Question about a wetsuit for surfing

Q_Ball

hey all,

got a wetsuit today as a present because i'm going surfing later this month/early next month and i'm wondering if its any good. its a 3mm neoprene suit. I used to scuba dive and we used 7mm suits which is why i'm asking. I can imagine freezing my nads off in a 3mm.

Should i get the receipt and get a refund or is alright for surfing purposes. I dont mind bearing the cold but i'd like something thats gonna be a little more warm than just shorts!

Also any recommendations on where to go? I'm looking at clare/donegal at the mo

All the best,

Daz

Enygma

3mm is fine for the summer. Divers need thicker suits because it gets colder the deeper you go. The water is warmer at the surface.
When you're surfing you need maximum flexibility, that's why you wear the thinnest suit you can get. In the winter I wear a 5/3 (5mm body, 3mm arms)
My buddy wears a 6/5/4 with a hood.

If you're going out in the dead of winter in a 3mm, you should only stay out a small while. It won't really keep you warm for more than 30 minutes then. You should be able to last till the Christmas sales and get a winter suit then, the water is coldest in Jan-March.

Clare/Donegal are always good bets. Good luck with the surfing!

Dub_Ster

I have been useing wetsuits for 8 yrs and ive gone threw about 6 maybe 7 the best wetsuit i ever baught was a ripcurl ultiment with elesto stretch , what you want for a surfing suit is , the follow ing i had a 5 mill torso [part then from 3to 2 mill in each arms ,
and 3 on the legs the more neopreme on the shoulders the harder it is to get out back , and theres more restriction on the shoulders as ur paddeling out i can get maui magic suitsvery cheep and they are strictly surfing suits there what i use now and im more then happy with them ,.o i never were booties eather because i cant feel the board as good and i think thats important ands its not really that cold over here or im just used to it .

what suit is it ?

welcome to the sport
i

FX Meister

Heading up to Donegal for a weekend of lessons in two weeks time. They provide the equipment but I was in Canada last month and picked up a 3mm Quilsilver wetsuit with short legs. Got it on sale for €45. I figure it may not suit Ireland too much but maybe it will do for the summer, I couldn't pass up the bargain.

Exar Khun

I just bought myself a board and wetsuit today 4/3 mil wonder if its goin to be any good for ireland. I also bought a board a 6'4" safak Semi gun, Im living in huntington beach CA for the summer and learned surfing here. Cant wait till i get off work!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lemming

Check your suit's stitching. There are two types; flat-lock & blind-stitching. Flat lock stitches go right the way through the material and let more water in whereas blind-stitching is sealed so not as much water gets through and as a result gives a warmer suit.

Roll back the sleeve cuff on your suit and take a look. It should be fairly obvious which type you've got. If it's a 2/3 suit it'll be flat-lock stitching anyway.

Or as I understand it. Truth be told I'm fairly new to surfing/body-boarding as it stands so I'm still learning

I use a 3mm blind-stitched C-skin wetsuit and it seems fine so far.