Latest in Wetsuits - what to buy?

[ECarey]

Granted that the Patagonia wetsuits are the best money can buy, it's still too much money for me. As a runner up in the more budget category, what would everyone recommend?

I'm currently using an O'Neil Psycho Tech 5.5/4 that is held together by copious amounts of Aquaseal, but is starting to fail beyond repair.

My biggest annoyance with some wetsuits is water getting trapped around my ankles and pooling inside the suit while kiting. Is there a brand that is known to do this more or less than others?

Additionally, if anyone has something in MT 5/4 and hooded range that they're looking to sell, I would be interested.

[more force 4]

Ripcurl Flashbomb suits are excellent. Not cheap either, although one of the Ross Bay Foil Club charter members bought one recently half-price in some local shop deal.

[KUS]

All I know is more expensive is not necessarily better… I got the top-of-the-line ExeL suit 5:4 and I will probably never wear it again ....it sucks the life out of you… In fact all front zip wetsuits do that i have no answers… In fact I repeat myself. I guess age is catching up...

[wired4adrenaline]

Hey Pasta, its Ruth, I can get you wholesale on a new excel! The warehouse is in Sooke, can hook up all my kite buds they said🤙

[TallSprinterGal]

Hello from Squamish Spit. I hear from the Vancouverites that Sports Junkies has a huge new shipment of 5/4 Billabong suits. Should be a great price if you’re a standard size. I called and they have no Talls. I’m going to try on some ONeils and Rip Curls here. Else will order a Tall Xcel Comp X from Island Surf when I get home.

[Mrnorthsouth]

Hey Pasta, its Ruth, I can get you wholesale on a new excel! The warehouse is in Sooke, can hook up all my kite buds they said🤙

Thanks again Ruth that worked out great!

[slake]

Found a few threads on wetsuits, but they seem dated:
https://windisgood.com/forums/topic/2886.html
https://windisgood.com/forums/topic/9969.html
https://windisgood.com/forums/topic/2972.html

This one had 'Latest' in the subject title, so I figure I'd revive it.

Questions:
1. want to get advice on make/model for winter sailing here on the island
2. how best to determine size
3. where to buy

Experience:
I had a Prolimit 4/3 (size 52/L) I bought in 2008 for kiting. Didn't kite a ton but did use the same wetsuit up until 2018 (it was seriously damaged by that point). Got into wingfoiling in Feb 2021 and got an Xcel Comp X 4.5/3.5 (size L) hooded at Island Surf Co. when driving through Coombs, only tried on that size, and bought it. I just remember at the time it was hard to get gear so I got what I could, when I could. Followed up and got Xcel Drylock 3mm booties and gloves from Evo.com (IIRC had to send to a US address). Also later got an Xcel Comp X 2mm short sleeve full suit (size L), also from Evo.com for the summer.

By far the suit I used the most was the 4.5/3.5, even in the summers at Nitinat I sometimes freeze in the 2 mm short sleeve and switch to the hooded suit, with hood down. I also used the same suit year round, including this past Feb when I managed to ice up a leading edge of my wing. This was one day I really felt cold in that suit.

Just wrote a post about a beach demo weekend I attended over in France. Unfortunately afterward I left a plastic bag on a train with that suit in it...rrrrrrgggh. Reached out to SNCF and SBB (train was en route to Geneva) lost items and no dice. Lost it. At least it was well used with elbow holes and a butt cheek hole from falling, getting on the wing foil board, and a seam that was coming apart - however, I'm still pissed for forgetting it. Going to have to replace it.

Answers I've come up with so far but would appreciate further feedback on:
1. Hooded Rip Curl Flashbomb 5/4, O'Neill Psycho Tech 5.5/4, Patagonia R4 are ones I seem to come across. Any others? My old one was 4.5/3.5 - do these half mm make a lick of a difference? They all seem to cost a pretty penny but I guess they are worth it (only have experience with two 4/3ish suits). Can I just use this same suit in the summer? I certainly often did with the last one.

2. I figure I should try on a bunch of suits this time, if possible. Any guidance on sizing? Any decent videos people know of? Things like this seem somewhat dated - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVmTfSIbX7w . Is this guy somewhat accurate in what he says - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YJDR2rvA-k ? My larges seemed fine but they weren't restrictive when I first put them on.

3. On the island: https://www.coastlinesurf.com , https://www.islandsurfco.ca/ , https://stormcanada.ca , https://www.dirtymermaidwatersports.ca/ . On the web: https://www.cleanlinesurf.com , https://www.evo.com/ , https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com (these three seem to deliver to the US only)

Is Coastline a good place in Victoria to try on suits? Buy one there?

Thanks

[redbaron]

I have been using/testing the ION 6/5 hooded Seek Amp the last couple winters. Great suit at the price point ($500 range). Easily 2 seasons. Made for cold Northern winter wind-sports in Europe. I have taken it prone surfing. Might not be as flexible as the top O'Neil suit, but great for winging/kiting and windsurfing. I have been toasty warm in 20-30knots at 4-10 degrees. My friend in Tofino just got on and said it was awesome for spear fishing as well.

I have a few in stock at Dirty Mermaid. Probably the only shops outside of Europe that has the 6/5s Hooded in stock!

[slake]

FWIW - I got a Dawn Patrol 5/4 Hooded at Coastline (about 400 CAD) shortly after writing my last post in this thread. Trying on thick suits in the store is not easy. Mike, the owner, was very helpful on sizing. Have used it a bunch since. Keeps me warm but I can move less easily than I could with my old Xcel Comp X hooded 4.5/3.5. Not sure if the half mm makes a difference or it is just the different suit (the older one was marketed as stretchy). I think I might get another Comp X, at some point, for wing foiling.

For feet, Winddoc suggested Solite booties. I got some 5 mm Custom Pro 2.0. Outside seems rugged. However, one bootie already has a foot of stitching that is undone but the outside is sealed, so not sure it is a big deal. Of course rather the stitching did come fully undone. Might contact the seller or Solite.

For hands, I've not figured anything out. I got a second pair of 3 mm gloves. First were Xcel. Second pair, I got after my last post, were Billabong Furnace. The Xcel were destroyed in a year (lots of holes all over). I've already worn a hole through the Billabongs (maybe the way I hold/grip the wing?). I've been going out with nitrile gloves under the wetsuit gloves. Seems ok but sometimes my hands get really cold. Grip does become much harder with thicker hands, never mind the cold.