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Need wetsuit recommendations.

fuzzybabybunny

fuzzybabybunny

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So I've never bought a wetsuit and the only time I've used one was snorkeling in Hawaii. I promptly took it off because I hated the extra buoyancy and stiffness. But now I want to do some snorkeling in Monterey and maybe Lake Tahoe.

Because I've never bought a wetsuit, I don't know what thickness I need. I'm generally a pretty warm person and was planning on tackling Monterey's 55F water with a 5mm suit for $300. But looking at charts and stuff it seems that 7mm is highly recommended?

I tried on a 7mm Henderson full body suit and was surprised by how heavy, thick, and stiff it was. Is there some combination that would be better using the concept of layering, modularity, and areas of heat loss?

I'm looking for a combo that's as flexible as possible. Not too hot or stiff for all conditions, from 50F to 80F.

I'm thinking:

7mm full hood
5mm full body
add on a vest if still too cold
3mm low ankle booty
3mm gloves

Any thoughts?

And where should I buy for cheap, and what brand? Looking at used wetsuits on Craigslist it seems like wetsuits decrease in value a LOT (50%+) after just a bit of use.

As for brands, Henderson? Body Glove? O'Neill? Hyperflex? How good is Body Glove, since they seem to also make cheapo gear sold in general sporting goods stores?

 
You would be fine in a 5mm I would think. I use a 3/2 for down to about 53, and have surfed 49 deg in it for about an hour. Anything above 65, you shouldn't need a wetsuit at all.
 
Just to add, don't buy without trying it on first. It needs to fit you properly. You're going to have a hard time snorkling with a full suit on even in fresh water you'll have to fight the buoyancy.
 
Originally posted by: uclaLabrat
You would be fine in a 5mm I would think. I use a 3/2 for down to about 53, and have surfed 49 deg in it for about an hour. Anything above 65, you shouldn't need a wetsuit at all.
Click to expand...

Jesus... a 3/2 down to 53? That's a full 4-5mm thinner than what all the shops recommend for that same temperature. Are they full of it?

Are you wearing a hood and booties/gloves while doing this?
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Just to add, don't buy without trying it on first. It needs to fit you properly. You're going to have a hard time snorkling with a full suit on even in fresh water you'll have to fight the buoyancy.
Click to expand...

Well, I've already tried a Henderson 7mm suit and the size small fits me very well. It gets a little bit baggy in the middle when I bend over but I think that's normal?

I should be safe to order a small Henderson online, right?

And yeah, I'm going to have to find some way to add weight. I wonder if weight belts are expensive...
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: uclaLabrat
You would be fine in a 5mm I would think. I use a 3/2 for down to about 53, and have surfed 49 deg in it for about an hour. Anything above 65, you shouldn't need a wetsuit at all.
Click to expand...

Jesus... a 3/2 down to 53? That's a full 4-5mm thinner than what all the shops recommend for that same temperature. Are they full of it?

Are you wearing a hood and booties/gloves while doing this?
Click to expand...

a 3/2 is going to be alright. I use a 3/2 during the winter surf with booties. i'm perfectly fine @ 50 deg and up.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Just to add, don't buy without trying it on first. It needs to fit you properly. You're going to have a hard time snorkling with a full suit on even in fresh water you'll have to fight the buoyancy.
Click to expand...

I'm not much of a snorkeler, or at least, I've never snorkeled with a wet suit on before. However, while taking SCUBA lessons, I have jumped into the pool with a 5mm wet suit on. I floated like a cork. I think it would suck to try to fight the buoyancy of a 7mm wet suit. (A losing fight I think.) Couldn't you put on a weight belt & adjust the weights to be about as buoyant as you prefer?

Also, I came into this thread hoping to see some good recommendations. I'm also in the market for a wet suit, probably 3mm or 5mm.
 
fuzzy - you'd be fine with a shorty (covers torso, upper arms and upper legs) unless the water temp is really low or you stay out for a while. 7mm is pretty freaking thick.

I went to look at my shorty in the closet, wasn't there but I'm pretty sure it's a 3/2
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: uclaLabrat
You would be fine in a 5mm I would think. I use a 3/2 for down to about 53, and have surfed 49 deg in it for about an hour. Anything above 65, you shouldn't need a wetsuit at all.
Click to expand...

Jesus... a 3/2 down to 53? That's a full 4-5mm thinner than what all the shops recommend for that same temperature. Are they full of it?

Are you wearing a hood and booties/gloves while doing this?
Click to expand...

I took scuba lessons with a girl who couldn't tolerate a swimming pool at 80-something degrees with a 5mm suit on. After an hour or so, she was shivering. For our open water dive, we went to a quarry. We had to demonstrate dropping to about 30 feet for a few minutes, then ascending and stopping for our safety stop on the way back up. 30 feet was well below the 1st thermocline. She had on a 7mm suit and after ascending, flat out refused to drop below the thermocline again. Me with a 5mm suit on below the thermocline (temp in the 50's) - VERY thankful to be out of the sauna near the surface - I had to keep unzipping my suit and letting in fresh water to keep cool enough. This is to simply show you that it varies greatly from person to person. Only you will know what's comfortable for you and at what temperatures.
 
Man, what's with all these dive shops and online charts saying that I need a 7mm suit and 5mm bare minimum for 55F water?
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: spidey07
Just to add, don't buy without trying it on first. It needs to fit you properly. You're going to have a hard time snorkling with a full suit on even in fresh water you'll have to fight the buoyancy.
Click to expand...

Well, I've already tried a Henderson 7mm suit and the size small fits me very well. It gets a little bit baggy in the middle when I bend over but I think that's normal?

I should be safe to order a small Henderson online, right?

And yeah, I'm going to have to find some way to add weight. I wonder if weight belts are expensive...
Click to expand...

If you're just snorkling you REALLY shouldn't be using weights. If you must go this route please get proper training. Otherwise you can dive down 20 feet and find you are now sinking and aren't trained in using the weight belt or how to dump it.

The amount of weight you need just to allow you to dive below the surface with a full 7mm suit and hood could get you into trouble really fast.

Don't play around with this stuff.
 
I don't know, but it sounds like overkill. I'm by no means an above average person when it comes to body warmth. I'm big, but I feel like I get cold fairly easily. I get chilly below 58 in my 3/2, but like I said, I survived 49 with booties, no gloves or hood. Wasn't terribly fun, but I was paddling a lot. If you think you do well with warmth, a 5mm would probably be very versatile for you.
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Man, what's with all these dive shops and online charts saying that I need a 7mm suit and 5mm bare minimum for 55F water?
Click to expand...

Those are assuming you are at that temp for a full dive at depth, totally surrounded by water, 30-40 minutes.

You are looking at scuba diving recommendations. You didn't say you were scuba diving. You said you were snorkling.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: spidey07
Just to add, don't buy without trying it on first. It needs to fit you properly. You're going to have a hard time snorkling with a full suit on even in fresh water you'll have to fight the buoyancy.
Click to expand...

Well, I've already tried a Henderson 7mm suit and the size small fits me very well. It gets a little bit baggy in the middle when I bend over but I think that's normal?

I should be safe to order a small Henderson online, right?

And yeah, I'm going to have to find some way to add weight. I wonder if weight belts are expensive...
Click to expand...

If you're just snorkling you REALLY shouldn't be using weights. If you must go this route please get proper training. Otherwise you can dive down 20 feet and find you are now sinking and aren't trained in using the weight belt or how to dump it.

The amount of weight you need just to allow you to dive below the surface with a full 7mm suit and hood could get you into trouble really fast.

Don't play around with this stuff.
Click to expand...

Does one tend to sink easier/have less buoyancy at deeper depths?

I'm thinking of just getting a 5mm suit package from LeisurePro. Not sure if I want a basic Henderson package or their nifty Henderson Insta-Dry stuff.
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Does one tend to sink easier/have less buoyancy at deeper depths?

I'm thinking of just getting a 5mm suit package from LeisurePro. Not sure if I want a basic Henderson package or their nifty Henderson Insta-Dry stuff.
Click to expand...

*facepalm*

-edit-
Yes, you get less buoyant the deeper you go. I'm trying to keep you from drowning here.

In fresh water you should be pretty buoyant in a 3/2 but I don't know your body. I sink in fresh water with no suit.
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: uclaLabrat
You would be fine in a 5mm I would think. I use a 3/2 for down to about 53, and have surfed 49 deg in it for about an hour. Anything above 65, you shouldn't need a wetsuit at all.
Click to expand...

Jesus... a 3/2 down to 53? That's a full 4-5mm thinner than what all the shops recommend for that same temperature. Are they full of it?

Are you wearing a hood and booties/gloves while doing this?
Click to expand...

I surf in SoCal in the winter in a 3/2 and temps get down in the low 50s here.

Diving is completely different though from what I hear. I've never gone diving but it seems like there is much less physical activity so your body would generate less heat and need to conserve as much as possible. Plus, you have little sunlight to warm you and your entire body is submerged. I would imagine that surf wetsuits and dive wetsuits would be vastly different in construction and in thickness needed.

In sort, don't go by what a bunch of surfers say you need.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Does one tend to sink easier/have less buoyancy at deeper depths?

I'm thinking of just getting a 5mm suit package from LeisurePro. Not sure if I want a basic Henderson package or their nifty Henderson Insta-Dry stuff.
Click to expand...

*facepalm*

-edit-
Yes, you get less buoyant the deeper you go. I'm trying to keep you from drowning here.
Click to expand...

I can't swim BTW.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: uclaLabrat
You would be fine in a 5mm I would think. I use a 3/2 for down to about 53, and have surfed 49 deg in it for about an hour. Anything above 65, you shouldn't need a wetsuit at all.
Click to expand...

Jesus... a 3/2 down to 53? That's a full 4-5mm thinner than what all the shops recommend for that same temperature. Are they full of it?

Are you wearing a hood and booties/gloves while doing this?
Click to expand...

I surf in SoCal in the winter in a 3/2 and temps get down in the low 50s here.
Click to expand...

What spot do you paddle out to Jules? O'side pier? Swami's? Cardiff?

We should have an ATOT surf-fest some time during the summer 😉 All So-Cal Surfers and Non Surfers hit the beach one weekend in June/July or earlier (April/May). Maybe have a bbq as well.

 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I can't swim BTW.
Click to expand...

Oh for fucks sake!

Then get a snorkel vest, learn how to use it and get a 7mm suit and a buddy.

What are you trying to do? Make my head assplode?
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Does one tend to sink easier/have less buoyancy at deeper depths?

I'm thinking of just getting a 5mm suit package from LeisurePro. Not sure if I want a basic Henderson package or their nifty Henderson Insta-Dry stuff.
Click to expand...

*facepalm*

-edit-
Yes, you get less buoyant the deeper you go. I'm trying to keep you from drowning here.

In fresh water you should be pretty buoyant in a 3/2 but I don't know your body. I sink in fresh water with no suit.
Click to expand...

How in the world do you get less buoyant the deeper you go? Water density increases.
 
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