VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Would like some recommendations on a really warm winter wet suits. I have very old O'neil with hood but would like to upgrade now?

Also, where does one get a good suit on the island?

I have a Patagonia R4 wetsuit and love it. It is lined with merino wool and polypropylene. It is incredibly warm and super comfortable. Check out the reviews online. You can see them so yourself at HTO downtown on Broad St. Worth trying on.

A couple of months ago Windance in Hood River, OR, was selling a 5:4 Hyperflex with hood for only $169, not sure how warm they are but seemed like an amazing deal.

Hotline often have great deals on their site, hotlineonline.com....click clearance.

Not sure if you can demo an OR Surf drysuit but its got to be a contender too.

Hope this helps a little.

OtLunch, Thanks a lot for the tips. going to check them out.

Lots of information here. http://www.bigwavedave.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2972
I plan to look at a Mutant from Island Longboards as my next suit. Great shop with good friendly service. And a short drive from Nanaimo!

For winter I'm using an O'neil Psychofreak 5.5/4.5 suit. Warmest suit I've owned (I get cold easily), excellent mobility, but tricky to get off without wrestling your way out! The Mutants are excellent suits as well and easier to remove. I have a 4/3 Mutant for summer ocean sailing.

Ocean Rodeo's making some really nice drysuits that look like a regular surf-suit, but offer the ultimate in warmth/dryness. Worth a look for sure.

The Patagonia suits are very nice but are super pricey.

Thanks for all this advice.

I see the the Patagonia looks quite nice, but is very expensive. Hotlines interesting as well, but would have to buy online and hope it fits.

I have a Ocean Rodeo Pyro-Pro, but find that I sweat too much. Once wet inside it gets cold. I have been using fleece, the fleece suit Ocean Rodeo sells. Perhaps I should try wool. Having said that, It is also a pain to get in and out of.
Wet suit does not have that getting wet inside problem ie loosing insulation properties. My old wet suit is so easy to get into, and just as warm as the Pyro-pro.

Think I will go to Longboards tomorrow and look at the O'Neil Mutants and if they have one the O'neil Psychofreak 5.5/4.5 suit.

on the topic of Wetsuits im sure there is more than one person on this site who uses a kneebrace for support and stability on the water. Is there such thing as a wetsuit friendly kneebrace or kneebrace friendly wetsut!?!? Or is an O.R. drysuit my best bet? Any feedback from positive or negative experiences would be appreciated. Even your favorite Orthotic specialist on the south island.

David I bought an Xcel 6/5/4 to replace my old Bare drysuit and it's been keeping me very warm this winter and I get cold easily too. I think Island Longboards might have them, otherwise shops in Vic have them.

@cguygo
I have two Ossur CTi braces (left and right) and they fit me well over my 5mm wetsuit as well as without a suit. When I wear my wetsuit, I change the padding on brace on either side of the knee to a thinner pad.

I was fitted by Island Orthotics on Cook St. When I was being fitted for them I was clear that I needed to be able to wear a wetsuit with them. When considering a costly brace, look at the straps and quality of velcro used, you don't want that thing coming off after a wipe out. I was lucky enough that my company extended benefits covered the costs associated with mine.

Before I received my custom braces I tried a couple of off the shelf neoprene braces. They did not fit well under my suit and in general provided me with no support. I went without knee braces and just took it super easy until I was able to get the exoskeleton braces.

Thanks for the info Windnut. I will try on the Excel suits as well.

Well, went to Island long boards today. Tried on both the hooded excel 5/4 and the Oneil 6/5/4. I could tell they were both very flexable suits but both were too difficult to get my fat ass into thru that little hole in the top. Seems to be lots of room in the gut, but worried about damaging suit getting first arm in and up onto the shoulder.

I opted for the xcel 5/4 superlite, a hooded polypro, and 7mm booties. This was very easy for me to get into. The sales guy said that this would also be a very warm combination.

Any thoughts.

If anyone is considering a Patagonia wetsuit, they have limited sizing of last year's models for 40% off at their head office in California.
(805) 641-9428
* you may have to give them a US address though

Make sure that you can get the booties into your straps as I bought the same ones and couldn't get them in my straps. I don't think they will take them back when they stink of herring roe. Bought some of Kus's booties Francais and although thinner they seem to be warm, although not as warm as the 7 mil. I am wearing less clothes( wool) under my OR surf dry and it's warmer as I don't sweat so much. The bottom leggings have to be tight to your leg and you have to pull the plastic up as you put the legs on or the plastic lining bunches up. I didn't buy their underwear, maybe I should have.

Eastside, Thanks for the heads-up on the booties. I got the Excel booties, but will check before I use them. The straps that may be an issue are the Starboard. For some reason they don't increase size very much.

I do intend to continue using the OR suit, but one of the seals came off so took it back to the shop today. Will try it with wool next time and use it on the warmer winter days.

Do you think the Excel 5/4 superlite suit will be warm enough?

I got a long sleeve polypro top with a neoprene hood to go under the suit as well.

DavidM wrote:I opted ....7mm booties.

that's insane, David. I don't think clearance divers in the arctic use 7mm I use 3mm year round no probs...and yeah, doubt they fit ANY strap, holy crap