Need a new wetty for COLD winter conditions. Think the one I have is a 5/4, should see out this winter. I wear a hoodie when its really cold, cut out ear holes because I couldn't stand getting water trapped in ears but don't fall of as much these days so keen to get another one.
What I am considering at the moment is getting a 3/2 and a 2mm vest to wear over the top when its really cold, maybe a vest with the hoodie attached.
Questions are -
Anyone layer items like this? pros/cons
Vests with hoodies attached, any good? pros/cons

I think a layer under the 3x2 is better, a polypropylene rashie or 1mm roaster
Then head covering helps, I often get annoyed at being too warm with the Gath helmet on my head when it is not quite proper winter cold
Don't think it will match your 3/2 though....?

Layering under the wetsuit works well, providing a good and adjustable thermal barrier, and windproofing on top also gives a dramatic improvement. In winter here I wear a long-sleeve woollen shirt, Zhik thermal long-sleeve on top and wetsuit shorts under a 5/4 long wetsuit, while on top I have a windproof sailing smock held down by a lifejacket. Add Gath helmet, boots and optionally, if it gets really cold, winter sailing gloves and/or woollen socks. I find the woollen shirt and windproof sailing smock are the two extras that make the biggest improvement over the basic wetsuit, boots and helmet. Feels toasty warm like this, only the fingers seem to get cold on the freezing days. I find movement wearing this is no problem as I have a nice stretchy wetsuit, warmth being the key to retaining good movement, far better than when wearing less and freezing up.

I bought a dry suit off Good Sammys and wore it in Perth on a moderate cold day,around 17C.

I got out a few hundred metres and started panicking from overheating!

Straight back in and ripped it off in a panic.

Only time I've ever got really cold in Perth.

Was sailing Shelley river one September 20 years ago and the temperature dropped from around 16-17C to 8C in the space of an hour.

My hands went red and I had to stop as I could not hold the boom properly.

The western side of Tasmania must be one of the windiest places in the world in the winter.

Interesting point on the sailing smock, I know a chap who wears a spray jacket over his wetty and swears by it. (he is a kitesurfer)

I wear my undies over my wetty. Works well, I feel like superman and it makes me as fast as a speeding bullet

Doesn't anyone pee in their wetsuits anymore?

Hello, Pirrad,

For COLD conditions, I’ve settled on an Ion single-sided, 4/3 wetsuit, a Ripcurl vest, a NP standard hood and boots.

Ion: http://www.ion-products.com/water/men/wetsuits/quantum/semidry-43-sk/. Note: if you go Ion, suggest you get one size bigger than what their specs call up, as I found their specs were one size too small for me.

Ripcurl www.ripcurl.com.au/shop/guys/wetsuits/vests/flash-bomb-neo-lycra-lsl.html. My vest has a Titanium lining, to reflect heat back into the body. Can’t see this feature mentioned in their range now, due to spec changes, but you’ll get the idea.

NP: www.npsurf.com/products/protective/hoods-beanies-hats.html.

The vest should definitely be worn under the wettie, but the use of the vest is dependent in the air/water temp. Use it when it’s really cold, but you don’t have to use it if the air/water temp rises. I find the vest more flexible in its use that a full, thick wettie, particularly when we get into October/November.

I can also recommend the use of a spray jacket, if, during a long session, you start to get cold, but don’t want to stop to pull on the vest. The spray jacket is also useful if you’re standing around talking with your friends in windy conditions.

Whilst I am sure that others will raise the question of the life of single-sided vs. double-sided wetties, the fact of the matter is that, although the single-sided wettie is more fragile, with care it will give a long life. I only got the Ion recently, replacing a NP 3000 4/3 which has lasted more than 8 years (and in fact I used it today whilst Supping).

More reading here: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Winter-wetties/?page=1. Good info on the Flying Objects Flux from Marco.

For me, the features of a wettie I look for are: vertical back zip, non-choker neck seal, pre-bent boomerang arms, velcro seals at the ankles, and thin rubber cuffs at the wrists. The Ion meets most of these needs. I use a thin plastic shopping bag when pulling on the wettie over my arms and legs, to reduce stress in the wettie.

Hope this helps.

Cold? What are you guys talking about? Still t-shirt and shorts weather here...

Thermalution heated rashie does it for me three temp settings make it as cosy as you want
Under a 5/3 wettie with Gath helmet, poly long sleeve thermal, booties and Ion palm less mitts and a mystic impact vest

4.3 Psycho O'Neil wetsuit, hot skin titanium L/S vest, palm less mittins, Gath & full length booties or not sailing at all keeps me toasty.

Me cause I'm a wimp - 20 year old RipCurl 3/2 spring suit

Vando, Boombuster - rashie and boardies

I wear a vest like that underneath a 5/3 o'neill psycho in close to freezing waters. I use a spraytop if the windchill is bad. The vest is great for reducing neckflush. However. The arms don't have any extra insulation, which causes them to go cold. I didn't have this problem when i was wearing a long sleeved rashguard. But using both or all three seems a bit over the top.

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WindmanV said..
Hello, Pirrad,

For COLD conditions, I’ve settled on an Ion single-sided, 4/3 wetsuit, a Ripcurl vest, a NP standard hood and boots.

I got myself an Ion semi-dry a month ago. It's great for wind chill and keeps most water out, but it's not exactly warm when falling in. Solution: wear my el cheapo unsealed summer 3/2 underneath. Upside: almost had a heatstroke. Downside: stiff like Robocop. And the Ion does nick easily.

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Stuthepirate said..
Doesn't anyone pee in their wetsuits anymore?

Research shows that taking a piss in your wetty can damage the wetsuit itself. The acid in your urine ruins the rubber material. Not only that i hate smelling piss when i walk into the bathroom

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John340 said..


Vando, Boombuster - rashie and boardies

Right through winter??

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Stuthepirate said..
Doesn't anyone pee in their wetsuits anymore?

The re-sale value of your wetsuit has just hit an all-time low

I've looked into getting a 2 mm hoodie, but it simply doesn't get that cold here- most winter sessions air temp is usually between 10-17 deg -though last week I sailed in 8 deg to a max of 12...

For me during a north coast winter, a 3/4 steamer, impact vest and helmet seems fine for even the coldest days. Though on the lakes the feet go numb in an hour or two...

Yesterday in Perth the wind changed from a mild to cool Westerly to a cold south westerly around 2pm.


By around 4pm I counted only two sailors on the water from 40-50 at around mid-day!


And I can understand why there were only two sailors brave or is that foolish enough to endure 10C conditions.


The wind chill factor with those 30 knot gusts coming through----- it felt like the South Pole.


Windsurfing in Tasmania in those winter fronts------ only for fatties I would have thought.

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PhilSWR said..

John340 said..


Vando, Boombuster - rashie and boardies

Right through winter??

Up until last week

Cripes! You can tell the Tassie sailors..

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Stuthepirate said..
Doesn't anyone pee in their wetsuits anymore?

I tried it once but it felt uncomfortable,apparently you're meant to be in the water when having a leak in your wettie

Hi All,

We make a Neo Beanie that uses high stretch neoprene that has a soft lining and they are designed to fit tight over the head and ears. These have been pretty popular with some of the Tassie crew and they are a pretty cheap option (RRP $29.00).





Cheers,
Marco

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TGale said..
In winter here I wear a long-sleeve woollen shirt, Zhik thermal long-sleeve on top and wetsuit shorts under a 5/4 long wetsuit, while on top I have a windproof sailing smock held down by a lifejacket. Add Gath helmet, boots and optionally, if it gets really cold, winter sailing gloves and/or woollen socks.

You just need a camel pack, GPS gear, fancy watch, toolbelt, slalom gear that's tricky to rig, and you'll be ready to sail just before sundown.

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evlPanda said..

TGale said..
In winter here I wear a long-sleeve woollen shirt, Zhik thermal long-sleeve on top and wetsuit shorts under a 5/4 long wetsuit, while on top I have a windproof sailing smock held down by a lifejacket. Add Gath helmet, boots and optionally, if it gets really cold, winter sailing gloves and/or woollen socks.

You just need a camel pack, GPS gear, fancy watch, toolbelt, slalom gear that's tricky to rig, and you'll be ready to sail just before sundown.

Add a speedchat program that needs to be downloaded and installed every time you sail and yep, just before sundown.
It takes longer to get dressed than to rig up in winter, but I do stay warm. I had a rotten sail on Sunday but I was not cold.

1mm booties, short sleeve polypro rash vest 5/3 wettie, bouyancy vest, wind proof jacket, fingerless gloves, sunglasses, regular peaked cap.

I do have a neoprene beanie and a long sleeved rashie I can wear when it is really cold. They all help.

Down here in Tassie its as a cold or colder than anywhere in OZ. For the extreme coldest days I wear the 2015 5/3 FO Flux wetty with a 1mm vest with attached hood. This wetsuit is so comfy and fits like a glove. On the normal cold winter days I wear the same wetsuit but without the vest and the FO beanie. With these combos I never feel the cold. I always wear 3mm boots all year round and on the really cold days gloves.

How cold is cold for you?

It seems that this is something that is very individual. To me, it is when both the water and air temp is below 5 C.

Here in Sweden, we basically sail as long as the water is open (no ice) and air temp is above 1 C, since ice on board and boom can become a bit of an issue. It is better when the water is a bit warmer, above 5-6 C I'd say, because then the air temp doesn't bother much. If the combined water and air temp is 10 C or more, sailing is never a problem, as long as you have a proper wetsuit and good shoes. And you would not believe some of the tricks we use to get our hands to last when it is proper cold, including putting sex wax inside gloves, handball glue and belt grip spray on the boom...

I'd say that the importance of a good wetsuit in colder weather cannot be overrated. If you want do stay warm, really try get a good one that fits your body perfectly. I'd rather use a 4/3 quality suit than a cheaper, but thicker, one. Having been to Australia, long time ago now..., I must however admit, apart from Tassie, I cannot see any reason to use a hoodie anywhere at any time considering yearly average air and water temps, unless there is some freakish winter event. You do not have cold weather...

And even if your wetsuit seems to be in good condition, neoprene is something that has a best before date. Its ability to stay flexible and keep you warm will decrease over time, this is actually a reason to avoid buying older wetsuits, even if they are "new". At least if you intend to use it for cold water sailing.

Also, remember to stay hydrated and, if possible, drink or eat something warm during breaks. Take more breaks than normal, and stay warm when on land. You lose more hydration and energy faster than you think when it is cold.

Cold to me is below 8c water temp. Then it is time for a hood. When the water gets under 3C I also put on gloves. I've sailed in -10c air and close to freezing water, and I agree that ice becomes a real problem at those temps. But with a quality 6/5/4 hooded suit, spraytop, gloves and 7mm boots, I have had no problem staying warm. The point is that if you can sail without going titanic and hitting an iceberg, you can also find a nice solution for your needs. The biggest problems will always be the gloves. I would actually also like to hear what temps you are refering to in this thread?

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djl070 said..

Stuthepirate said..
Doesn't anyone pee in their wetsuits anymore?

I tried it once but it felt uncomfortable,apparently you're meant to be in the water when having a leak in your wettie

Or at the very least, get out of your car first!....

PS. I bought some Ripcurl Flash Bomb booties and could have sworn i had electric heating on my feet when i first tried them. Them and 3/4 wettie, with NP bouancy vest had done the job so far. PPS i spent the previous 10 years only getting in the water about 5 times prior to getting back into windsurfing, now I'm hooked.

You know it's cold when the marble bag shrinks enough so that only one Tom boller fits,and a tic tac
The water temp would not go under 10c in Tassie, but air temp,probably between,4 c to 10c at worst.wind chill who knows,cold.
The worst cold sailling I have been in is after 45 min sailling you come in cause your having trouble gripping the boom, and just after getting out ,the blood running back in to your cold fingers burns so much that you want to cry.that hurts.
Average wetsuit,4/3, 3mm boots, helmet,or wet suit hood, impact vest, is reasonable ,gloves just don't work for me ,to much arm pump, pink washing up gloves, on the coldest days.
Much respect for those sailling in those cold northern countries.

This whole thread is making me cold. Those sweet, bath warm sea breezes are only 90 odd days away