Winter Wetsuit
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7140
Printed Date: 26 Jan 26 at 6:05am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Winter Wetsuit
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Subject: Winter Wetsuit
Date Posted: 13 Sep 10 at 8:51pm
Not wanting to hijak the what to wear on a hiking single hander thread (Brrr....Winter Clothing)
I'm looking at buying a proper winter wetsuit as I'm sick of being really cold! Currently sail an international 14 but also sail 600's and the such like.
Was looking at the neil pryde http://www.purplemarine.com/Product.aspx?ProductCode=NC-SA8780 - 5000 Race 5/3 Semi Dry Steamer.
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Replies:
Posted By: Triv McCarlie
Date Posted: 14 Sep 10 at 4:55pm
What about this http://shop.pinbax.com/index.asp?selection=detailed&uid=35519&itemtitle=Mens%20Hurakan%20Steamer%205%203mm or indeed this http://shop.pinbax.com/index.asp?selection=detailed&uid=35912&itemtitle=Profile%205mm%20Blindstitched%20Steamer
Might not be what you want but thought I'd suggest :)
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Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 14 Sep 10 at 9:05pm
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I got that suit last winter - Its brilliant - really warm, amazingly flexible (very similar in feel to my old 2/3mm). It was the first winter i've been through where i didn't really get bothered by the cold and that included a first winter in a 600 so there were unfortunately too many capsizes.
I got mine from Purple marine - but as with any wet suit it all comes down to the fit so your best to try whatever you choice on first or unless you are really lucky you'll waste money
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Posted By: chrisg
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 12:00am
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Same suit cheaper here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GILL-Mens-Hurakan-Steamer-5%2f3mm-%284605%29-BNWT_W0QQitemZ110498548472QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=140189954624&rvr_id=140189954624&cguid=bc3766a71290a0aad5030df3ffbd7a08 - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GILL-Men's-Hurakan-Steamer-5%2f3mm-(4605)-BNWT_W0QQitemZ110498548472QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=140189954624&rvr_id=140189954624&cguid=bc3766a71290a0aad5030df3ffbd7a08
And here:
http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/2756/gill-hurakan-steamer-wetsuit - http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/2756/gill-hurakan-steamer-wetsuit
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Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 1:47am
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If you want a warm winter suit, get a 'west'. They are technically surfing suits but with a winter west I can guarentee you will not get cold. I have this one with the front zip;
http://westsurfing.com/wetsuits/lotus - http://westsurfing.com/wetsuits/lotus
Its close to your £200 budget if you get it online. But you will stay almost dry unless in the water for a long time.
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Landlocked in Africa
RS300 - 410
Firefly F517 - Nutshell
Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse
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Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 8:38am
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Sorry i forgot to say i got the Neil Pryde suit. As before though make sure you try it on for size - more important that any tech feature
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Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 9:01am
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I guess one of http://www.ripcurl.com/index.php?hbomb - these is a bit out of your price range? Currently retailing http://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2839&manufacturers_id=37 - here for a mere £699... bloody ridiculous!
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-_
Al
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Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 2:41pm
Give it a week and Jimbo will have one!!
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Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 7:29pm
Originally posted by alstorer
I guess one of http://www.ripcurl.com/index.php?hbomb - these is a bit out of your price range? Currently retailing http://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2839&manufacturers_id=37 - here for a mere £699... bloody ridiculous!
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If I was sailing in antartica then I would look into it...
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RS600 988
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Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 7:31pm
I think I'm going to go all out a Neil Pryde it up. Thanks for your advice guys
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RS600 988
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Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 15 Sep 10 at 9:16pm
While the heated wetsuit is a little extragant, it's worth staying on wetsuitoutlet's page as they have some fantastic bargains. I've just bought a 7/5/3 suit for £100, yes it's a bit on the thick side but I'm skinny, sail on frozen northern lakes in a wet boat and I want to be warm! If it turns out to be a bit too inflexible in living room tests, I'll send it back and get a 5/3 mm suit for about £80 - 90
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RS600 1001
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Posted By: moonlight
Date Posted: 16 Sep 10 at 8:24am
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I am a bit confused here;
You asked for information about the best wet suit for winter sailing and you get two responses suggesting the Gill Hurakan and a West. You then go out and buy a Neil Pryde. Seems like you had already made your mind up.
I too am interested in buying a good winter steamer as I also now feel the cold ~ apparently its something to do with age. However I'd be really interested to know your criteria or a good criteria for selecting an effective steamer.
I want sufficient flexibility so that the suit doesn't cause capsizes combined with dryness and good protection from cold whilst in the water. I don't really want to feel that rush of cold water creeping round my body more than I have to. And I know that a dry suit would avoid all that and its the issue with hikers and dry suits, they don't seem to combine well. Unless of course others have good ideas.
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Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 16 Sep 10 at 8:36am
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My helm cheerfully wears 3/4 length neoprene hikers over his drysuit in winter- there's a few other B14 sailors do likewise.
If you down the wetsuit route though, getting a surf wetsuit with either zipless or "chest zip" system should get round the issues- no zip at the back of the neck means an almost dry-suit style neck seal, and surfers really, really value flexibility in the arms. Can even get some that have actual drysuit type zips across the back of the shoulders.
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-_
Al
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Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 16 Sep 10 at 9:15am
Originally posted by moonlight
I am a bit confused here;
You asked for information about the best wet suit for winter sailing and you get two responses suggesting the Gill Hurakan and a West. You then go out and buy a Neil Pryde. Seems like you had already made your mind up. |
He said he was thinking about the Pryde suit and asked if anyone had experiences of it....in true internet fashion people instantly just offered something else! Whats to be confused about?
I responded earlier the Pryde is a great suit.
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Posted By: moonlight
Date Posted: 16 Sep 10 at 12:28pm
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Its easy to be confused when as you say 'in true internet fashion...' etc.
So what we can end up with is a whole load of comments without any real information about the product. You say the Neil Pryde one is great. I'd like to know what is it about it that makes it great say in comparison to the Gill version.
What makes it worth £40 more? Perhaps confused wasn't the best term as I really would lke to have valued views. Information like that makes it far easier to make an objective decison based upon another's evidenced based opinion.
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Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 16 Sep 10 at 1:45pm
Originally posted by moonlight
Its easy to be confused when as you say 'in true internet fashion...' etc.
So what we can end up with is a whole load of comments without any real information about the product. You say the Neil Pryde one is great. I'd like to know what is it about it that makes it great say in comparison to the Gill version.
What makes it worth £40 more? Perhaps confused wasn't the best term as I really would lke to have valued views. Information like that makes it far easier to make an objective decison based upon another's evidenced based opinion. |
Sorry for the confusion. Was just after people's opinion's rather than sudgestions for suits within the budget.
I'm getting the Neil Pryde one because my local chandler and person I trust most on matters regarding neoprene said it was a really good suit and he could do me a deal.
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RS600 988
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Posted By: moonlight
Date Posted: 16 Sep 10 at 4:09pm
That sounds like the one to have then. I have just looked at the Gill one and it still feels very light. I'm told the Gul do a 3-4 for windsurfers which is menat to be good although the price I believe is up around £160.
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Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 29 Sep 10 at 10:55pm
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Well my suit-buying saga is still on-going - the 7mm was to restrictive, I've swapped it for a Ripcurl Fireskin 5/3, but I'm still not happy.
The suit fits fine except for my forearms which seem very tight, not so tight that my hands go red but there is a definate feeling that the blood supply is restricted.
I'm now trying to decide whether to send this one back (but swap for what, as a bigger suit will be too big on the rest of me) or gamble that it will stretch with use but if it doesn't, I'm stuck with it.
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RS600 1001
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Posted By: moonlight
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 2:28pm
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After the last exchange of views I went off to the Southampton Boat show and looked at a few. I ended up trying on the O'Neil Gooru GBS 5/3 2011 steamer. It fitted well, felt good with good flexibilty and well fitting seals. The short zip at the back of the neck is double lined to prevent water coming in and the main body is 5mm giving warmth where it is most needed.
As its designed for windsurfers who seem to take pleasure lying in cold water waiting for a wave, I decided it should meet my needs when I fall off one of those waves and go swiming. So far so good as I have not capsized.
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Posted By: asterix
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 2:46pm
Guys, until this year I have swapped into a drysuit for the winter, but now I am reconsidering. Do you think I'm kidding myself that I will be warm enough with a rooster race skin, classic hikers, thermaflex top and aqua fleece (plus boots hat and gloves of course)?
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Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 2:58pm
how far into winter do you want to go? And how 'ard are you? There are mentals that'll be seen in snow in 3/4 lengths (without race skin- thoiugh presumably with lots of warm upper body layers).
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-_
Al
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Posted By: asterix
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 3:43pm
the anser is probably not 'ard enough by far, but thanks - I think I'll give it a go and see how deep into winter I get.
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Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 3:58pm
I have to admit, I take one look at those guys (whilst wearing a snug 5/3, sometimes with Gul Evotherm long jons and top underneath, plus hikers plus spray top) and think "they must be mad". They are.
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-_
Al
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Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 4:00pm
Originally posted by asterix
Guys, until this year I have swapped into a drysuit for the winter, but now I am reconsidering. Do you think I'm kidding myself that I will be warm enough with a rooster race skin, classic hikers, thermaflex top and aqua fleece (plus boots hat and gloves of course)? |
Last year i started wearing Rooster hot legs, hikers, Showa thermal gloves, GIll fleece hat, Rooster aqua fleece a Ripcurl thermal vest and a rash vest, on my feet i had my normal typhoon boots and a pair of rooster hotsox. I was OK up until around the bloody mark, i then just added a wesuit into the mix.
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Posted By: ellistine
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 4:44pm
Originally posted by Merlinboy
Showa thermal gloves
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Great gloves. I've been wearing them all summer too. Nice and soft on my delicate IT hands.
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Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 5:53pm
Originally posted by alstorer
I have to admit, I take one look at those guys (whilst wearing a snug 5/3, sometimes with Gul Evotherm long jons and top underneath, plus hikers plus spray top) and think "they must be mad". They are. |
They may just have different metabolism to me.
I get cold quite easily.
Or I would if didn't have a drysuit.
Still sailing on the sea in a cheap wetsuit at the mo,
trouble comes in any event where you wait around for the race to start.
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Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 6:03pm
Originally posted by Jamie600
Well my suit-buying saga is still on-going - the 7mm was to restrictive, I've swapped it for a Ripcurl Fireskin 5/3, but I'm still not happy.
The suit fits fine except for my forearms which seem very tight, not so tight that my hands go red but there is a definate feeling that the blood supply is restricted.
I'm now trying to decide whether to send this one back (but swap for what, as a bigger suit will be too big on the rest of me) or gamble that it will stretch with use but if it doesn't, I'm stuck with it.
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Tight arms will be very tiring I think.
I prefer a convertible suit with removable arms, maybe you can get one of these and switch the arms for bigger?
Go to a good multibrand retailer-Andark is good around here, and try on different makes.
If you want a really warm suit, consider adding a thin neo vest and shorts to a standard suit, or a warm spray top.
Ultimately a drysuit will keep you warm in the worst windchill conditions, with the right stuff under it.
But some people don't seem to need as much warmth as I do. I'd rather sweat in a drybag and shower after, than even think about getting cold.
Try Pacer Marine for drysuits, but IMHO, you have to try them on, as some seem to be funny shapes-Crewsaver ones do not fit me in any size!
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Posted By: Corby2010
Date Posted: 11 Oct 10 at 4:48pm
Hi! Just come across your post and you could try the Rip Curl E-Bomb? I recently got one at my local surf shop in Abersoch for £189. They are selling them online too http://www.westcoastsurf.co.uk - Does anyone else surf on this forum? The waves were fantastic over the weekend!
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The only way is up!
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Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 25 Oct 10 at 11:15pm
Quick update. First sail with the Neil Pryde suit and it was fantastic! Definately recommend it. Very flexible and warm but not tooo warm.
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RS600 988
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Posted By: Corby2010
Date Posted: 26 Oct 10 at 3:12pm
Great! The Rip Curl E-Bomb has been working a treat for me. Hoping to get in for a surf this weekend.
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The only way is up!
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Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 26 Oct 10 at 4:03pm
I've just bought a new 3mm suit- my old one was disintegrating at the shins. Taking a bit of a punt, I've gone for a http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/full-suit-dg500-m-black-blue-9850115/ - Tribord one from Decathlon . Checked it out in store, tried it on etc. I reckon I'm a resoanble judge of build quality- it seems a well enough made suit, and is actually sailing specific. They're range has got much better in recent years- they actually do different wetsuits for different sports. This has some level of reinforcement on the backside, and the shins are actually slightly padded. All the seams are blindstiched/glued, some taped as well.
I'll be giving it a first outing at Grafham this weekend, I reckon.
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-_
Al
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Posted By: moonlight
Date Posted: 26 Oct 10 at 4:16pm
I have been very pleased and impressed by the O'Neil Gooru winter steamer that I bought. When in the water I feel totally insulated from it with no ingress of water through any seams. It has really been worth the money and beats a dry suit any day as it allows much more flexibility and cushioning. Combined with a Rooster Aqua fleece it is excellent. I only wish I could find a way of having completely dry feet other than by staying ashore!
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Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 27 Oct 10 at 9:34pm
How about latex drysocks with wooly socks underneath?
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RS600 1001
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Posted By: moonlight
Date Posted: 27 Oct 10 at 10:00pm
Thanks and how about a better description or link to what you are talking about.
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Posted By: Jamie600
Date Posted: 29 Oct 10 at 9:27am
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Wow - OK here goes:
http://www.tidemaster.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=51 - http://www.tidemaster.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=51
Rubber socks to keep the water out and your feet dry.
Wooly socks are just wooly socks.
Hope this helps.
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RS600 1001
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