Since Winter seems to approaching sooner than expected I have started thinking about what I'm going to need (besides a good wetsuit) to keep the body warm while windsurfing during Winter in and around the bay. Is a helmet as good as a hood for warmth? Would either be needed? How about gloves & boots, etc ? Any advice appreciated.
Cheers.
Yep, helmets are great for keeping your noggn warm and the cold wind out of your earhole which causes boney growth in your inner ear.
Reusable "sodium acetate" heat packs are excellent for putting down your wetsuit - gives you 30mins of 40+ deg. warmth.
Max temp is about 64c, so probably shouldn't contact direct with skin - I [ut mine down the back of my wetsuit, inside the "batwing". Different sizes are available; you should be able to pick them up from chemists or ebay.
They work by catalysing sodium acetate so that it transforms from a liquid, into a crystal-like solid - which gives off heat. To re-use them, simply boil them for about 10mins, then allow to cool.
I should mention that if you let in a bit of water, if quickly runs down your legs, so warming your whole body.
Thanks guys! Think my wetsuit is pretty decent, sealed seams. It's a 3x4mm batwing type purchased a year ago, West I think. Besides that, a helmet/hood would be the next best purchase would you say?
I often find my hands are the first to feel the cold wind. I have heard gloves tend to tire the forearms arms quickly.
The heat packs, I'd imagine they can be purchased from a chemist or similar?
Thanks!
I don't want to sound like a safety grandmother but a helmet is a good idea for every windsurfing session. The head is a very vulnerable part of the body but relatively easily protected. ... And the helmet does keep your head warm, on exceptionally cold days I wear a 1mm hood underneath. Keep your head warm first, then the torso and the rest wont even matter, but booties are nice and you can wear dishwashing or disposable surgical gloves when hail and sleet are about.
The warm packs might be nice as a recharger when you have an energy break because there is nothing like a bit of food to warm your brain.
I won a Neil Pryde Neoprene "beanie" at the B to B this year . Looks like the goods to keep the brain warm , yet to try it though.
There has been some discussion regarding surfing wetsuits as compared to windsurfing specific wetsuits and the tightness around the forearms. I've heard that windsurfing specific wetsuits tend to be a pit looser around the forearms thus promoting better blood flow to the arms/hands therefore keeping the hands working more effectively.
I had my GPS (which I wear on my upper arm) a tad over tight once and you could definitely feel that arm getting a little bit altered in sensation as opposed to the other..
I can only assume reduced blood flow to that arm. The gps didn't restrict my movement but the mild extra constriction could definitely be felt.
Hey Frant - yeah, I agree. I've actually been looking for something I like - I'm not so keen on the Gath Helmets. I'm sure they are great helmets, I just don't like the look, although the Gedi is ok. More keen on the Pro-Tek range, probably the Ace Wake, but I can't seem to find someone who stocks them.http://www.pro-tec.net/water/main.html
might not be as good for Warmth though.
Have a look at this ebay store got some mighty cool gath helmets (including gedi)http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQsassZcustomsprays
Smooth skin wetties are really good, I purchased a 5/4/3 smoothskin O'Neill Evo for last winter, and was toasty warm on the coldest days, plus hood/gath and booties. Don't worry about gloves, your fingers just freeze at first, then as your body warms up due to exercise the blood comes back into them, causing excrutiating pain for a while, then it's all hunky dory. BUT smmothskin wetties are not so good for surfing - they tear real easy. My suit is less than 1 year old, but looks like a veteran, plenty of glued patches on knees and legs.
I recently grabbed a helmet for xmas in Melbourne, got a Pro-tec - pretty sure its an Ace-Wake. Got it from RPS in Elwood, check them out.
Its not as solid as the Gath Helmets but i also reckoned it looked a tad better.
Otherwise HTFU! 
Have a look at Triple-X wetsuits. They are Australian made (Ballina I think). The material they use is equivalent to double the thickness ie a 2mm suit is equivalent to a 5mm standard suit. I was a bit sceptical until I bought one.
I have a 2mm and surf and dive all winter in it (down to 12 Degrees) They are great as you dont have the arm or shoulder restrictions that you do with a standard suit. You find youself throwing water on your face as you get REAL WARM in them. When diving I leave it on in my open tinny going flat out - no wind chill at all.
They also make hoodies of the same material and they are excellent. A 1mm hoodie is all you need - remmbering you lose 80% or so of your bodyheat through the top of your head.
Defintely worth a look.
A local AB diver put me onto them, they're cheap too. I know heaps of people that are getting into them know. Cant rate them enough as opposed to some "well known" suits.
Just listen to me. You need a 5/4/3 wetsuit, booties and a wetsuit hood. Wetsuit hood is only needed on colder days. You dont need a helmet. Sissies wear helmets. My philosphy is that "One who wears a helmet, is sissy like".
Yep, the're great. I have a long sleeve 1mm shirt. I wear it under my 2mm steamer in mid winter (Sydney).
Works a treat - very tight fitting feels like a rashie on - the two combined gives probably a combined warmth equiv of 5mm or more + I can use the steamer alone for spring/autumn sailing or the 1mm shirt for the colder summer days.
