Hi all, looking at a long sleeve 1mm or so top to put under my 3/2 steamer this winter. Any thoughts on good ones or ones to avoid?

Insulation? Durability? Value? Comfort?

I have a West thermal rashie - it has a fleecy lining - does a good job under a wetsuit. Has loops stitched into the cuffs so you can pull a steamer over it.

However, I reckon a good alternative is polypropylene base wear from somewhere like Kathmandu - they repel moisture away from your body - used to use them sailing under wetsuits.

Just be sure to get one without any zippers. They make them easy to get on and off but are really uncomforatble with a harness on. I've got an Excel 2mm and I like it a lot. Got it for like $75 on egay a while back.

They are excellent in the summer with just a pair of boardies too.

maybe try radiator.net
i could only see tops of .5mm tho

Radiator do a vest which is pretty good. Its supposed to be the equivalent of 1.5x normal thickness. I.e. the 1mm is the equivalent of a 1.5mm wetty

Personally I can't stand the feel of the 0.5 and 1mm wetty tops.

I did find a great Quicksilver number that is a hybrid rashie though. It is essentially chest and back panels of 1mm neoprene with lycra sleeves and gussets. Was only $60 bucks on sale I think?

Great in summer and works a treat for extra warmth under a wetty. Super comfy.

Radiator are worth checking out also. Had one of their older styl rashies with the thermal singlet sewn in on the inside. Awesome gear - lasted 10yrs. Wish they still made em.

all those options are good - but I have found a wetsuit hoody that I will be wearing with my boardshorts this winter- kept me toasty warm on last monday......npx brand from where ever stocks cabrinha....

We have Triple-X Titanium tops, 1mm thin and soft equates to 2mm neoprene thickness, and 100% wind proof too. We also have the full range of Aleeda wetsuits in store. Top quality triathlon favourite aussie brand. Comfy as.

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djdojo said...

Hi all, looking at a long sleeve 1mm or so top to put under my 3/2 steamer this winter. Any thoughts on good ones or ones to avoid?

Insulation? Durability? Value? Comfort?

Man i suggest you try out sharkskin wetsuits, they do tops and everything. i use mine diving as well and it keeps me warm as. They are also fleece lined so there is no chaffing or irritation to your skin.
Stuart

^^what he said. Sharkskin are worth a go.

Can't recommend enough thinking about putting a smooth skin wettie top OVER the top of your 3/2.

Most wetties are designed for surfers, and most surfers aren't out in 15+ knots wind with the associated windchill factor and evaporative cooling effect. We get some pretty nasty cold weather down here and my cheapie smoothskin wettie top (1-2mm) with my 4/3 Ebomb helps me cover the transition from boardie summer kiting to drysuit winter kiting.

maybe just get a thicker wetsuit or a better sealed one? Whering a rashie underneath gets uncomfortable.

SHARKSKINS rule!!! Totally windproof, work well under the steamer too. Windproof neoprene, titanium layer plus Polartec fleece. You will never feel the cold again!

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ok said...

maybe just get a thicker wetsuit or a better sealed one? Whering a rashie underneath gets uncomfortable.

Yep, if uncle stabber wants to buy me one that'd be great but until then I'm just after a cheaper option.

Cheers for suggestions, seems a sharkskin may be the way to go. How are they for harness wear?

i actually found it far warmer to run my wettie top (silver lined) over the top of my short sleeve/LL wettie. And when it was really cold i'd put a woolen thermal top underneath. awesome.

Dunno if it's just me but i don't get anywhere near as cold kiting as surfing?

Possibly sittin around waiting for a set is the issue compared to charging along 100% of the time kiting?

Boy I remember Vic cold water tho. In the 80s I used to wear my springy under a steamer before paddling out at portsea. Brrrr... kn cold and uncomfortable!!

Thank gawd for the plethora of warm n comfy choices out there these days.


Hey - Bertie where do you get these woolen thermal tops from? Sounds a similar set up to my old Radiator rashie. That was the bomb.

Getfunky - you can get woolen thermal tops from most camping supply stores.
I prefer Polypropelene because it is cheaper and deals with salt water better. Also, whilst wool keeps you warm when it is wet, Polyprop is designed to repel water away from your skin so you stay warmer because you are drier.

I wouldn't be too keen to wear my Merino Icebreaker under my wetsuit - they are pretty expensive - prefer to keep it for the snow and for cycling.

If you had the coin I would be going for one of those specialist kiting drysuits - guys who wear them that I speak to say you keep warm and toasty in them, and you can wear warm base layers under them as well.

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getfunky said...

Dunno if it's just me but i don't get anywhere near as cold kiting as surfing?

Possibly sittin around waiting for a set is the issue compared to charging along 100% of the time kiting?

Boy I remember Vic cold water tho. In the 80s I used to wear my springy under a steamer before paddling out at portsea. Brrrr... kn cold and uncomfortable!!

Thank gawd for the plethora of warm n comfy choices out there these days.


Hey - Bertie where do you get these woolen thermal tops from? Sounds a similar set up to my old Radiator rashie. That was the bomb.

Drysuits solved that problem for me. $450 to land a kiting drysuit with fleecy undersuit in Aus and no discomfort while you are out. It takes a couple of minutes longer to put on but its just as flexible and there is no discomfort on land when you are taking a break and the wind chill sets in. I don't even bother with booties anymore because the warmth of the drysuit means your core temp isn't cold so your feet don't feel as bad.

I've seen people huddling behind a kite on a cold winter day in between sessions while I'm warm and cosy and when you take it off, you don't have to endure the torture of cold wind against a wet body while you get your dry clothes on.

Drysuit Disclaimer - You do smell like a american's indians crotch after a war dance when you get out of it but thats only after the session and I'm not there to pick up women anyway. A shower takes care of the smell and who doesn't feel like a good shower after being in salt water.

Well Saffer, you never know when some hotty squaw will chance along thinking "Mmmm - I know that smell from somewhere.."


Cheers for the info LIL.

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getfunky said...

Well Saffer, you never know when some hotty squaw will chance along thinking "Mmmm - I know that smell from somewhere.."


Cheers for the info LIL.

The main reason they smell so badly is you are warm enough to sweat in them. You don't feel hot (you can layer clothing depending on how cold it is, you can use them in 25 degrees with no undersuit and still be fine, or in 5 degrees with a fleecy undersuit), but normally the water in a wetsuit would wash away the sweat. Ironically, the sweat all settles on the outside of the fleecy inner suit so you don't actually feel it. You can wash and tumble dry the fleecy undersuit every day if you want and I normally chuck the drysuit in a shower every two weeks or so and leave it to drip dry.

That said, I'd still take a drysuit any day. Its like the difference between a car and public transport, you can live with public transport, but once you'd had a car, public transport just doesn't cut it. I bought a radiator 3mm and I hardly wear it anymore because the drysuit basically bridges the gap between cold all the way up to a short wetsuit and the only time I wear it is if I get to the beach and suddenly realise its colder than I thought.