Wetsuit Sizes

[coldkook]

Just after a wee bit of advice on my new wettie, it's a rip curl f bomb 6/4 and i'm stuggling a bit with the size. going by the chart I'm a m/s as i'm 5'8" and 11.5 stone/73kg but when I tried one of them on I couldn't move in it ( I was sort of walking like c3po off star wars! not good) I explained this to the bloke at the shop and he suggested a l/s which I've now got and tried on and it seems to fit a lot better except there's a bit of looseish neoprene under my armpits and absolutley no contact between the suit and the small of my back. It must be sitting off about 1/4-1/2 inch in the middle!
The thing is it seems to fit quite well on the rest of my body so I'm just not sure if it's the right size or not?
Any advice would be great, cheers, Brian.

[mrc]

If it keeps you warm it fits ,although I have a l/s and after about six months its split on the shoulders.

[Old Guys Rule]

6/4 wow that is thick. How cold is your water. THat seems closer to a diving suit thicknes

[northswell]

6/4 wow that is thick. How cold is your water. THat seems closer to a diving suit thicknes

Hey this is the north sea, feckin freezing.
Its real difficult to get a wettie to fit perfectly everwhere, but if you don't go made to measure, and your toastie, don't worry. AS long as flushing aint a problem

[Old Guys Rule]

I have new found respect for you guys. I am all upset when the water temps hit 55 and the air is 40. You guys are hard core.

[isaluteyou]

I have new found respect for you guys. I am all upset when the water temps hit 55 and the air is 40. You guys are hard core.

amen to that. Im feakin out at 55f

On the wetsuit subject you just have to try on many from diffirent manufaturers and find one that works. In my case its a real bummer cause im an awkward size for weight ratio

[surfsc77]

i feel your pain, im pretty tall and skinny so i couldnt find a suit that fit perfectly. if i wear a rashguard under my wettie it isnt so bad.

[SoCal WaterSpout]

You may want to ask your local surfshop if they know anybody who does wetsuit alterations in your area. I see a couple of these types of places advertised around the surfshops in my area. From what I hear, they aren't too expensive. I may visit one in fact. My wetsuit fits perfect, except for the wrists. My arms are small compared to the rest of me.

[coldkook]

Thanks a lot, all good advice folks.
Yep it gets a bit chilly from dec through to april alright, last year I could hardly get back up the path from the beach cos it was all icey
I do go with a theremal rashie under my 5/3 at the moment but thats suits a few years old now and keeps getting flushed but might have to try that with the 6/4 mmm toastie!
As for someone to tailor it I'm not sure. I know Snugg down in cornwall make tailored suits from scratch but don't know about alterations, that would be good though I'll have to give them a call I think.

Thanks again everyone.

[northswell]

Current water temp is 8C 46F. but will be down to 5or6C at its coldest so around 41F. Air temps can be minus degrees so below 32F