Surface Motion surfing gear
W inter Wetsuits and Accessories
Surf Gear
Skate
Surf
History
Home
Non Google Sponsors
Following are discriptions of the gear I use. Links and pictures are included if available.
Wetsuits
Billabong Zipperless 503 Winter wetsuit
This is an old model, they have added high tech layers since. This one used 5mm neoprene around the chest and 4mm neo on the arms. Comes with an attached hood with visor. Very stretchy and easy to paddle in. You'll be carrying around 25 pounds of water soaked into the neoprene. Do extra training and arm exercises to be able to deal with the extra weight of winter surfing.
Once you get a zipperless on you'll love it. You may feel like you're going to destroy the thing putting it on. Somehow the neck opening becomes a shoulder opening when you're getting into it, it stretches a lot. To avoid getting hyperthermia while struggling like Houdini to get a zipperless off, wear a quality rashguard and pull it down a little at a time. Putting on gloves and socks before you peel the wetsuit off may make it come off easier. I find mine is so hard to get off my feet sometimes that I bring a shoe horn.
Billabong Zipperless 4/3 Fall or late Winter wetsuit
This 4/3 worked well for Lake Michigan's cold fresh water in the fall.
Has layered technology that makes it very warm for a 4/3. Also very stretchy and easy to paddle in.
Rip Curl 4/3 mm combination wetsuit
Zippered in the back. Nice thickness for fall on the east coast or winter in the S.F.-Santa Cruz region of California.
Booties, gloves, and neoprene accessories
O' Neill booties
I use 7 mm for when the water temperature gets below 45 degrees. They may be hard to get off, especially when you're cold. A shoe horn is a useful gadget to have for 7mm winter bootie use.
The 5 mm is a good all around bootie. I use them in fall and spring all the time. I like the traction they give, and I don't trip over them too much. I recommend you get them to fit very snugly.
I find the 3 mm booties are comfortable, but lack the stiffness needed for support when making powerful turns. They're ok, but I prefer 5mm if I'm going to wear booties at all.
Rip Curl lobster claw booties
Split toe booties are pretty cool. I find they are especially good for grabbing the board with the toes to keep from losing it when things go awry. Makes a real difference, and well worth trying. They're not suitable for winter conditions, only fall.
O' Neill 5 mm lobster claw gloves
Great winter gloves. Your last three fingers stay together and keep eachother warm. The thumb and index finger are independent, allowing for enough movement to surf. The latest O' Neill models have a grippy snakeskin pattern on the palm. They provide some extra propulsion which makes up for the weight when wet. They are not photogenic.
Billabong has some 7mm lobster claw gloves that seemed really comfy when I tried them on. I haven't used them in the water, though.
Quicksilver 5 mm lobster claw gloves
I use these, but have some mixed feelings. They don't have enough traction. The surface seems too slick on the palm. They're kind of heavy when paddling. But perhaps due to this, they seem to wear really well. They're plenty warm and have worked for me in 38 degree water. Ultimately warmth is the most important thing, so I give them a plus overall.
O' Neill 3 mm detachable hood
An essential accessory to bring along for use with a 4/3. Can be easily pulled down around your neck if it's warm enough.
O' Neill fleece rashguard with attached 3mm hood
An accessory that will enable a 4/3 to be used deeper into winter. With a 4/3 and rashguard/hood combo, temperatures down to about 43 are tolerable.
Mysterioso poly or fleece rashguard shorts for winter surfing
A great winter accessory. To be worn as a liner with a winter wetsuit. Keeps your midsection warm and makes it easier to remove heavy winter wetsuits. In deep winter becomes more essential if you are sitting on anything other than a big longboard, and being partially immersed up to the waist.
Winter surf accessories
Clothes to put on after surfing and other useful winter gadjets. When you're coming off the beach people will say you're crazy but actually you'll be comfy. And you'll have gotten plenty of good waves to yourself.
Polypropylene underwear
After you take a wetsuit off in winter you're a pidgeon for hyperthermia. In general leave all cotton gear at home in the winter, especially underwear. It's totally useless. Wet cotton underwear can literally kill you. A layer of polypropylene takes the remaining water off your skin and keeps you dry.
There are various brands of polyester underwear that I have tried.
Capilene from Patagonia is the best. It feels great, wicks really well, and doesn't smell too bad. Capilene boxers are great, but maybe too loose for apres surf underwear.
Bergelene by Eastern Mountain Sports is good too, and at reasonable prices. EMS also has underwear in both brief and boxer styles. I have a good turtleneck by Sporthill.
Hot Chillys. The feel isn't as nice as the above brands, being kind of scratchy. But the performance is very good.
Lifa makes some thick long johns that are really warm. They are available at ski stores.
Neoprene ski mask: used for surfing
Use this in below 45 degree water temperature. Stops that "ice cream headache" sensation when you have to duck dive. You'll look like Spiderman but you'll feel fine while the surfers who used to be in the lineup have all left the water with blue faces.
Acrylic blanket
Great to stand on when taking booties and thick wetsuits off. Use in combination with a big beach towell. You'll get into your clothes with no sand or snow on your feet.
Pangaea Kelty backpack
I got the conversion style backpack for winter trips to the beach when you need to take a lot of gear. It has a handle as well as shoulder straps. Also useful is a hip belt to take the weight off your shoulders. Make sure you get two large pockets. One can hold your wetsuit gear in a plastic bag after surfing. The other has your dry clothes. Keep them separate. The bag I have has a fold out rain cover.
Land's End or Patagonia Travel Pants
While jeans are ok for winter surf outings, I've gotten into polyester pants. It's not some 70s retro thing I'm going through. They're just lighter and warmer and never feel cold even when they get rain or sea spray on them. I got my original pairs through Land's End but they stopped making the 100% poly ones. Try Patagonia. Try to get as little cotton as possible in the blend.
If the concept of wearing such a material disgusts you, then I recommend wool pants. Jeans are ok if it's sunny and dry, but if your jeans get wet you'll freeze your ass off. If you're going to wear cotton pants, wear black. Any pathetic sun will heat them up.
Giant mitten and thin glove combo
Combinations of gloves are the best glove set up for winter surfing. Bring a set of mittens, a pair of synthetic gloves, and keep a pair of poly pro glove liners in your bag at all times. You can pack up gear wearing the thin gloves and put the big ones back on after if it's really cold. This way you'll avoid what got Jack London's character in "To Build a Fire" in so much trouble.
I have also used very thin neoprene gloves, 1.5 mm, for putting on after surf, while my hands are still wet. They work well for putting away gear. Your hands don't need to be dry and they'll be plenty warm for beach use.
Polypro ski socks
These are so much better after surfing than cotton it's not even funny. They sort of perform the function of towell and sock all at once. Seems like sand shakes out of them easier too.
Other accessories
Da Kine longboard leash
I highly recommending always surfing with a leash in winter. It's dangerous to go for even a fifty foot swim in freezing water. All traditional longboard aesthetics can be put aside in winter. It's not worth the chance of losing your board.
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. Contact me.
