I went sailing today and realised I need a new wetsuit for summer. I have a 3mm/4mm one at the moment and while it was great for winter, it was way too hot today.
What brands do you guys recommend that allows good arm movement? I still want to use a full length wetty though.
huh??? wetsuit in summer???
I love QLD, have been in boardies and a rashie for at least a month.
I never used to wear one in summer when I was in Qld spearfishing but cos of an illness I had 1 1/2 years ago, my body doesnt regulate its temp too well lol. I would rather not wear one but dont wanna take the risk 
Pat,
Got me a short arm steamer (3/2mm) for for the bulk of my sailing around this way (buy a good one!) and then go to one of the op shops down our way and pick up a cheap spring suit for next to nothing for the occasionally really hot day.
OceansBlue - I got a Pryde 2/3mm short arm long leg which is pretty good - cost about $200 from memory which was less than I thought it would be. I'd probably get a long arm next time to keep the sun off the arms.
Cheers, P
Depends on your body size etc!
But i think the 3/2 Oneil Psycho 2. Loads of arm movement!
And still warm!
love it lol wetsuits! never wore one up here in qld over winter, those Viccy summers sound awesome!
rip curl ultimate elasto 3/2. Best, most flexible wetsuit around + warm. so good you wouldn't pee in it
You can pick up a bargain at rip curl seconds in torquay.
all brands have some form of elasto max or ultra stretch material. I have tried the west suits one and the ripcurl one in the 3:2 steamer and both have had the same durability etc. (3 seasons)
I will never buy anything other than full elasto ever again, the difference from standard is phenomenal.
for your use you wouldn't need to worry about other features such as fancy entering systems. though I must say the chest fur stuff is worth its weight in gold for warmth, whether that is over kill for you I dont know.
IMO get a full elasto of whatever brand FITS the best.
PS fully taped seams are pretty nice to stop itchyness and increase seam life.
Triple X brand. Cant go past. Great material (double the warmth for the thickness so 2mm heaps. Look them up
I used to live down in the snowy mountains so I was also wearing the wettie all summer, we are spoilt up here in qld thats for sure.
Personally, I like the $100 wetties that slowly disintegrate over winter, so that in the early stages of summer you have some 'vents' to keep you just the right temp.....I had to do some 'sewing' in the crotch of mine a couple of weeks ago though!
(from a request by a fellow sailor....every time I bent down to pick up my rig.......you know the story.) It was either that......or wear boardies over them
!
Seriously though, Torquay is the shiz!
And for the QLDer's info - we do shed the wetties for boardies, for a couple of months of the year (from about xmas to easter), although I still keep the 1mm titanium rashie on standby.
Check out one of these Flying Objects wetties. I designed it as a windsurfing suit rather than use a standard surfing cut - across the shoulders is longer than across the chest as your shoulders pull forwards when windsurfing as opposed to pulling back when you're paddling.
It's all 2mm UltraSpan, except the shin panels where I've reduced the stretch to stop the legs ballooning out with water (not a problem when surfing, so surf wetties don't need this). Also got ankle straps to really solve that elephant-leg issue.
I've been using this style a lot over the last year. I used to be in my boardies as soon as poss, but these things are so flexible that there's no restriction to movement and the idea of keeping my knees warm to avoid another recon appeals.
You will find them at . . .
i'm glad someone else has the 'legs of my wetsuit filling up with water' problem' . I bought a Billabong steamer last season and am really happy with it apart from this problem. Any solutions out there? I've been thinking about just slashing heaps of holes in it around my ankles. If anyone has a more scientific answer I'd be appreciative. The Flying Object suit looks like a good answer but i reckon my current suit still has another season in it.
You will find them at . . .
