wet suits

[brian4321]

Hi I'm fairly new to wakeboarding and was wondering if anyone uses a wet suit? I've considered buying one to use like early or late season when the water is a little cooler but didn't know if it would help much. What are really. the pros and cons of a wetsuit? Thanks for any input .

 

[Dave.Mishchenko]

Re: wet suits

For us we get an extra 1.5 months of boating at least with wet suits. We'll even wear them swimming around. I don't know if there is a downside. We carry 6 suits so it takes up space - we boat more per year so more in gas, but they're definitely worth it. We usually pick up the kids ones at Costco in the spring and they'll last about 3 seasons. The kids to a lot more that just wake board in them so they get a lot of wear on them.

 

[brian4321]

Re: wet suits

Thanks for the reply Dave. that's kinda what I was looking for, to extend the season.

 

[skibrain]

Re: wet suits

In Minnesota, early morning skiing (6:00 a.m.) often has cooler air temps so even deep into the season it helps for comfort.

The other comment I'd have is that a lot of guys swim trunks are really baggy. At start they fill with water and cause a lot of drag. Wet suit fits snug.

 

[Augoose]

Re: wet suits

X2 - a wetsuit makes the season start earlier and end later.

 

[brian4321]

Re: wet suits

Awesome replys, thanks for the help.

 

[brian4321]

Re: wet suits

Awesome. What is a good brand?

 

[Lake Lizzard]

Re: wet suits

Wet suits are awesome for extending your ski season. The are all not created equal though. Full length is good for when the water or air is colder. Shorties are nice as they keep your core warm but let you move your arms and legs more freely.

One big factor for me is whether the seams are sealed or not on the wetsuit. Many cheaper wetsuits have seams that are only stitched. What this means is that when you hop in the water all the cold water will come seeping through the seams making. It can be invigorating!

Some wetsuits have seams that are glued together. These offer more water intrusion protection than sewn seams..

My favorite for early or late season is wetsuits that have glued seams and some seam tape on the inside of the suit. These seams are much stronger and will let very little water it, other than the zipper and cuff areas. My wetsuit will keep my chest area completely dry and warm. Very nice!

 

[scb1712]

There are many decent brands of wetsuit out there, it just depends how much you want to pay. We have both shorties (O'Neil) , and full length (BARE) suits for the colder days. My wife prefers skiing in her shorty simply for the added buoyancy as well as warmth. We also did what you're suggesting, and picked up ours when on sale at the end of the season to maximize the value. As Lizzard points out, you can also look into a dry suit if you're planning to be out in rather cold water. Even a less expensive shortie (like the ones from Costco) should last you several years if you rinse them with fresh water after each use, and hang them to dry out of direct sunlight.