Hi,
I have now pretty much everything together to get me back onto the water (can't wait) apart from a suitable wetsuit. Given that it is now summer there might be some nice deals coming up and therefore I am looking into buying a wetsuit with good price/value. I went through the archives and pretty much got the following from previous threads:
- Don't go for a normal surf suit but a windsurf or kitesurf specific wetsuit due to better movement or arms/shoulders, flex and windchill. E.g.: NP, Mystic, Flying Objects or Ion
- Smoothskin (single lined) is better as it prevents windchill, however less durable than double lined
- Recommendations seem to vary between 4/3 for winter down 3/2 - as I will be surfing around Sydney I reckon 3/2 will probably do it.
However, I still have a few questions
- Is there the ultimate one-fits all seasons wetsuit which would work, or would I end up with a proper 3/2 for winter and a cheap shorty for summer? I probably know the answer but figured I ask anyways 
- Is a short arm, smoothskin too cold for Botany Bay and driving distance around Sydney or would for instance something like this one work in winter: www.npsurf.com/products/wetsuits/mens/nexus/s-s-steamer-3-3.html - I'd like to go with a short arm version as it will work much better for the arms or would something like this be better: http://www.surfdome.com/mystic_wetsuits_-_mystic_majestic_3/2mm_chest_zip_wetsuit_-_blue-130442
- Is windchill at all a consideration for summer? Otherwise a double lined shorty would make much more sense due to durability
- Front zip vs Backzip - does it matter?
- Any shops that you know that sell NP, Mystic, Flying Objects or Ion wetsuits and which are easily reachable with public transport (Bondi, CBD, Bondi Junction)
Thanks for any insights :)
Why wouldn't a surf wetsuit suffice? O'Neil psycho's or rip curl flash bombs are easily some of the best wetsuits available. Sure the ions and other windsurf specific may have some benefits but at the end of day I wouldn't rule out the surf brands. Anyway a 3/2 sealed suit will be all you need in winter, 4/3 if your a bit soft.
Select to expand quoteKrusty said..
Why wouldn't a surf wetsuit suffice? O'Neil psycho's or rip curl flash bombs are easily some of the best wetsuits available. Sure the ions and other windsurf specific may have some benefits but at the end of day I wouldn't rule out the surf brands. Anyway a 3/2 sealed suit will be all you need in winter, 4/3 if your a bit soft.
Agreed 100%. Why wouldn't you buy a wetsuit from a company who has been making them since the 1950's.
O'Niel also happens to have a sale on this weekend too at their Brookvale warehouse. If you wanted the magic wetsuit for "all occasions" go a 3/2 short arm steamer
I think you are massively over thinking this - Sydney is never very cold. Just buy any surf suit and you will be fine.
The surfing ones are usually better as they have more flexible arms than the dedicated windsurf/ kite ones - and they are cheaper.
Select to expand quotealbentley said..
I think you are massively over thinking this - Sydney is never very cold. Just buy any surf suit and you will be fine.
The surfing ones are usually better as they have more flexible arms than the dedicated windsurf/ kite ones - and they are cheaper.
Depends where you are sailing and when. If its a massive westerly wind and sailing on a lake, it does get cold. The water temperature can be in single digits, much colder than seawater and the air temperature, with winds travelling across the frigid inland even lower, if starting out early.
In regards to getting a wetsuit now is probably a good time to be shopping for one as demand will be low with new stock arriving in the not too distant future. For windsurfing I'd really recommend a winter wetsuit made for windsurfing. I've got one and its far superior to the surfing wetsuit I bought one year previously.
Select to expand quoteKrusty said..
Why wouldn't a surf wetsuit suffice? O'Neil psycho's or rip curl flash bombs are easily some of the best wetsuits available.
The problem with the Psycho is that once you are out of the water the stretchy skin they use causes a lot of evaporative cooling. I don't think this is an issue while surfing as but definitely a problem in windsurfing where you spend most of your time being blasted by cool air. While it's a comfy wet suit I ended up going back to a wetsuit designed for windsurfing. The slick skin keeps you warm a lot longer and the they are usually reinforced around areas that get a lot of wear such as were your harness rubs.
Yes if your sailing in the surf you don't need one as warm as if you are sailing winter westerlies in the lakes.
I sail lakes and I use rashie + boardies for warm summer, 3/4/5mm for winter Neil pryde Serene ( A1) for winter + a cheapie short arm and leg wettie from ( hate to admit it
- Aldi )$35 for just keeping a bit of windchill off for late spring early summer)..
Select to expand quoteconan said..
Who needs a wetsuit a good rash shirt & boardies will do after all its summer.
second that... I haven't worn a wettie since early Sept. Windsurfing is a very active sport and, for me anyway, I get hot just plain sailing... I don't understand how anyone can be comfortable in a steamer in summer. I'm not fat either.
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..Krusty said..
Why wouldn't a surf wetsuit suffice? O'Neil psycho's or rip curl flash bombs are easily some of the best wetsuits available.
The problem with the Psycho is that once you are out of the water the stretchy skin they use causes a lot of evaporative cooling. I don't think this is an issue while surfing as but definitely a problem in windsurfing where you spend most of your time being blasted by cool air. While it's a comfy wet suit I ended up going back to a wetsuit designed for windsurfing. The slick skin keeps you warm a lot longer and the they are usually reinforced around areas that get a lot of wear such as were your harness rubs.
Have you sat out the back in a Ripcurl 3/4 eBomb , on a surfboard for 30 minutes waiting for a set in the middle of winter while being buffeted by a howling Westerly ? It gets damn cold and that's wearing the latest tech wettie!!! Sorry, your theory doesn't make sense to me.
Select to expand quote2035 said..
Have you sat out the back in a Ripcurl 3/4 eBomb , on a surfboard for 30 minutes waiting for a set in the middle of winter while being buffeted by a howling Westerly ? It gets damn cold and that's wearing the latest tech wettie!!! Sorry, your theory doesn't make sense to me.
I guess I wouldn't be surfing in the middle of winter if I'd have to wait 30 minutes for a set. It would have to be one hell of a good set. 
RE windsurfing wet suit, I have a Neil Pryde winter suits (can't remember the thickness) but I find it's less restrictive than a surf wetsuit and keeps me a lot warmer. Ion also makes some decent wet suits these days. I actually think most of the stuff comes from the same factory in China... at least they all look very similar.
In my experience ProMotion from Hood River, Oregon, makes the best windsurfing suits. Look at site.wetsuit.com/New_Windsport_Wetsuits.html
Mine one is a long sleeve one and cost only aud 100. I get it from overseas... it is not a thick one, I use it most of the time except the weather is hot.
It wont limit your movement on windsurfing...You are not swimming..it won't limit your movement in windsurfing..I am a swimmer myself and wet suit does limit your movement in swimming, not windsurfing
Don't waste a lot of money on an expensive wetsuit..
