Need wetsuit recommendations.

[thecrecarc]

Have fun snorgling!


*surprised this wasn't a response earlier*

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: rasczak

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.

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?

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

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.

I used to surf Carlsbad just north of the campground quite a bit, sometimes going to Terramar, Beacons (bunch of fucking assholes surf there regularly...or at least that's how it used to be), and Grandview (great spot, parking is a bitch...especially on a holiday weekend).

Honestly, I only got out a few times this summer and I'm quite out of shape for surfing.

I still have 3 boards and 4 different wetsuits, a couple leashes and a pair of booties. I miss it sometimes but I have a bunch of hobbies that I can't spend enough time doing as it is. Marriage and fatherhood will do that to you.

It's all good though. :beer:

 

[QueBert]

if I couldn't swim I think a wetsuit would be at the bottom of my list of things to buy, but hay that's just me

 

[holden j caufield]

look up matuse wetsuits, it's for surfing but they make really warm suits. Xcel, hotline, oneill also make good wetsuits. BTW snorkling and surfing wetsuits are 2 different types and central cal/norcal gets really cold. Also not to discourage you but that area is pretty sharky and you don't want to run into the man with the grey suit. If you plan on doing it long term just spend the extra money. Being a skinny guy I'd happily pay a few hundred more to be warmer.

 

[Spg]

I went diving this weekend in a 7mm wetsuit, 5mm hood, booties and gloves. The water was ~55°F @ 30 fsw (feet salt water) and I was fine for a 1 hour dive. Since you are NOT diving you can get by with less. The surfing wetsuits will compress more at depth and offer less insulation. And if you were wondering you will loose heat about 25x faster in water than in air. So dive shops will give you advice on diving wetsuits that will be thicker for cold water.

So listen to Spidey07 and don't make his assplode!

 

[holden j caufield]

Originally posted by: rasczak

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.

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?

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

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.

Haha I like the idea but but a bunch of IT, out of shape, pale-blinding people meet might not be the greatest idea. If you guys are ever up in Newport Beach give me a holler.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

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.

*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.

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

*facepalm*

-edit-
To make it simple, you are less buoyant as you descend. That big sack of air called your lungs? That is compressed, increasing you density, your entire body becomes more dense. You sink like a freaking rock. That's why SCUBA has a buoyancy compensator. Other wise the human body will be compressed, more dense than water and you sink and you die.

 

[zoiks]

I live in the SF bay area and often go kayaking in Monterey bay. A lot of my friends spearfish by freediving off their kayaks and they use a 7mm wetsuit. The waters around Northern-Central California are frigid. You won't last 3 minutes before your body goes numb if you fall into the water without a wetsuit.
That said, I recommend NRS suits. Some of them come with a relief zipper so you can pee out of your suits.

 

[Capt Caveman]

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

Learn to swim first.

/thread

 

[Soundmanred]

I'm going to assume that you're not really going snorkeling or scuba diving, so here's a tip:
Girls in porn don't squirt as much as they make it look like, therefore you won't need a wetsuit on your next Craigslist adventure.
If you ARE serious, please learn to swim.

 

[lxskllr]

I used to wear a 3mm farmer john wetsuit paddling ww open canoe. With the pfd I was good down to 50F(air) 40F(water) with nothing else. When it got colder, I'd add poly fleece and a windbreaker because of the air temp. 5mm is plenty for swimming in 40F water, at least for me. Make sure you're near a heat source(boat, land... whatever). Hypothermia's no fun, and it can take you out quick. It doesn't even have to be particularly cold. It'll sneak up on you, and knock you senseless before you know what's happening.

 

[jimmyjam]

Find a dive shop and take a intro to free-diving class. They will provide a wetsuit which you can use and you can determine if it is the right thickness. They will also either teach you to swim or tell you to stick to bowling.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: spidey07
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.

Excellent point. Fuzzy, completely disregard the weight suggestion.

To make it simple, you are less buoyant as you descend. That big sack of air called your lungs? That is compressed, increasing you density, your entire body becomes more dense. You sink like a freaking rock. That's why SCUBA has a buoyancy compensator.

This is especially true when you're holding your breath (and more so if you exhale) while snorkling. But, I was under the impression that SCUBA has a buoyancy compensator because your wetsuit compresses more in deeper water; and since buoyancy is related to volume of water displaced, it's less buoyant. AFAIK, your lungs breath in the same volume at depth. And just as importantly, as you use up the air in your tank, it becomes lighter. By the end of a dive, your tank weighs roughly 8 or 9 pounds less than at the beginning of the dive. Plus, at the beginning of a dive, you usually have some air in the BCD which also compresses as you get deeper, resulting in less buoyancy. But, your lungs, thanks to the regulator providing air at the current pressure, are at the same volume as at the surface. If this weren't true, a tank would last much longer at the bottom, rather than much shorter an amount of time (which is because you're breathing the air at a higher pressure, but the same volume.)

Snorkling and going 20 feet deep, for someone who can't swim though... that's just asking for trouble. Fuzzy needs scuba lessons though - you don't have to be able to swim - unless something goes wrong with your equipment.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

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.

*facepalm*

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

I can't swim BTW.

Jesus Christ!
/facepalm

That's it, I'm leaving.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

I can't swim BTW.

I can't decide if you're the cleverest troll ever... You have a 100% success rate at suckering ATOT into your little games...

or

You're really just that... clueless?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Have you tried wearing women's wetsuits? Those women's pants fit you like a glove. :laugh:

 

[foghorn67]

Dude. Seriously, are you manic? Why think about buying all this crap when you don't have a clue on how? Start the way normal people do it. Take lessons, and go from there.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: rasczak

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.

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?

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.

Sorry I am late to the game, but this is terrible advice. Don't listen to these people, go talk to people in the know.
I can give you advice for surfing in cold water, but snorkeling and scuba folks use different wetsuits for a reason. I surf in WA, OR, and Vancouver Island in a 5/4/3 Oniell Psycho II, but quality is important. There is a reason you will see quite a few 5/4's priced completely different.

That said, Patagonia makes a sick wetsuit that isn't as thick but just as warm. Check out there website.

 

[ViviTheMage]

can't swim? You are screwed fuzzy, screwed....

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: rasczak

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.

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?

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.

Sorry I am late to the game, but this is terrible advice. Don't listen to these people, go talk to people in the know.
I can give you advice for surfing in cold water, but snorkeling and scuba folks use different wetsuits for a reason. I surf in WA, OR, and Vancouver Island in a 5/4/3 Oniell Psycho II, but quality is important. There is a reason you will see quite a few 5/4's priced completely different.

That said, Patagonia makes a sick wetsuit that isn't as thick but just as warm. Check out there website.

hrrmm didn't know there was a difference for surf and snorkeling. used my 3/2 just fine for this, but maybe i'm just different. I can go in a spring suit up until december then i start wearing my full. like Dr. Pizza said, just different types who can handle different temps.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: rasczak

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: rasczak

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.

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?

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.

Sorry I am late to the game, but this is terrible advice. Don't listen to these people, go talk to people in the know.
I can give you advice for surfing in cold water, but snorkeling and scuba folks use different wetsuits for a reason. I surf in WA, OR, and Vancouver Island in a 5/4/3 Oniell Psycho II, but quality is important. There is a reason you will see quite a few 5/4's priced completely different.

That said, Patagonia makes a sick wetsuit that isn't as thick but just as warm. Check out there website.

hrrmm didn't know there was a difference for surf and snorkeling. used my 3/2 just fine for this, but maybe i'm just different. I can go in a spring suit up until december then i start wearing my full. like Dr. Pizza said, just different types who can handle different temps.

3/2 in 50F water is when i stopped listening to you. Not trying to be an ass, just don't give people advice if you don't know what you are talking about.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: zoiks
I live in the SF bay area and often go kayaking in Monterey bay. A lot of my friends spearfish by freediving off their kayaks and they use a 7mm wetsuit. The waters around Northern-Central California are frigid. You won't last 3 minutes before your body goes numb if you fall into the water without a wetsuit.
That said, I recommend NRS suits. Some of them come with a relief zipper so you can pee out of your suits.

why not pee in your suit to keep your body temperature up instead? i don't know what wetsuit i have, but i used it in hawaii when 100ft below surface and it kept me warm. best part was i got it free !

 

[slightlyhuman]

i wakeboard year round in a $150 ripcurl 4/3 suit of mine. it's fine in 50 degree water.

 

[AndrewR]

I bought a Henderson 5mm Gold Core last year for diving, and it's a really nice suit. I found it on clearance at Leisure Pro. I really do prefer to support local dive shops, but the local shop wanted $500 for the suit while Leisure Pro had it for $150. Sorry, my principles only go so far (plus the shop couldn't order it in time for the dive).

After trying on some of the other 5mm suits available, I was amazed at how much more flexible the Gold Core is. The 7mm suits (non Gold Core or Hydrastretch or anything like that) made me feel like the Michelin Man, but they were overkill for the temps I'll see off the NC Outer Banks.

I would think that you'd need more insulation as a snorkeler than a surfer would simply because you're in the water the entire time. Just a thought. That being said, perhaps you should try renting a suit at 5mm to see if that works? That would seem a better route than potentially buying something somewhat expensive and discovering it doesn't work for you. Sure, someone may have peed in the suit before, but urine is sterile when it comes out.