Budget Wetsuit

[cactus]

Ok so I live in SoCal I think all I need is 3/2 wetsuit during this cold months. Im shopping around for wetsuit and I found all this for under $100. Out of all this which is the best do you guys think? Not sure about the size also, but im 5'8" 155lbs and I usually fall in between the sizes in the size chart either small or like small medium. do I go for the bigger size or does the suit needs to be really tight fit? Ok here are the the suits

O'neill Reactor 3/2mm
Rip Curl Classic Sealed Steamer 3/2mm
Billabong Flatlock Foil Steamer 3/2mm
Quicksilver Flatlock Syncro 3/2mm

Which of those is the best budget wetsuit?

[isaluteyou]

a 3/2mm under a $100 for winter All of the above will probably be of the same quality im in san diego and for my first winter i had a cheapo wetsuit 3/2 as well and found it just didnt cut it. So i ended up getting a 2mm rash jacket to wear under the suit. Then again i have an abnormal disease called colditis so it might work for you.

The suit needs to be a really really good fit as there is no real strecth in cheap wetsuits so if you get it even slightly loose you are gonna have to bulk up because when they strecth they stay stretched so your tight wetsuit could end up too loose and let in way too much cold water. Go for a slightly tight fit. if you can hang on and save a bt more go for christmas specials and get an oneil phyco 2 or summin its only $230 at the mo so i imagine you can get away with $200 thats what i reccomend anyway as you will only replace it later on.

If you are desperate then buy a super cheapo suit for the time being i dont see the point in wasting money on something you will deffenitly replace. Thats my 2 cents

[cactus]

Thanks man, I can usually stand cold water. Im picking up a used surfboard next week for cheap, so im also shopping for a cheapo suit. Ill think about that psyco 2 though. I live in the temecula area if you know where that is and I have to drive an hour to oceanside which is the closest beach from my place, waves there get really big sometimes. do you know a place where a newb like me can practice?

[Ellie]

I'm guessing you found these on the internet - to save yourself a lot of faffing about with trying to return a wettie if its too big/you can't get it up past your knees here's a sneaky way of finding out your size...

Go into your local surf shop (or even just a big name brand that ahs wetties...) and try on the suit you're thinking about buying...when you get the perfect fit, hide that excited smile, and go "Errrmmm, I'm not really sure about it...Tell you what, I'll go away and have a think about it". Struggle back out of wetsuit. Remember your size. Ta da! Now you can buy from wherever you want...

[isaluteyou]

Thanks man, I can usually stand cold water. Im picking up a used surfboard next week for cheap, so im also shopping for a cheapo suit. Ill think about that psyco 2 though. I live in the temecula area if you know where that is and I have to drive an hour to oceanside which is the closest beach from my place, waves there get really big sometimes. do you know a place where a newb like me can practice?

Maybe try tourmaline or la jolla. You are pretty stuck for mellow surf as we are nearing the biggest months usually mid dec to mid jan.

[tomcat360]

Also--

if you got to a local camping gear supplier, you can pick up a tube of seam sealer. You can get another, eh, 10 degrees if the seams on your suit aren't good.

Makes it look kinda weird, but who cares.

[GowerCharger]

O'neill Reactor 3/2mm
Rip Curl Classic Sealed Steamer 3/2mm
Billabong Flatlock Foil Steamer 3/2mm
Quicksilver Flatlock Syncro 3/2mm

Which of those is the best budget wetsuit?

the one which fits you best.

[Old Guys Rule]

I would suggest that you save up a littel more and get a suite with sealed seams and super stretch to it. It will be well worth it to you. I surf a lot of the same areas and even use a 4/3 in the early morning sessions during the winter months.

[cactus]

Thanks OGR, yah I think im just going to save up for an either an Oneill Epic II or Xcel X-Flex. The glued and blindstich quicksilver syncro and rip curl classic are cheaper, but I heard they are crap.

[sal]

hey cactus i have an O'Neill Epic II 5/3, it's a great suit!

[SoCal WaterSpout]

Spend the money, and get a better suit. I bought mine last week on sale (got a smoking deal on a 4/3 O'Neill Heat), and it's money well spent. I tried on a cheap $100 suit, and HATED it. I thought if I bought that one, I would never want to wear it, therefore, I would never want to surf. Tried on a $300 one (I think it was a Psycho 1 3/2) and LOVED it. It felt like a second skin.

Still didn't have $300 to shell out, so I went to a different shop that was having a huge blow out sale, and paid $120 for my O'Neill Heat - I think it normally retails for about $230. Liked it just as much as the psycho, and it was just as comfortable - the only difference I think is mine doesn't have the welded seams - just glued and stitched.

Moral of the story, if you don't have the money for a better suit now, just watch - they do go on sale...

[Brown Lightning]

... if you can hang on and save a bt more go for christmas specials and get an oneil phyco 2 or summin its only $230 at the mo

isaluteyou, where have you seen a Psycho 2 for $230? I've been seeing the Psycho 1s for that.

[Brown Lightning]

...so I went to a different shop that was having a huge blow out sale, and paid $120 for my O'Neill Heat - I think it normally retails for about $230...

SoCal WaterSpout,

What's going on with me? I feel like that guy that can't find the deal everyone else is getting. Where did you get the Heat for $120?

[SoCal WaterSpout]

Huntington Surf & Sport
300 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

I got it at the address above in Huntington Beach. Not sure what they have left, but as of this weekend, they were still having the sale. Brought my husband down there last week to find one, and they were out of his size (XXL), but they had plenty of stuff available in XL and smaller. I did in fact see a psycho II on the rack for $220, I think. Can't remember the size, though. It's DEFINATELY worth checking out.