Hiya, I'm moving down in a few months from Sydney and all i hear is how cold it is.. so
What wetsuits do you guys and girls wear, boots, what thickness's etc...
Cheers, see you in a few months!
Phil
Coming from a warm state, look at getting a dry suit
.Anyway i get away with 4/3mm with a rashie underneath, for you i would look at a good 5/4mm wetsuit for winter.Then i go to a short sleeve short leg 2mm in summer also booties are a must threw winter at least.
Dont go 5/4 the arms are too thick and makes it harder to hold on to the boom. I have just bought a Flying Objects 5/3 Lava and have to say this wetsuit is so sweet (can you say that about a wetty). We normally wear boots but not gloves. I like the Oneil spilt toe boots and quite a few guys wear those but its a personal thing. I would wear the 5/3 right through till Oct. I can get you a price on one if you are interested, checkem out on the FO website.
I have a ripcurl E3 4/3. Toasty toasty warm in the middle of winter, consider either a helmut or a skull cap. I'm with Izaak about the shortie in summer, depending on the day boardies and a l/s shark skin. Also follow the guide about the booties.
Don't stress too much about the cold. It is what you get used to. I have just moved back from Newcastle so I understand the concern.
I have a Promotion 5/3 from the Gorge USA and its made specifically for windsurfing with slighlty oversize arms and really stretchy material for less "arm pump" .
It's by far the best suit I have ever had for windsurfing the last suit I had was an ONeil 4/3 which had stiffer material and this one has velcro ankle seal/straps that make it easy to get in and out of and stops the water flush. I know its good to shop locally but to save $200 and have something superior delivered in a week it's worth it.
The crew reckon I'm a bit soft, I also have a Hotsuits wetsuit heater and thats awesome for those really cold days.
Awesome, thanks all for the help!
I like the cold (perhaps i wont in a month or two!) so 4/3, skull cap and booties sounds like the go...
Cheers for all the advice :)
What ever you go for 5/4, 5/3, 4/3, make sure its got rubber around the body area. I've got a Ripcurl Elasto 5/4(Ithink) and its s#it for sailing, i'm using my dads old Ripcurl fireskin with holes in it and it way warmer because of the rubber, cuts down the wind chill drastically. During summer i use a 2/1 short sleeve Oneil(still has rubber upper body).
For future winter sailing any of the Euro brands, Ion, Neil Pryde etc. are the go if you want the best proection from the elements; they're rubber and built for sailing.
Furs, Geared4knots is right we don't wear wetsuits down here in Tassie
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/6335085/Pictures-of-the-day-15-October-2009.html?image=5
I have a large ONeil 4/3 for sale. 3 years old good cond, rinsed out with fresh water every time after sailing. Taped and sealed seams, toasty warm. $100.
Ah yes, regarding the topic on hand. I'm just starting windsurfing and due to budget constraints I wear my full length 3/2 surfing wetsuit and some Ronstan sailing booties. Sometimes when I remember I wear some fingertip-less sailing gloves.
Cold but doable, I can manage a couple of hours before my feet get too painful. I'm hoping it gets a little warmer when I learn not to fall in so often.
When its so cold you get very good at staying warm, to put it simply get an effing thick one. Na mist days its actually quite nice with a 4/3 and rashy. Haha
