Wet Suit for Oregon Mid Winter

Just grow a few more chest hairs and you will be fine



I would definitely get the 5mm with detachable parts. You will want to be barefoot when surfing whenever possible. There is a strong argument to have the thinner one, since you really need the flexibility for surfing. Regardless, you will freeze your ass off no matter what you buy. So if you are wearing a wetsuit you might as well make it count and get the warmer one. Also, its strongly encouraged to pee in your suit as soon as you get in the water because its so fucking cold(no joke). Good luck!

Get the 5mm and buy booties,gloves, and a hood if needed. I surf the Great Lakes where the water temps drop below 40 and trust me it’s better to be a little warm than freezing you’re dick off.

Cole9Get the 5mm and buy booties,gloves, and a hood if needed. I surf the Great Lakes where the water temps drop below 40 and trust me it’s better to be a little warm than freezing you’re dick off.

Yeah makes sense. I just dont think the water is going to be below 40 so Im unsure if thats necessary and I wont need one that thick later on. Would I be fine with a 4mm suit with attachables? Any brand recommendations?

cozzeyYeah makes sense. I just dont think the water is going to be below 40 so Im unsure if thats necessary and I wont need one that thick later on. Would I be fine with a 4mm suit with attachables? Any brand recommendations?

Yea if I were you I’d get a 5/4/3 for would work though depending on the brand. Xcel, and quicksilver I like a lot.

https://www.needessentialsusa.com/collections/surf/products/5-4mm-hood
https://www.needessentialsusa.com/collections/surf/products/5-4-steamer

Get a Need Essentials wettie. If you're surfing in 40 degrees it's gonna be fucking cold, and honestly a 5-4mm isn't gonna be useful above that temperature. Anything low 50s and up a 4-3 is plenty. Need Essentials is super legit, bunch of industry guys (think quiksilver etc) who got fed up with the marketing bullshit and putting logos on shit to mark it up 100000%. They are really sick quality for the price, should cost double what they are.

5mm with a hood and face mask. Works great for my roommate and I on Lake superior which is super friggin cold.

A wetsuit is something I would recommend purchasing in-person. Fit is so specific. Yes, you will spend a bit more but having a suit that fits is worth soooo much more than a suit that is sloppy. It will last a very long time if you take care of it, and it can also be repaired. Spend the little bit more to get it at a shop where they can fit you. Think of it like ski boots.

I'm going to assume it's very cold in oregon in Janurary? Like 20-40 air, 40 ocean with strong winds? I surf NJ all year and it gets cold. 5/4 suit, 5mm lobster claw/trigger finger gloves, 5mm round toe boots. No split toe boots, no fingered gloves, attached hood. For me it's either 5mm boots or no boots, and personally I think the whole surfing barefoot being better thing is bullshit. I love boots. Tons of grip, bit of foot protection. I mean I skateboard in shoes and that's fine, so why not surf in them? Boots are always separate, except in divers suits or survival suits?

Getting a hoodless suit and using one of those hooded vests works. I do that with my 4/3. It is a bit more prone to getting water in the neck when paddling but it works. But wetsuits are kind like skis. If you have a variable climate or conditions, you want more than one pair. If you can only have two, get a hooded 5/4 with your 5mm peripherals, then either a 3/2 or 4/3 with optional hood. If you can only have one then maybe try a high end (aka fully taped and sealed, etc) 4/3 and just skip out on frigid days. For cold weather gear you can't cheap out. You want full taping and sealing, good sealing at the ankles and wrists and such. It's gotta fit well.

iFlipA wetsuit is something I would recommend purchasing in-person. Fit is so specific. Yes, you will spend a bit more but having a suit that fits is worth soooo much more than a suit that is sloppy. It will last a very long time if you take care of it, and it can also be repaired. Spend the little bit more to get it at a shop where they can fit you. Think of it like ski boots.

Honestly you might even save money and time. Only place myself and my buddies could find a wetsuits that worked was from the U.K.

Thanks for all the opinions and advice. If I go through with it I think Ill end up getting a hooded 5/4 with boots and gloves and then at a later date ill get a 3/2ish if need be. Does anyone have recommendations for brands or is it all just personal preference?

Lonely5mm with a hood and face mask. Works great for my roommate and I on Lake superior which is super friggin cold.

Does the face mask help with the splauding head aches from duck diving in the cold? If it does I might have to buy one.