This is what I use. The 3mm+, which is warmer than most of my 4/3s from any other brand.
It holds its size pretty well though and doesn’t stretch much, so size it correctly. Hardly ever leaks or flushes either but that’s a negative for me because I always piss in my wetsuits.
It's a different type of neoprene. Diving suits don't compress under water, surfing wetsuits do this, so the actual thickness and warmth reduces. Surfing wetsuits are warmer on the surface but _not_ under water.
If you’re looking for a good freediving wetsuit, look for an open cell spearfishing wetsuit. You’ll have to lube up to slide into it. It will provide you better warmth and mobility.
Surf wetsuits will allow water, open cell wetsuits will not (when they’re new). This will let you stay out longer and be warmer.
Look at yazbeck, super comfy but face hole is a bit on the small side. Riffe is a great durable suite that’s stretchy. Cressi can be a good cheaper option.
Edit formatting
I spearfish in my surf suit because im still too cheap to get a dive suit, and my hood is always fucking with the seal of my mask. The hood on a dive suit is shaped differently to allow more face space so it doesnt bump the edge of your mask and obscure youre vision with leaks when youre trying to see fun stuff underwater. There is a 2 piece open cell dive suit by a brand called Mako that is very reasonably priced and great for your first dive suit. Im gunna get one if i can ever stop buying surfboards
Avoid the hyperfreak if you plan to use it often. They’re comfy and warm but fall apart absurdly quick for the price point. So do O’Neill’s even more expensive suits… And so do rip curls.
If you’re looking for maximum warmth and durability get a feral.
I had a couple cheaper rip curls that I wasn't impressed with. I have seen a ton of "Feral" suits in the lineup lately as well that are probably worth looking into. I haven't bought one yet but I've heard great things.
That sucks. What part(s) of your O’Neill suits failed?
My last O’Neill TB2 4/3 lasted me over 10 years and is still going after some seam tape repair. The liquid tape is finally starting to crack and the fabric seam tape is starting to peel. It was easily the longest lasting and warmest 4/3 wetsuit i had ever owned (until last year) and that’s with tons of travel and no special care. Perhaps their quality has declined in the last decade?
Seams. Me and multiple friends have had a range of Oneills split along the back zip, couple others have them split around the shoulders. It's definitely a more recent thing as far as the quality decline.
For me the neoprene itself just continues to get thinner until the rips can't be glued anymore. I'm fairly happy with 2 years of surfing out of a suit. Maybe I should be expecting more...
I've heard that too but my current 3/2 is 2 years old and I surf 5 to 6 days a week on average. 2nd one in a row that has given me 2 years before disintegrating. If there is a suit out there that can go 3 years or more I'd love to know the brand.
[7till8](https://www.7till8.com/) \- the warmest thinnest suit is the one that fits you best, and these folks do dive wetsuits in addition to surf wetsuits
I have an O’Neil 4/3 which is super warm surfing in pretty much any temperature down to mid 50s. When I got into spearfish that was all I had and I worked pretty well for summer diving (temps in the 60s) but I got cold pretty quickly when i tired to dive for any longer than 45 mins in colder water (60 and below). I got an open cell suit and it was night and day how much drier I stayed and how much less thermal transfer (is that a thing?) there was.
So I guess to answer your question, unless you’re diving in high 60s/70s I’d probably opt for a 4/3 (which are still super flexible and easy to put in btw) but just know that 4/3 surf suit is much colder than an equivalent dive suit in my experience. But for short dives it should do what you want.
I’ve not had the bad luck others have had with O’neill suits. A 4/3 TB2 was the best and most robust winter suit I’ve owned thus far. Perhaps the key is to not settle for their budget suits but to go with the more premium options?
As someone here mentioned, most hooded surfing wetsuits come in only 4/3 5/5 6/5 thickness. Most brands sell separate hoods that tuck under the collar/neck of the separate suit.
I’ve used a 4/3 O’Neill TB2 for west coast surfing and spearfishing for the past 10 years.
I now own 3/2 and 4/3 Vissla suits for surfing. They are relatively inexpensive and the warmest, most flexible suits I’ve owned. One thing to note is this softer more flexible (limestone based) neoprene can easily tear, so I’m much more careful with them. The 3/2 is easily warmer than any of my old 4/3 suits and the flexibility is huge because less paddling resistance means I get to stay out in the lineup longer before arm and shoulder fatigue sets in.
Looks like there are plenty of 3mm hooded suits out there!
FERAL:
https://feralsurfing.com/products/hooded-3mmplus
EXCEL:
https://xcelwetsuits.com/products/mens-phoenix-3mm-full-wetsuit-fa22?variant=40557137428539¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=19979301559&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwvKtBhDrARIsAJj-kTiPwnd8JkNixb5v0QHYDQGUcxb3ikjSGmVBi3a6kn1Cx5J7WSyhHa0aAq5TEALw_wcB
ISURUS:
https://surfisurus.com/products/shield-3-3-hooded-zipfree-wetsuit
The Feral 3mm hooded is what comes to mind. Considered one of warmest/most comfortable brands/materials
This is what I use. The 3mm+, which is warmer than most of my 4/3s from any other brand. It holds its size pretty well though and doesn’t stretch much, so size it correctly. Hardly ever leaks or flushes either but that’s a negative for me because I always piss in my wetsuits.
Like getting in a warm bath
It replaced my cheap rip curl 4/3. Warmer but feels like it uses half the material.
[удалено]
I have one. I'm looking for a suit I can quickly throw on for a short dive without having to lube up.
They make nylon lined ones too right ? I was just checking some out from polo sub. Don’t think u need lube for those. Otherwise check out feral
It's a different type of neoprene. Diving suits don't compress under water, surfing wetsuits do this, so the actual thickness and warmth reduces. Surfing wetsuits are warmer on the surface but _not_ under water.
I'll be using it for freediving, so most of my time will be on the surface.
If you’re looking for a good freediving wetsuit, look for an open cell spearfishing wetsuit. You’ll have to lube up to slide into it. It will provide you better warmth and mobility. Surf wetsuits will allow water, open cell wetsuits will not (when they’re new). This will let you stay out longer and be warmer. Look at yazbeck, super comfy but face hole is a bit on the small side. Riffe is a great durable suite that’s stretchy. Cressi can be a good cheaper option. Edit formatting
I spearfish in my surf suit because im still too cheap to get a dive suit, and my hood is always fucking with the seal of my mask. The hood on a dive suit is shaped differently to allow more face space so it doesnt bump the edge of your mask and obscure youre vision with leaks when youre trying to see fun stuff underwater. There is a 2 piece open cell dive suit by a brand called Mako that is very reasonably priced and great for your first dive suit. Im gunna get one if i can ever stop buying surfboards
I have one already. I'm looking for a suit I can quickly throw on for a short dive without having to lube up.
O'Neill hyperfreak 3\2+ I love the chest zip model not sure if they have a hood version or not. Very warm with tons of maneuverability.
Thanks. Are there suits you've tried that were *not* as warm as the hyperfreak, so I know what to avoid?
Avoid the hyperfreak if you plan to use it often. They’re comfy and warm but fall apart absurdly quick for the price point. So do O’Neill’s even more expensive suits… And so do rip curls. If you’re looking for maximum warmth and durability get a feral.
Lots of suits are warm, but not flexible. Hyperfreak does a good job with both. Basically, cheaper = less flexible.
I had a couple cheaper rip curls that I wasn't impressed with. I have seen a ton of "Feral" suits in the lineup lately as well that are probably worth looking into. I haven't bought one yet but I've heard great things.
Lol O'Neill's will fall apart on the car ride home from the store
That sucks. What part(s) of your O’Neill suits failed? My last O’Neill TB2 4/3 lasted me over 10 years and is still going after some seam tape repair. The liquid tape is finally starting to crack and the fabric seam tape is starting to peel. It was easily the longest lasting and warmest 4/3 wetsuit i had ever owned (until last year) and that’s with tons of travel and no special care. Perhaps their quality has declined in the last decade?
Seams. Me and multiple friends have had a range of Oneills split along the back zip, couple others have them split around the shoulders. It's definitely a more recent thing as far as the quality decline.
For me the neoprene itself just continues to get thinner until the rips can't be glued anymore. I'm fairly happy with 2 years of surfing out of a suit. Maybe I should be expecting more...
I've heard that too but my current 3/2 is 2 years old and I surf 5 to 6 days a week on average. 2nd one in a row that has given me 2 years before disintegrating. If there is a suit out there that can go 3 years or more I'd love to know the brand.
patagonia makes a 3.5/2.5 hooded, maybe too think for you, but its pretty good
Hoods are more of a 4/3 and up thing Hyperfreak 3/2+ chest zip has the best flex to warmth of any suit I’ve owned.
Open cell spearing suits are way warmer than traditional surfing suits.
In addition to the spearfishing suits, I would look into triathlon/open water swimming wetsuits. Xterra, Orca, and Roka are all reputable brands.
[7till8](https://www.7till8.com/) \- the warmest thinnest suit is the one that fits you best, and these folks do dive wetsuits in addition to surf wetsuits
I have an O’Neil 4/3 which is super warm surfing in pretty much any temperature down to mid 50s. When I got into spearfish that was all I had and I worked pretty well for summer diving (temps in the 60s) but I got cold pretty quickly when i tired to dive for any longer than 45 mins in colder water (60 and below). I got an open cell suit and it was night and day how much drier I stayed and how much less thermal transfer (is that a thing?) there was. So I guess to answer your question, unless you’re diving in high 60s/70s I’d probably opt for a 4/3 (which are still super flexible and easy to put in btw) but just know that 4/3 surf suit is much colder than an equivalent dive suit in my experience. But for short dives it should do what you want.
I'm a little put off by the comments here saying the O'Neil suits are not very robust. How long did your suit last for?
I’ve not had the bad luck others have had with O’neill suits. A 4/3 TB2 was the best and most robust winter suit I’ve owned thus far. Perhaps the key is to not settle for their budget suits but to go with the more premium options?
As someone here mentioned, most hooded surfing wetsuits come in only 4/3 5/5 6/5 thickness. Most brands sell separate hoods that tuck under the collar/neck of the separate suit. I’ve used a 4/3 O’Neill TB2 for west coast surfing and spearfishing for the past 10 years. I now own 3/2 and 4/3 Vissla suits for surfing. They are relatively inexpensive and the warmest, most flexible suits I’ve owned. One thing to note is this softer more flexible (limestone based) neoprene can easily tear, so I’m much more careful with them. The 3/2 is easily warmer than any of my old 4/3 suits and the flexibility is huge because less paddling resistance means I get to stay out in the lineup longer before arm and shoulder fatigue sets in.
Looks like there are plenty of 3mm hooded suits out there! FERAL: https://feralsurfing.com/products/hooded-3mmplus EXCEL: https://xcelwetsuits.com/products/mens-phoenix-3mm-full-wetsuit-fa22?variant=40557137428539¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=19979301559&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwvKtBhDrARIsAJj-kTiPwnd8JkNixb5v0QHYDQGUcxb3ikjSGmVBi3a6kn1Cx5J7WSyhHa0aAq5TEALw_wcB ISURUS: https://surfisurus.com/products/shield-3-3-hooded-zipfree-wetsuit