Other Wetsuit fit and care

[Pablo]

I've never owned a full wetsuit. I've borrowed McDog's a few times and worn a shorty for scuba a time or two but that's about it. I just bought a used 4/3 BodyGlove Titanium. It is prolly a 8 or 9/10 as far as condition. I'm real happy with the price=$50.

Is the BG Titanium a decent suit?
How should a dry wetsuit fit?
How to care for a wetsuit?

I'm not gonna use the the heck out of it, but do plan to ride some in the cold months here in Ga. I'm 6'0" x 180lbs. The suits a large. I tried it on it fits super snug through the arms, torso, and neck. The neck fitting is a bit concerning since it's causing some jugular vein constriction. It's not like hands around the neck tight but it's definitely snug. I figure it will loosen when it gets wet. I know a few of you guys have to wear them nearly year round. Kick some knowledge for me. :hail:

 

[yankeeboy]

i've never owned a dry suit, but i do own a wetsuit and wear it every season. I'm also no pro, but you can use common sense and keep your suit in good conditon. I ALWAYS hang up my suit indoors and inside -out when im not using it. This keeps it dry and wrinkle free ( and not stinky ). After salt water use ( or nasty fresh water ) i rinse the suit out good with a hose, or take it for a freshwater swim. It's also a good idea to look it over for holes, loose stichings or seals etc. and have them repaired or do it yourself.

 

[chriselmore_1]

honestly mine is in the bed of my truck 80% of the year and is still fine. i wear a 2/3 john suit with neoprene booties and in the middle of december im comfy in the surf on cold days

 

[BruceSki]

just hose it down after you use it and turn it inside out. Keep the sun from attacking the outside and it should last a long time.

50 bucks is a good deal. My 4/3 body glove suit was 130 or 140 off ebay brand new. works good down to 50 degree water temps.

I was fine with it at last years daytona. Not cold at all.

 

[shawn_NJ]

Jump in the shower and see how it fits when its wet. It should not be cutting off your jugular! I have never even rinsed my 3/2 suit off after ridin, just tossed it in a bin. (not recommended) Always smells like death at first... but somehow its on its 5th season and still going strong.

 

[steve-uk]

pi$$ in it on a regualr basis and it will be just fine

 

[blaster800]

pi$$ in it on a regualr basis and it will be just fine

Not recomended for dry suit ! LOL

 

[steve-uk]

Not recomended for dry suit ! LOL

lol.... erm.... no.. i dont know who would do that..... :shrug:

 

[MDStandUp]

that suit will be perfect for you as far as size. its supposed to fit snug everywhere. wetsuits dont work unless they trap water. i hate seeing people with baggy suits on. maybe unzip the neck some. though i think a 4/3 might be a overkill in ga unless your riding ocean from dec-feb. 4/3 means 4mm thick around the body and 3mm on the limbs. id think for most ridding a 3/2 would be good for you down there. and yes they make great suits. taped seems help keep the water out too. good buy.

 

[Pablo]

I'm a cold _ ussy. I wore Mcdog's 3/2 last year and it did a decent job. I think the coldest water temp I was in was low 60's/high 50's in mid November. I figured I could make do with the 4/3 here when water gets that cool. Ambient is anywhere from 30's to high 50's daytime, winter. If I get the cajones to come to Daytona this year I planned on bringing some gear to keep warm. The West coast-Pacific boys can have the cold stuff. I like ambient 80+ and water the same.

that suit will be perfect for you as far as size. its supposed to fit snug everywhere. wetsuits dont work unless they trap water. i hate seeing people with baggy suits on. maybe unzip the neck some. though i think a 4/3 might be a overkill in ga unless your riding ocean from dec-feb. 4/3 means 4mm thick around the body and 3mm on the limbs. id think for most ridding a 3/2 would be good for you down there. and yes they make great suits. taped seems help keep the water out too. good buy.

 

[Matt_E]

Ripcurl F-Bomb. Best wetsuit I've ever owned. I have the 4/3 and use it in water temps down to low 30's.

 

[chriselmore_1]

other than a rinse after salt rides(to get the sand out) there's not much to do. But I always keep a tube of neoprene glue in my glove box. Stuff is awesome. Nothin like a leak in the crotch! I dig the john suits. It's nice to be able to strip the jacket off when it warms up. Yea you can't have it all... Big surf and cold water or small surf and warm water/good weather

 

[McDog]

I want it all. I want to move to Tahiti.

 

[227]

That suit should work good for you and the price was right. In addition to the zipper, most suits have a velcrow fastening strap in the neck area that can be attached a little looser if the neck is too tight. For care all you need to do is rinse with fresh water and let hang dry after use. I have a large plastic bucket that I fill and rinse all my riding gear in while I’m flushing my ski. A bucket makes for good transportation for wet items also. When I get home I hang all my gear to drip dry outside in the shade. It’s OK to hang your wet suit in the sunlight to dry but I would recommend removing it from direct sunlight once it’s dry. I’m a cold water pu$$y also, so remember that in addition to wearing your wet suit there are other things that you can do to keep yourself warm. When your hands and feet are cold your whole bodies cold, so keeping your hands and feet warm makes all the difference in the world. I wear 2 mil wet suit booties under my riding shoes and I run a hot hands set up on my ski (I hate the thickness of neoprene gloves) On colder days, I’m actually warmer when I’m riding than when I’m sitting on the beach.

 

[rollin5150]

Ripcurl F-Bomb. Best wetsuit I've ever owned. I have the 4/3 and use it in water temps down to low 30's.

I am leaning toward the Rip curl for this winter

 

[The Penguin]

for wetsuit care:

rinse with fresh water and hang to dry. use a "mild" detergent to clean when needed. A product called "Sink the Stink" is also good for deodorizing wetsuits - you can find it at almost any dive shop. Mix up a large bucket full and dunk your wetsuit, gloves and helmet, then set them out to dry.

After it is dry, store it hanging up in a closet on a wide hanger. You don't want creases to form in the shoulders - eventually the neoprene may fail at that point. Leaving it folded for a long time does the same thing.

And don't wash them in a washing machine, unless it's a drum type.

 

[AtomicPunk]

Snug around the neck is OK. You don't want the warm water to get flushed out too easily.

Its OK if it is snug/tight on your body parts (except your johnson of course) but you don't want it too tight in the "joints".

 

[Charlie_Hustle]

I rinse my wetsuit out pretty good after riding in the salt. The exception is at Pismo when I camp on the beach and I have my suit on for hours and dont get a chance to rinse it when I take it off. The last time I noticed I got a nasty rash on my chest. I will start rinsing on the beach now and taking off suit in between rides (except putting on wet wetsuit sucks HA!).

 

[Octane_114]

i use a slippery full suit. 3mill and just rinse it off in the shower and from time to time a little dawn soap hang dry and it's good.

 

[keith t]

dump it in the washer with some fabric conditioner on a gentle wash and you will come out smelling sweet and it wont chaffe the crotch area