Winter Wetsuit advice!

[JoeQ93]

Ok so as we creeping closer to the colder months of the year in the UK its time to get a new winter wetsuit as mine is knackered from last season. I have always just gone with a 5/4 and used a hood when it gets seriously cold but I am thinking of getting either a hooded suit or just wearing a thermal rash with stitched on hood underneath. What do people prefer?

[dtc]

. What do people prefer?

Living in a country where a 3/2 is as much as you need....

Sorry, I have no advice. I just wanted to patronise an english person. Coming to the end of our (Australian) winter and just the other day, as I was driving through some rain, I said to my wife 'I'm so glad I dont live in England, 200 days of this weather a year and I would go insane'

[BoMan]

In the winter, water temps at my break dip to 54 degrees F and I use a 5/4 Ripcurl with a neoprene cap. This keeps me comfy for as long as I choose to stay out.

[Oldie]

I prefer a separate hood as I have a very large head and wetsuits with a hood were too tight around the head. The rashes with hood that I saw had fairly thin hoods. I am happy with my Xcel Drylock hood.

[pmcaero]

Ok so as we creeping closer to the colder months of the year in the UK its time to get a new winter wetsuit as mine is knackered from last season. I have always just gone with a 5/4 and used a hood when it gets seriously cold but I am thinking of getting either a hooded suit or just wearing a thermal rash with stitched on hood underneath. What do people prefer?

I used a 6/5/4 with built-in hood and the hood can be cinched really tight, hardly ever letting water in. I'd recommend that for colder water/air

[waikikikichan]

Or get a Surfing DRY Suit. I wouldn't recommend it for a lot of duck diving, but for longboarding it's great. Your wrist and a bit of the neck gets wet, but other than that your completely dry. The boots are attached to the suit, so no leakage there. I wear thermal underwear in mine. Don't need to even shower after surf. Only thing is you can't pee for however long you're in the water.

[dtc]

Are the dry suits heavier or less flexible? I've seen diving dry suits and they were really heavy, but never come across a surfing one

[waikikikichan]

As heavy as a 5mm fullsuit and boots weigh. There is a large zipper that runs shoulder to shoulder. They are made more flexible because the upper body doesn't have to be tight to the skin.