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Following are discriptions of the gear I use. Links and pictures are included if available.
Wetsuits
Aleda 3mm full suit
A great wetsuit. Very stretchy and comfortable, warm, and no rashing or irritation. Get it to fit pretty snug, because it stretches and will puff with water if too loose.
O' Neill 3mm spring suit
You can get away with getting spring suits a little big, because the short sleeves don't seem to bunch up and chafe you as much. One thing to look out for is how long the legs are. You may want a little more leg length if you're longboarding, due to the wider board that you're sitting on. If the wetsuit legs are just the right length, you'll have some rubber over the rails as you're sitting, rather than bare skin.
O' Neill neoprene board shorts
A good alternative to board shorts, certainly warmer for early summer. I think they are less likely to snag or get in some uncomfortable bunching like board shorts. They still basically look like shorts, just tight. The O' Neill trunks keep you warm and keep the wax off your thighs. They are never in the way when cross-stepping.
Booties, gloves, and neoprene accessories
O' Neill 3 mm snakeskin gloves
I love these things. They give me the impression of adding a lot of propulsion to my paddling. They grip like crazy. I wore mine when it was too warm for gloves, hating to give them up.
Rip Curl 1.5 mm summer gloves
Nice in the summer when a cool wind is up. Seem to give a little paddling power. I use these as a winter accessory too, as an after surf glove.
Summer surf accessories
Nice surfing conditions can still hurt you. Bring along a few extra pieces of gear and you'll have no problems from exposure even in marathon surf sessions.
Sun Protection
The Adventure Hat
Coney Island Pier, Hurricane Floyd
Since I got enough sun for a lifetime growing up in Santa Cruz, I don't like to get much sun on my face and neck when I'm surfing in the hot East Coast summer. I like to surf wearing the Adventure Hat. It is a big rafting type hat with a veil that completely covers your neck. It has a pull chin strap that keeps it on and there is another strap that cinches tight around your head. It floats if it gets knocked off, and it rarely does. You can completely duck dive or turn turtle and it wont budge. I first saw it worn by Richard Schmidt who spends a lot of time in the sun teaching surfing.
Sunday Afternoons Outdoor Gear web page
Quicksilver Surf Cap
This works pretty well for surfing too. It's sort of a waterpolo cap with a chin strap and visor. It looks kooky but it keeps the sun off your face and the wind from chilling your ears. One drawback is the chin strap will leave you with very goofy tan lines on your face. They will look like white sideburns if you tan long enough.
O'Neill and Quicksilver Turtleneck rash guard
The turtlenecks are the best all around rash guards I find. If you put on a wet suit you will never chafe around the neck. Alone it's enough to keep the wax from giving you a cosmetic chest hair removal waxing.
I have both shortsleeve and longsleve. I use the longsleeve to surf with no wetsuit, because I like to avoid all sun so I can surf four or five hours. The shortsleeve makes for less clingy paddling in a wetsuit.
Aloe Gator sunblock
This is the best stuff I've found. There's two kinds I like. Both are Spf 40.
Aloe Gator Lotion, Spf 40. It stays on a long time and never feels greasy. Doesn't smell. You can shave with it if you forget your lotion on a surfari. Nice all around use, best when sun is not so strong.
Aloe Gator Gel, Spf 40. This is serious stuff. It will not come off. You have to wash it off. It has a thick feel, somewhat greasy on your hand after you've put it on, but it's worth it. In strong sun in heavy surf it is the only way to go. It is highly protective, no tanning rays will get through. Good for tan tatoos.
Bull Frog superblock sunblock
The spf 45 is serious stuff. Real greasy. When you first put it on it is so thick and white it takes several minutes of rubbing to get it to go clear. It can look pretty geeky. It works ok. I think it's a little gross. I would use it in combo, putting some on my neck and using the Aloe Gator for the face.
Neutrogena sunblock
I used to think this was the best stuff until they switched to a non greasy formula. The old stuff lasted and you never got the slightest bit tan. The new greaseless stuff washes off quickly and you get burned.
Other accessories
Da Kine longboard leash
The kind I use clamps around the knee. You trip on it less than the ankle leash if you're into cross stepping. There is supposed to be a 12 foot length but I can never find it. It's absurd surfing on a ten foot board with a nine foot leash. So I extended mine using an extra piece of rail guard. Da Kine, if youre reading this, figure it out and distribute the 12' size.
EMS belt pocket for wax
I use the small pocket that goes on your belt. I put a big shoelace on it instead of a belt and put it around my waist. Great for holding wax and a few small tools.
Speedo bathing suit
The classic. The most comfortable bathing suit to wear under a wetsuit. Adds some support under trunks, if you want.
