Rate your wetsuit

[ivanputski]

I have been wetsuiting for the last 2 seasons, and as with many of you who have tried one, you are not going back to waders (except for certain nights/spots where its not needed.) I have gotten by fine with a cheap 60$ 5mm suit, but it has its downfalls. (lack of stretch, bunching under my armpits, seams on the back of my knees that chafe on long walks.) I am looking for a new suit in the 150-200$ range.

what type of suits some of you guys are using, and some of the pros and cons of those suits? This could also be a good thread for those looking for their first suit.

I have my eye on an xcel 5/4mm. $165.00 I need to try one on...

[Back Beach]

Henderson elastiprene 5mm- cost me under $200.It's my backup and light duty suit. I wear it for deep wading and very short swims. It's kind of a cheap suit but fine for what I use it for.

Also have a pinnacle 7/5 which cost about $300.I use when swimming because it floats better. Mobility is a bit less, but I've never been cold in it.

I really only use a wetsuit maybe 5-6 times a year in reality. Provided my body dimensions stay about the same mine will last until I'm 70 or 80.

[afterhours]

henderson thermoprene 5mm $225, no complaints.

[chefchris401]

I have 3 suits.

7mm bare farmer John. Great suit very warm, drawbacks are it's very thick and a lil bulky. Cost me 160

3mm NRS grizzly farmer John, excellent suit, made for big guys, 3 seasons old and shows no signs of wear. Easy in and out, 140 bucks.

3mm neosport xspans full suit, this thing is insane!!! Cheap at 135 bucks. The suit stretches 200 percent. Look online for the demo video. Most comfortable suit I've used. Its designed for action sports, wake boarding, water skiiing, windsurfing, etc. Awesome range of motion and feels like your wearing nothing at all. Also comes in a 5mm and 7mm both for under 200.
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[RIROCKHOUND]

I've got O'Niell surf suit with hyperstretch shoulders. 3/2 good from Late May - Oct. (Bascially 60deg) if it is cold I add a 1mm top. 3mm socks and 2mm boots for the sand. If it is windy I through a dry top over it for non deep wading.

I don't recommend swimming in Newport Harbor with it after Thanksgiving @ 47deg though

[Surf Caster]

just bought a body glove suit. this will be my first season wetsuiting.

After much research i went with a surf suit for flexibility

also picked up botties and a 1 piece hood/rashgaurd

i went with 4/3 thickness for all around use in june through sept, not sure what it will be like in october.

[JLH]

I used the bodyglove 5mm spearfishing suit almost all season. The suit is comfortable, held up well and is a good thickness for most of the season. I did add a top with a hood for most of my trips from late october through November.

I also have a 3MM NRS Farmer John that is nice with a light top when it's really hot and I don't plan on spending a lot of time in the water and a 3MM Henderson Hyperstretch which is an awesome suit and extreemely comfortable but I found myself going with the 5MM suit nearly every trip.

For me wearing a thin layer undernear the suit (underarmour or something similar) really helps with comfort on long trips especially when hiking out to spots.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

I really only use a wetsuit maybe 5-6 times a year in reality. Provided my body dimensions stay about the same mine will last until I'm 70 or 80.

More likely you'll expand and suffocate due to "wetsuit denial" long before 70-80, of course.

[ivanputski]

Chefchris: How is the neosport holding up? Do you ever feel discomfort under your armpits from bunching-up? I know a lot of guys say 3mm for the summer, 5mm for the fall, But honestly, I wore a 5mm all summer, even walking long distances, and never felt too hot. If I get too hot, I just open the zipper and let cool water in. My current suit is cheap, and although it has been great to me and I owe it a lot of fish, the neoprene has little stretch, so it gets bit uncomfortable at times under my armpits.

[chefchris401]

I'm a big guy so I run hit anyway, I wear a 3mm all summer.

The neosport is great, the most comfortable suit i own and use, i only used it for about half the season. No discomfort at all. I usually wear a thin rash guard underneath. And I always wear a light windbreaker over the suit, NRS is the one i use now.

I really like the neosport, super stretchy and once it's on you barely notice it.

It also has a coating on it to stop the wind but breathes from the inside out.

And for the money you can't go wrong.

I'll try and post some pics of it being stretched out, yoh have to see it to believe it.
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[ivanputski]

I always worry about water getting in the suit and ballooning up with suits that stretch a lot... ever have that happen? (without unzipping the suit ofcourse)

[chefchris401]

No never had that happen to me, I always swim a bit and more often than not I'm swimming a bit.

I've never had that happen with any of my suits
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[MassBass]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

I always worry about water getting in the suit and ballooning up with suits that stretch a lot... ever have that happen? (without unzipping the suit ofcourse)

that wont happen, not if your suit is properly fitted. all the suits I've worn have had some water intrusion which is normal but a minuscule amount.
don't worry about water ballooning inside the suit.

[Clogston29]

water is supposed to get into your wetsuit, that's how they work

[ivanputski]

I realize that...

[Thumper]

Putski I know the place in town sells the neosports, not sure about the 5mm tho.
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[Thumper]

Originally Posted by afterhours

henderson thermoprene 5mm $225, no complaints.

I've been eyeing this suit for a while.
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[eskimo]

I use a xcel infiniti X-zip. The suit is perfect in every way except its a little on the delicate side. I have a pinhole sized hole on the back. Most likely from sliding off rocks. To give the suit credit I could have gotten the pinhole anywhere as I don't take care of anything.

I used one of the xcel back zips like you posted above before the infiniti and for money it served me well.

[piemma]

I don't recommend swimming in Newport Harbor with it after Thanksgiving @ 47deg though[/QUOTE]

...and you know this how??????

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by piemma

I don't recommend swimming in Newport Harbor with it after Thanksgiving @ 47deg though

...and you know this how??????[/QUOTE]

I took my PADI certification at Nahant that weekend, dang that was cold

And in NE you have the best visibility after T-Day.

Friends surf all winter as there are better waves too.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by piemma

I don't recommend swimming in Newport Harbor with it after Thanksgiving @ 47deg though

...and you know this how??????[/QUOTE]

47 degree water is cold? HA!
It was 38 when I got certified in Gloucester during the month of March...my nipples snapped off it was so cold.

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

...and you know this how??????

47 degree water is cold? HA!
It was 38 when I got certified in Gloucester during the month of March...my nipples snapped off it was so cold.[/QUOTE]

Any other body parts? was this after you had your kids? that is friggin cold

[RIROCKHOUND]

No comment, except to say at 47deg, a 3/2 summer suit is COLD

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

No comment, except to say at 47deg, a 3/2 summer suit is COLD

Dat true

[Pete F.]

I had a 7mm Hyperflex fullsuit and that was a little much and I did'nt like the thick top.
Now I have the same thing in a farmer John, don't use the top. If it's hot out I just wear a thin Neoprene shirt, cooler I use a Henderson Playa jacket over it. I like having pockets and a hood. I added a relief zipper and now hate my waders.

[bloocrab]

The one I've been using came off the "Job Lot" bargain rack @3mm for about $50.
Using an UA shirt and shorts = NO rashing for me as well as making sliding in and out of it pretty easy.

Fits me solid, no bunching up. Really no complaints other than freezing my off when undressing at the truck. For the $$$ It's held up pretty decent. The only spots that could use some love would be the knee areas from all the praying I do on those barnacle covered rocks...

Like you said, this could be a thread for someone buying their first suit...and for those of us with a limited amount of "play" dough....this was a bargain, and allows me to get anywhere you deep pocketeers can go. As far as hating my waders...NEVER. Nothing beats the feeling of getting back to your truck, dropping your waders and being bone dry. However....the NUMEROUS advantages of wet-suiting clearly surpass the disadvantage of being "wet" after-wards,....

Sorry that this didn't help you any....

[ivanputski]

I will rate the Aquawave job lot suit... 5/4mm black and gray, 50$

Job lot has provided countless anglers the opportunity to try wetsuiting for little money. I have used the suit about 50 nights, including 8 block trips. For the money, the suit is a champion.

Pros: very affordable, warm well into september/early october, fairly durable (a few minor tears here and there that were easily fixed using aquaseal)

Cons: Knee pads are placed too low, and are more like "shin pads"
A bit less stretchy than expensive suits due to cheaper neoprene, but not bad at all
* seams on the back of your knees, so 2 mile + walks will chafe the back of your knees, but just apply some odorless diaper rash creme before, and the problem is solved.


Overall, this suit is unbeatable for the money... 50 bucks! the downside is, when they get a shipment, they sell out FAST. Highly recommended for the angler who is curious about what the wetsuit can offer, but doesn't want to invest a lot of money

[JackK]

I just use my henderson hyperstretch I got for diving...

2 pc, 3mm farmer john and a 7mm top. I hate being cold, so even on warm nights I tend to wear the top... always can be unzipped or just jump back in the water to cool off. I haven't needed to wear anything to cut the wind in it yet, the combined 10 mm on my core has worked in ~25 kn winds to keep me warm. Haven't had to do any massive hikes in it, though... probably would be hot as hell in the summer months.

No issues with ballooning/stretching, either. Only downside is that it's cut for diving, not surfing, so the range of motion in the shoulders is a little awkward... But that can be dealt with pretty easily, just takes a little getting used to. Hyperstretch is the way to go.

[chief10]

I have the Henderson H2 titanium 5mm and 7mm. I would recommend them. You really need to spend the extra cash to if your going to be casting all night. the cheaper ones dry out and cut off your circulation in your arms. I didnt read all the threads above but depending on your body size the manufacturer and style will be what makes you decide. a friend on the board has an aqualung and he's tall and skinny. He loves his. Im not so the shop recommended the henderson.Find a shop that carries a few types and get their opinions too. Some shops will repair torn suits if you buy from them and thats worth the extra $$.