What type of wetsuit?

[Airush11291]

any suggeestions on what type i should get?

idealy prolimt

[Todd RT]

Depends on the conditions where you ride. I go thru a wetsuit every 2 years. I just got an O'neill Gooru. Only 3/2, but very flexible.

2008 Gooro on Sale here: http://www.jackssurfboards.com/sales

My Neil Pryde 4/3 was too hot for FL, and not flexible enough for me.

[pdfox]

I like this one http://www.hyperflexusa.com/index.php?page=mojo_series

I bought it last year from http://www.oceanextremesports.com/

[toby wilson]

I go with the el cheapo special of the day and do just fine.

[shogun1204]

The Hyperflex are nice suits, I have a Mystic crossfire and love mine.

[Steve-O]

I think first you need to consider many factors.

What are the temps you are exposed to?
What is the length of exposure?
What is your body type?
Do you get cold easily, or are you always hot?

Larger body types have natural insulation, where as thinner body types need more protection.

There is thickness of suit to consider.
There is stretch to consider.
There is wind protection to consider?
Suits have different types of insulation. Not all suits are made of just neoprene.

Last weekend, it got cold, and I was in a 4/3 full and still a bit chilly. It didn't have any wind protection though. I saw some in shorty's and they were chilly. I would have been freezing in a shorty. I saw some with no suits. I wouldn't have been out with no suit.

This is not a question of brand right now IMO, but more importantly what do you want the suit to do for you? Is it going to fit YOUR needs. Once you define your needs, then you can start finding brands/models that fit what your looking for. No one suit is going to do it all. You will need to aquire a few pieces IMO.

I think this is tougher question than the classic "what kite should I buy?"

[Unimog Bob]

Woody just got one of these http://www.hyperflexusa.com/index.php?page=mojo_series
off Ebay for 75 bux. :)

I came home and tried to find one.
Everyone is obviously different. I don't get cold easily at all. Meanwhile, Kev will turn blue out there.

On a side note, I think wearing a hoodie is very important.
I am always surprised by how few do when it's sub 60.
Without doubt (for me) I am just asking to get sick if I ride all day in 30 knots, with a wet head, in cold air. :eek:

[stpetesal]

I have Niel Pryde 4-3 semi dry not the cheapest, but I am very happy with it, no wind gets thru it, I am nice and cozy when it is sub 60.. make sure what ever one you get you try it on and it fits like is should. This is my 2nd season with it and it is in very good shape, I do not put it in the dryer, I hear that is not so good for them, not totally sure..I kite locally and I am one who gets cold quick.

[Whitey]

If you are going to wear only a wet suit, then the most important thing is that it has a "skin" on it so that it blocks the wind.

Wet suits are designed to provide warmth while in the water by trapping a layer of water aginst your body. Your body heats that layer up and you move around in the water with that layer of warm water keeping you nice and cozy (as long as you remain in the water).

We on the otherhand get water in our suit then stand up on a board let the warm layer of water drain out, then speed thru the cold wind. The cooling effect of the wind on the wet neoprene sucks the heat from your body.

You can more than double the effect of any wet suit (out of the water) by wearing a loose fitting wind blocking jacket over it.

The real question is "what is required to keep you alive if you are stuck in the water for an extended period of time".

Overall comfort with maximum flexibility is acheived by going as thin on the neoprene as possible.

My advise, buy a thinner suit take the cost difference from the thicker suit and buy a quality wind blocking jacket with it, to wear over the wetsuit. Then you have options based upon how cold it is. Jacket only, wetsuit only, wetsuit and jacket together.

[Unimog Bob]

Any recc's on an outer windbreaker? How does that work with a waist harness?
I use to do just that 20 years ago when I was into Hobie Cattin' and it worked pretty well. But I had a seat harness.

I agree on the skin covering of the suit. Thought most all brands of kiting/windsurfing suits had that. Without it, you may as well not have a suit, the evap. is so bad.

Original question referenced Prolimit. This was my last suit (close anyway, I had 4/3 and different year)
http://shop.windfanshk.com/cgi-bin/hk/cart.cgi?action=show&product=816 (http://www.powerkiteshop.com/prolimit_global_steamer_wetsuit.htm)
It lasted 5 seasons, absolutely top notch.

[Todd RT]

Whitey's got some good points! I also increase Under layers when I get cold. This year I discovered rash guards with polypropelyne (spelled right?) on the inside. Nice and toasty warm!

[Steve-O]

Excellent point Whitey about the wind breaker. It can turn a very inexpensive suit into something quite warm without sacrificing flex.

I am pulling the full on wimp card. I hate being cold. I got a full body suit of the Poly-O that divers call "skins". Great stuff for sure.

I think if you can pull something from this thread, it's about layering, wind protection, and personal taste. When I hit the slopes, it's nice not to rely on just one heavy duty garment, but a combination of things that can work together or seperately.

[Gator Gris]

Oh yeah. It is incredible how much warmer you are on the water with a windbreaker. In January, I am plenty warm with a 3/2 wetsuit and a cheap windbreaker pants and jacket set I got at a camping store.

To keep the feet warm, I just add a thin dry fit sock with my regular booties and wear a hoodie and gloves.

It is awesome to be comfortable in raw conditions.

Gris

[Whitey]

The Gill Spary Top is the best I have found,

http://www.gillna.com/dinghy/dinghy_4352.php

You can buy it for about $68 locally, mine is 5 years old now. I wear it by it's self or in a layer process including a combo of the following:

warm poly diver skin (full one peice by Henderson Aquatics) no restriction at all.

shorty wet suit

with these three items you are good to go in all but the worst of days here in central Florida.

No problem with waist Harness. It has a tight rubber area around the waist and wrists you can stay pretty dry in it if you don't crash bad.

[Danimal8199]

I have an NPX assassin its a semi dry 4/3 it works wonders, I am the type that gets cold easily and i never had a problem with this in terms of warmth and flexibility.

got it at WSW and highly recommend it!

http://usa.npxwetsuits.com/index.php?option=com_npxproducts&view=detail&id=8&Itemid=150