Winter Wetsuit

carve111 · Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 2

Hi,

I'm looking for a wetsuit for sailing through the winter in Vancouver. Any recommendations/opinions?

I've looked at the Promotion 5/3 but I'm a little concerned it might not be warm enough. Promotion also sells a drysuit, has anyone here tried it?

The O'Neill Windfreak and PsychoFreak look good too, though pricey. Are they worth the money?

NL

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

I will wear nothing but a drysuit below water temps in the low 50s. Anything less allows icy spinal taps down the neck which send a chill and a shudder from my neck to my feet.

I like the Kokotat Goretex bag suits best, with an oversized Promotion neoprene dry suit next.

Sure, they're spendy, but this is a spendy sport and being cold sucks.

Air temp is almost irrelevant compared to water temp.

Mike \m/

carve111 · Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 2

loosescrew · Joined: 28 May 2001 Posts: 95

You should definitely check out the O'Neil Assault Hybrid suit. It is a drysuit with a bag top and not that pricey. You can get it at Windance check out their website at Windance.com. They also have the Psycho 5/3 booties totally worth the money. Dave, the owner is a super great guy and he has a great staff to guide you with your needs.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

TBird · Joined: 05 Jul 2001 Posts: 65

I had a Promotion dry suit for years, which I used in the Midwest (water temps in the 40s and 50s in spring). Now that I have the luxury of living in the Gorge, I never sail when the water's that cold, so have switched to a Promotion 5mm wetsuit for spring/fall. Both will keep you warm in cold air, but the drysuit is definitely a bonus for icy water.

Promotion has always been great about warranty issues (sealing a leaky seam, etc), in my experience. Plus they're a Hood River company. Buy local!

andymc4610 · Joined: 19 May 2000 Posts: 684

I use a 7/5 wet suit (i like better than the bag drysuit) to 38 deg water but sail when it's sunny or 50 air 5mm dive booties, hood or bennie. for diving in 45/50 deg oregon coast in the winter i use a 7mm wet suit top/farmer.

divot · Joined: 26 Mar 2001 Posts: 7

Ripcurl makes a zipper less 6/4 with an integrated hood..buy it a big as it can be difficult to get off when you can't feel your hands. They also make a sweet 5 mm bootie. Then go down to the Kayak Shed in HR and get the NRS pre curved mittens and you will good into the mid 30's.

WMP · Joined: 30 May 2000 Posts: 671

Can't find Ripcurl in the Gorge any longer, anyone know of a Ripcurl dealer close by?

My current wetsuit, ONeill FLX 5/3 worked great for 2 seasons before the shoulders cracked, so I had Promotion replace the shoulder panels.... awesome job.... worked for another 2 seasons. I combined a titanium vest underneath to stay toasty warm when the water got fridged cold (36*f) in Jan-Feb. Big Winds carries another version of the FLX, but not the same fit as mine, so I'm now looking for something else.... might consider the Promotion drysuit.

- WMP

wdsurf · Joined: 22 May 1999 Posts: 335

cleanline surf shop on the oregon coast.i sail on the gret lakes till iceup and the hooded ripcurl 6/5/4 suits are WARMM!!!we go in cold water down to the 30,s and the suits work well. Exclamation