Beach Bum 
Member #: 379 Posts 17
Registered: 23-9-2003 Location: Birmingham Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 13-10-2003 at 14:25 |
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If your after a Rip Curl wetsuit see my link above
New Member, Need Help!
http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/forum/viewthread.php?tid=836
The address and phone number are there and they still have suit's left, I took my mate in on Saturday to get one.
Micky 
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micky skinner
Beach Bum
Member #: 379 Posts 17
Registered: 23-9-2003 Location: Birmingham Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 13-10-2003 at 14:27 |
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Crap, that link didn't work like I thought it would!
Sorry!
Micky
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micky skinner
Beach Bum
Member #: 379 Posts 17
Registered: 23-9-2003 Location: Birmingham Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 14-10-2003 at 12:21 |
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Cheer's Al,
I assume you rectified the above error!
Micky
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justal
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| posted on 14-10-2003 at 16:14 |
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Yep.... Don't quite understand why the text below the link has come out in bold typeface though, but I didn't think that mattered, so
didn't bother pfaffing around trying to sort it out.
If you want to add any more links within a posting, then use the 'BB code' rather than the 'Add Hyperlink' button. The BB code is
explained here.
I can't show you it in this post as when I type the BB code, it will be interpreted as code and therefore not show up in the post!!
Al.
URL: Pixelwave Design - Website Design Wales
Shop: Website Templates
Personal Weblog: A Simple Life of Luxury in West Wales
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neilco
Beach Bum
Member #: 75 Posts 16
Registered: 6-11-2002 Location: Aberdeen Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 21-10-2003 at 13:24 |
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Hi Wolfman,
Only just seen the thread, but.... I've got a RipCurl Core Raptor 5/3 and am really chuffed with it. Not only does it make me look like
RoboCop (OK, maybe just in my head) but it keeps me really warm even way up here in the North Sea. Flushing seems minimal, and that's
with me spending a lot of time head first in the water...
Maybe not the cheapest suit, but then it had far and away the best fit for my monkey body so it seemed worthwhile. Only downside is
getting hold of one - my local shop had one ordered for me for a couple of months before I gave up and took a drive to find one.
Not sure how well they last as I only bought mine in summer, but I have heard that they stretch badly as they get older. Guess time'll
tell on that one.
I like mine tho'!
Neil
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Mav
Member
Member #: 410 Posts 2
Registered: 21-10-2003 Location: Essex, Corwall, Devon Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 21-10-2003 at 13:55 |
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On the warmth front i cant say a bad word about spartan suits. Even on days when there has been ice on the ground ive still be able to
come out and have feeling in my body. Only downside is they dont last that long. Ive had mine for just over a year and its started to
get some tears on the knees and will soon make its way through.
Since im also really slim i dont really mind paying a bit extra for a suit that will keep me warm and actully let me surf rather than
b1tch about the cold. Im also thinking about the ultimate elasto. If anyone know of anywhere in essex or london where im likely to be
able to find one let me know, ive been trawling on the web for ages and cant find anyone!
Cheers All
Andy  )
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markh
Hot shot 
Member #: 42 Posts 56
Registered: 15-8-2002 Location: London Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 23-10-2003 at 11:20 |
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Mav - You could try the following link
http://www.ripcurl.com/stores/
If you do a search on UK, London there are a few stores. I might try some of them myself as it's going to be ages before I get back
down to Devon & visit the Second Skin shop.
Will let you know if I have any luck...
Mark
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Pixelwave Web Design.
justal@forces-of-nature.co.uk