Armour
There’s no such thing as cold weather just the wrong clothes as the saying goes. Wetsuits are still the best investment you can make in your winter defences.
If you haven’t changed your neoprene cloak in a while then you are missing out on a world of warmth and comfort that the new generation of wetsuit materials provide. Faster drying, more insulation and greater flexibility are all on offer and the advances have meant the designs have changed too. Greater insulation means being able to use less thickness, using a 5/3 over a 6/4 for example. Greater flexibility has contributed to the rise of the shoulder zip which allows less water in and more freedom of movement at the trade off of ease of entry of a back zip. If you are really serious about your winter surfing then get two suits; physically and psychologically getting into a cold damp suit for that second session is a tough ask. If you think it sounds extravagant than look at it this way, a week in the sun definitely costs more than another winter wetsuit and over the course of 3 months will give you more sessions, more waves and just think of the money you’ll save on sunscreen too!
One of the great benefits of sup surfing in winter is how much warmer it is than regular surfing. Consider that when buying the seam design of your wetsuit, as you may be able to tolerate a lesser spec. Seam technology has got to the point where it offers an incredible amount of waterproofing and warmth but by their nature do mean less flexibility than a more ‘unfinished’ seam. Factor in the warmth v flexibility on the seam features; if you only surf for short sessions in winter than the extra flex and cheaper price point may be the ticket but rest assured, for warmth and longer sessions, sealed and taped seams are worth the extra.
