Winter wetsuit?

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Roland
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Winter wetsuit?

I'm fairly cold natured so hadn't planned on winging when it gets really cold but....
Any recommendations for a good warm winter wetsuit and gloves. Most importantly does not flush me when I fall. The water is getting colder and the flush I get when I fall is getting old. I fall a lot.

Also I need to know who can modify one of the gloves for a 4 &1/2 finger hand. Thanks

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Randy
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Roland
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peelskid
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

We went through this problem many years ago. Some would wear a shorty on top of a wet suit. Gene and I tried this hood thing that has material that covers the neck and shoulders, it worked pretty good ( for keeping water from going down the neck ) but this thing was really tight on the body and not so comfortable. However, it did work

Finally I bought a Bare Dry suite. This solved all my problems for cold on the body. 4 or 5 mm bottom and very lose top with a fleece sweatshirt. I used that suit for many years and then sold it to Langdon. It was great when it was really cold and when it was not so cold. When temps were in the 50's or so you may get hot but you adjust by not wearing the fleece. That was the best solution I ever came up with.

Otherwise, open mitt gloves do a fairly good job and a hood always did a good job. Oh, and to mention booties, I had neil pryde and they worked great but after they were wet on my feet it took about 20 minutes to get them off my feet.

Stay warm, I hate cold water/air now and that is reflected in my sailing.

One last thought, there is not much you can do when the water is 50 degrees and the air is 40's. I know everybody likes to brag about ice on their sails but they were never warm when that happened.

PeelSkid

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Roland
Langdon
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

I have really enjoyed the Bare. The Bare polar heat is showing its age a little (Peelskid 15+years?)
Great and comfortable suits. (Not made anymore...of course)

*** there is a M/T Bare polar heat on ebay ***
Neck seals are ~$36 and about the same for cuff seals

Recently bought a 3mm O'Neill Fluid Neo Drysuit for those 60 degree days and after stretching the neck and upper arms by stuffing it with towels I like it pretty good.
It is very flexible and loser in the arms and shoulders than a wetsuit.
Have not had a flush issue even going in headfirst.

In my opinion if it is cold enough to need gloves it's time for me to go to South. (This will be in upcoming West Point / Juliette / Florida discussions)

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Roland
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peelskid
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

You are right. Never any cold water coming down the neck with that Bare dry suit.

PeelSkid

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Langdon
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

Peelskid, How old is that Bare suit that I bought from you?

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Re: Winter wetsuit?

Another option - just change your ride. No temperature (in Georgia) is too low.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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peelskid
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

I will bet it is now about 25 years old. That means I bought it when I was about 46 and that sounds about right.

Great suite! Too bad they no longer make it but you can still get new necks, sleeves and repairs done.

PeelSkid

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Langdon
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moredownhaul
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

Roland

The Bare polar dry they are talking about is what I was wearing Tuesday. They are discontinued but great if you can find a used one. The loose top makes it easy to move around. Plus if the top rips you still have a full neoprene suit under to keep you alive. I bought mine in 2000 and other than replacing the seals 3 times it’s held up quite well.
Bare will still replace the seals or you can DIYS.
Bare charged me $115 for my last neck replacement.
I believe the wrist seals are the same $.
FYI ... the seals last longer if you don’t get sunscreen on them.

I bought a Ion fuse last year on clearance in anticipation of the 20yr old Bare wearing out.....still waiting. It’s a loose neoprene suit that you can wear thermals under.

Most of the newer neoprene dry and semi drysuits have a flap that pulls over your head and channels the water that flush’s in the neck so it doesn’t run down your back. If you go this route I believe Bare Ion and O’Neil all make 6/5/4’s or 5/4 mm that will probably keep you the warmest. I find Ions to be the most comfortable and flexible.

I have some open palm mitts but rarely use them.

Your last choice would be to make frequent trips to south Florida and if you need company let us know.

My two cents.
Alan

Alan

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Langdon
Roland
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peelskid
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

I remember the Bare suite cost about $499 25 years ago. Pricey even then. What a deal Langdon got!

PeelSkid

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Re: Winter wetsuit?
peelskid wrote:
. Oh, and to mention booties, I had neil pryde and they worked great but after they were wet on my feet it took about 20 minutes to get them off my feet.

True for any booties I've had. I put on plastic grocery bags over my feet and the booties and wetsuits slide off pretty easy.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Roland
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

That ebay dry suit looks like a good buy. The MT size is likely too small for me at 6' 4" 195.

I forget about ebay sometimes. I'll look on there some more tonight.

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peelskid
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

Oil might work too.

PeelSkid

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Langdon
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

Peelskid. I think you got a good deal on that Bare also. Getting 20 years of use from a suit and then being able to resale it.
Most wetsuits only last a few years and are thrown away

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Roland
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Re: Winter wetsuit?
peelskid wrote:

Oil might work too.

??? Oil
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Roland
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Re: Winter wetsuit?
Langdon wrote:

Peelskid. I think you got a good deal on that Bare also. Getting 20 years of use from a suit and then being able to resale it. Most wetsuits only last a few years and are thrown away

That info makes that eBay deal that much better. But 6" of arms and legs sticking out past the suit probably wouldn't help to keep me warm.

Allen, what size is your Bare suit?

FWIW Wish has a couple of new O'Neill Slasher comp vest for $43. A XL and a Med. I got the Large hoping it help with some warmth factor. Been wanting one for a while but $129 had me waiting for Black Friday.

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Re: Winter wetsuit?
Roland wrote:
Langdon wrote:

Peelskid. I think you got a good deal on that Bare also. Getting 20 years of use from a suit and then being able to resale it. Most wetsuits only last a few years and are thrown away

That info makes that eBay deal that much better. But 6" of arms and legs sticking out past the suit probably wouldn't help to keep me warm.

Allen, what size is your Bare suit?

Pretty sure mine is a XL
I’m thinking you’ll need a extra large tall or large tall.

I have a O’Neil 5/4 rear zip that is a XL tall, It’s too long for me in the arms and legs. I’ll bring it next time I come and you can try it on. Next Tuesday and Wednesday are looking decent.

(Don’t worry I wash my suits after every use. It’s COVID free)

Alan

Alan

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Roland
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moredownhaul
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

Alan

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Roland
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arrogantj
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Re: Winter wetsuit?
moredownhaul wrote:

This looks like a good deal

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/763194094256500/?ref=search&referral_code=undefined

Price reduced to $80. Yep, they definitely pee'ed in that one. Lol

--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.

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Randy
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Re: Winter wetsuit?

You are always such a pissamist.

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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arrogantj
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Re: Winter wetsuit?
Randy wrote:

You are always such a pissamist.

Ur in good company...

--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.

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