What thickness of wetsuit?

by **jaa** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:20 am

Hey everybody I live about two hundred feet away from the beach and I'm thinking about surfing. I live in Oxnard, CA it is about 20 miles north of Malibu. How thick of a wetsuite should I get? I would like to surf all year round. And I don't really like cold water by the way.

**Sponsor**

by **calisurfer** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:08 am

hey i am from Moorpark so i am like ur neighbor haha i surf county line and i use a 3;2 and i am cool all around but you can get a 3;2 and some bootys and u wud be good or u can get a 4;3 and if that isnt doin it for u get some booties but i dont think ur going to need a 5;3 but i surf with an O neill hammerhead 3;2 and a thermal rash gaurd and i am fine but i think i am going to get some booties soon cause i keep cutting up my feet so there ya go

by **Broosta** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 12:20 pm

Yeah I surfed Oxnard in Dec/Jan before and first tried it in my 3/2 flatlock seam with short arms and no booties - too fkn cold!
I had to go buy some booties, a 1mm vest, put on the arms and then I was just about warm enough.
So I would say you need a 3/2 long arm with sealed/glued seams (top of the range suit) and booties for cold days, a thermal rashie for really cold days and you should be sorted

.

by **tomcat360** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:37 pm

you live 200 freakin feet from the beach in cali and your just starting to surf?

by **deathfrog** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:04 pm

3/2 ripcurl fireskin with booties is all you need.

by **calisurfer** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:28 pm

Oneil thats the best

by **gulfsurfer** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:53 am

deathfrog wrote:3/2 ripcurl fireskin with booties is all you need.

Yep, ive heard theyre awesome, i think i'll get one this winter.

by **gulfsurfer** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:56 am

I think i might try this one:
Ultimate Fireskin 3/2 Zipfree but without the hood..

by **tomcat360** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:46 am

dont zip-free's wear out real quick? never owned one myself.

by **gulfsurfer** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:13 am

O im not sure, i just heard some people say they liked them alot.

by **deathfrog** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:20 am

I think ripcurl is doing better than oneill right now...

by **gulfsurfer** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:50 am

What do u think about zip free suits? Better then back zips?

by **calisurfer** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:40 am

i ve always used an Oneil zip just my prefrence

by **deathfrog** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:11 am

don't really have much experience with them zip free sorts

by **dmb72** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:30 am

jaa wrote:Hey everybody I live about two hundred feet away from the beach and I'm thinking about surfing. I live in Oxnard, CA it is about 20 miles north of Malibu. How thick of a wetsuite should I get? I would like to surf all year round. And I don't really like cold water by the way.

I live in Oxnard too. For starters, learning there might be a mistake. Sh*t gets heavy in the winter...summer too when the South, southwest’s sneak through. Try C-street for now...or for good :lol:

This last year was not just cold, it was freaking bone-chilling cold. Today, I'd say its like 59, so be prepared for another cold winter. I was in a 4/3 O’Neal heat last year and also wore a hood because I like to surf for hours and hours every day if I can. I just bought the psycho 1, 4/3. It Is Glorious! My motto: I'd rather surf warm than cold.

by **Weebl** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:05 pm

I'm also from the Ventura County area, for learning go to C-street in Ventura, or go to Mando's Cove. (PM me if you need directions) As far as wetsuits, in the winter a 4/3 will do you fine, if you're still cold, get a hood like dmb72 said, as that's the warmest upgrade next to booties.

by **deathfrog** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:52 am

I wnt a new 4/3 for this winter...

by **Weebl** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:31 am

I have a Hotline GT Firefly, here's a Picture of it; I've been using it since June and no stretched seams/neck area from getting in/out. Works better too if you want to use a hoodie only some of the time (It makes a better seal under the neck-flap)

by **colin** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:17 am

I also live and surf in LA and I just bought a Rip Curl Core Fireskin 3/2 and it is awesome. I was out a few hours this past weekend and cannot recommend this suit enough. I only wanted to purchase 1 suit and the rest of the year I would be in boardies and thermal rashguards, so I think I'll be able to do that now.

by **enzosdad** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:39 am

Jaa,

Everyone from CA knows that our waters range from 50-54 degrees on average. With that said, you need a 4/3...period.

I agree with Weebl. That particular HOTLINE wetsuit is bullet proof and a 4/3 setup. Made in USA for/by the boys who ride the swell at Swift Street, Ghost Trees and Mavericks.

HMB is my home break and if you ever grow the minerals and decide to make it out to Mavs someday, you'll see that's the suit of choice for the Hellmen who ride the bombs up here. I own one and love it. Great fit, warmth, good seals and very much allows me to move around. Not to mention it keeps it's shape, even after big sessions at XXL spots. VERY durable and priced well. For the average 4-6 ft. wave rider, that suit will last you a couple years, easy. Combined with some booties and a cap and you're set.

If living in CA you know that the best surf here is in the dead of winter anyways, so you need the warmth then more than anytime.

Before my HOTLINE I wore an XCEL Infiniti 4/3 (a front-entry suit). Also a good choice.

I decided to go to the HOTLINE because it's better suited for our neck of the woods.

I'd recommend the HOTLINE to anyone surfing the CA coast for sure!

If you want to look good when you ride, sure, you can buy a Quiksilver/RipCurl/O'Neill suit. If you want something that just plain works, no matter the conditions, you buy a HOTLINE.

Nuff said...

Good luck.

What thickness of wetsuit?

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