BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Hello,

I would appreciate you guys insights on the following topic.
My main and only wetsuit it a Neilpryde 4/3 3000 series, long legs, short sleeves. I have been using it in the bay until the end of september without feeling much of a chill but as October came it felt like an extra millimeter of neoprene would be welcome.

Instead of buying a new suit I was thinking of buying a 1.5/2 mm wetsuit top like these ones, to wear over my current wetsuit:
http://www.rei.com/product/786400
http://www.evogear.com/outlet/wetsuits/ ... -2009.aspx

Do you think that would be a viable solution to survive until the bay warms up a bit?

Thanks

During the winter I wear a 1.5mm neoprean top under my suit and it makes a HUGE difference. Alone the top is great for warmer climates too when you want a little warmth and sun protection and not a full suit.

Thanks for the advice. I was hesitating between the 1.5mm under the suit and the 2mm jacket over the suit. It sounds like the 1st option should do the trick.
Thanks

Wearing it over the suit won't really help. Wetsuits are designed to allow water in, then keep it in as an insulator (using your body to heat the water layer betw your skin and the suit). Having a 1 or 1.5 mm under the bigger suit does help regulate the internal insulation and helps dampen some of the "flushing" that is bound to occur within the larger suit.

But depending on the fit of the larger suit, the internal layer could theoretically render it less efficient, if gets in the way of the heated water layer. I wouldn't be surprised to hear a manufacturer say that.

Hyperflex has really good options for this ranging from lined rashies to 1mm or 1.5mm tops. Beanies, hoods and even long underwear.

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get a rashguard+hoodie instead. keeping your head covered will make a really big difference, and the rashguard combo keeps water from going down your neck.

you can also buy wetsuit sleeves....so that might be an option as well.

finally, think wearing the longsleeved top underneath your suit would actually probably help quite a bit, but probably not as much as the hoodie would. i have the gooru gbs which is very very warm and very very stretchy. it's light years ahead of most neoprene you can buy (you pay for it too, but it's damn impressive)

for the record, i don't really understand shortsleeved/longleg suits. on the other hand, I have a longsleeved, short leg suit which i love when it gets a bit warmer.

The hood I only wear for the coldest days but it fits onder the collar of your wetsuit so no water gets down your neck
http://www.live2kite.com/mystic-neo-hoo ... p-393.html

I wear this under my suit on cold days and it works perfect
http://www.live2kite.com/mystic-matrix- ... p-475.html

I also wear an impact vest and I am sure that has some thermal benifits as well. I am nice and cozy until it is time to strip out of my suit in the parking lot. That is when the fun ends

The integrated hood + rashguard (or neoprene 1.5mm) recommendation is the way to go.

Another thought process would be to not be so cheap on your safety and comfort if you plan to spend any significant time in the water over the winter or if you plan to start riding at the coast. You're looking to spend $90 for a bandaid solution with the hope that it'll get your warm water suit to work in cold water.

How about looking for a bargain on a real cold water suit instead? Live2Kite has a bunch of closeouts available now, including a pretty decent Mystic 5/3 for $189. This link should get you there - http://www.live2kite.com/mystic-matrix- ... p-336.html

Beyond that, go check out a couple of local surf shops. There are plenty of good 4/3 surf suits for $150 - $200.

I use a 4/3 AMP year round but on the really cold days I wear one of the Hyperflex Polyolefins underneath. They definitely keep you a little warmer and are thin enough not to affect the fit of the wetsuit.

http://www.hyperflexusa.com/index.php?p ... polyolefin