Hi Guys,

Its getting cooler now...what sort of wetsuits do people recommend for our balmy qld winters.

Cheers

Michael

Ask Simon100, actually don't as I've never seen him in a wetsuit

A spring suit should see you through, board crazy have suits I think....

I use a spring suit but start to get cold near the end of May. I would guess that there is a fair bit of individual differences though. As a teenager I surfed all through winter on the Gold Coast with just a vest and long sleeves. The water was not too bad but the westerly winds were a bit, rough on anything above water. I had a cousin who surfed the whole winter without a wetsuit. He froze but saved a bit of money. That being said, there are some good wetsuits out there if you are prepared to pay a bit extra for the really stretchy ones.

I sailed through winter last year for the first time. Bought a cheapie full size from the dive/surf shop next to board crazy. Cost just over $100. Worked really well. Did have one freezing day mid winter at Cootharaba when I could of had a little more warmth - really needed something to keep the head warm

Probably saying - keep it simple - we are in Qld

Anything with long arms and legs is going to work

Outcome - sailed most weeks through winter and kept my sailing fitness up

Cheers Jeff

I get a Ripcurl E-bomb or what ever that are every few years from SurfFX. After a few seasons they get holes in them around the harness area.

I was going to get a 4/3 for my last suit but was talked out of it as they said that the new material was 30% warmer. Ended up getting a 3/2 again. Next one will be a 4/3. Cant wear them surfing down the goldie, get way too hot. However the water in the bay in winter is way colder than that at the goldie.

Current water temp in SEQ is about 24 degrees. It's just started to get refrshing after the bath-like temps of summer!

Agree. The sea is still 25c on Sunshine Coast. Maybe a Rashie or life jacket for some insulation at most.

I have got a rashie and a wetsuit. Now the rashie seems not enough sometimes when you get wet and the wind blows. However the wetsuit seems too much. So sometimes really don't know what to buy.

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Carindale said..
Ask Simon100, actually don't as I've never seen him in a wetsuit

A spring suit should see you through, board crazy have suits I think....

The cold is all in your mind , if you don't acknowledge it the cold isn't there and yeah i threw mine out and don't think ill buy another one this year .

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Simon100 said..

Carindale said..
Ask Simon100, actually don't as I've never seen him in a wetsuit

A spring suit should see you through, board crazy have suits I think....

The cold is all in your mind , if you don't acknowledge it the cold isn't there and yeah i threw mine out and don't think ill buy another one this year .

Ah - where men are men and sheep are nervous!

I use a Ronstan skiff suit. It has Kevlar patches on the knees - important when you spend as much time as I do grovelling on the anti-slip coating trying to get the strength to stand up. These last me about 5 years, and I'm a total wimp so I wear it a *lot*.

It's sleeveless, so in order of increasing warmth you can add:

Lightweight rashie - which, when it gets wet, is colder than bare arms
Heavyweight rashie, say 0.5mm, worn under the wettie
Ditto but worn over the wettie - warmer this way
Longsleeved wetsuit top, thickness calibrated to your precise level of wimpiness

Add hats, gloves, handbags etc to suit the occasion and your personal style.

You guys are lucky, if this is what you call cold :)

Its normally the wind chill that gets ya those westerlies can be cold especially at 8am in the morning
yer sure you can go out without one but you wont last as long.
I had a flying objects 3/2 for a few years now which seems to be holding up well.

"Add hats, gloves, handbags etc to suit the occasion and your personal style."

...must accessorise!

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vando said..

I had a flying objects 3/2 for a few years now which seems to be holding up well.

I have one as well, good warm suit. Mine is for sale if anyone wants one for a few $$$ off.

get one with stretchy arms and/or legs, especially in the arms so you don't feel like you're in a straight jacket, and don't constrict your forearms as much.
Only problem with stretchy legs is the water pushes up into the suit after a crash or landing a jump and tends to stay there. If you can get one with Velcro\cuff straps around the ankles or get some after market ones , that will help.

I got an Peek flex 3/2 a few years ago, nice and warm and is still going strong, had to get some velco straps for the ankles though.
Also use a Wests 2/2 spring suit with a spring long sleave rashy over the top sometimes.
Much prefer the ones with the zip across the chest than the zip at the back.

Got a good one at Board crazy last week. Long legs, short arms. Works well. Doesn't come with gag ball....

for QLD i have only ever had a 2 mm suit latest is a rip curl E bomb warm a comfy . I have just moved to Vic and will be getting a 4/3 to deal with water temps of 10 to 12 deg which you will never see in qld even in the middle of winter no mater how hard the westerly is blowing