In Melbourne I use a Radiator 3/2 steamer and it is adequate for the even the coldest weather. It's quite cheap at $328. The Radiator people give great service and they're happy to exchange and pay for the postage so you get the right size.

http://www.radiator.net/Item.aspx?CID=3&PID=14

In winter I use a rubber rashie to you would want to add that to the price.

The big advantage of the Radiator is that they're cheap and they dry very quickly. Important if you want to have more than one session in a day, or sessions two days in a row in cold weather. The inside is shiny silver material and you can wipe it dry if you have to.

The disadvantage is that the inside is cold to the skin when you first put it on. The zip/neck system is not super sophisticated so you do get a bit of flush through when you fall in or duck dive waves.

I hve a Rip Curl F-Bomb 4/3 steamer. It is warmer than the Radiator and more sophisticated but also much more expensive at $600. It takes ages to dry (up to a week in winter.)

Whatever you get it must have sealed seams, and get a hat and some decent booties. My Rip Curl has an integrated hood which is wonderful.

Ive been using 2 thermals under mine and that has helped although its not as cold as it would be down there in Tassie ( water gets to 11dgrees and usually sailing in min 12 - 16 degree air temp).
In the local sailing shop I just discovered a wetsuit 'top' like a rash vest but wetsuit that dinghy sailors use $60 so I'm going to buy one of those to put over my 2/3mm suit and hopefully that will be a cheap way to be toasty in winter..

oneil psycho 2. 4/3.

lasted for ages, and was warm enough for tassie in winter

www.ripcurl.com.au/mens/wetsuits/steamers.html

from a few years ago.

Plenty warm enough for me.

russh said...

Just got a Neil Pryde X 4/3 assassin - use it twice - 13 degrees air temp minus wind chill (5.1 degree) 13 degree water - good price, warm as toast and designed for Windsurfing - a bit tough to get out of the first time but not a leak anywhere and got leg tapes to stop water pumping up ya legs - half the price of an E bomb too - they are semi dry suits - warmest I've been for a long time - worth a look

Just used one of these this afternoon NPX, at Pinnaroo in WA for first time. Fantastic with very little restriction of movement. Felt like it was just a thermal rashie. Warm as, and the added flip over neck section to keep the water from going down the back via the zip was a huge plus. Would have to be the best wetsuit I have ever purchased.

Surfed with a bloke the other day who had a battery packed wettie. Apparently it has three heat settings of between 37 -41 degrees. A bit of over-kill really however for the cashed up surfer I suppose $1500 is not too much for a wetsuit I suppose!?

PS A mate scored a new Rip Curl with the chest zip. He says it's very effective at keeping water out.

Rip Curl give a lifetime warranty on seams. I've had great value out of getting minor defects repaired free of charge on old wetsuits. On one wettie they completely replaced the top half of the suit with the latest fabric. It was crap that the suit wore out but it was great that they fixed it.

The days of overly tight wetties pumping out your forearms are long gone. Even cheap wetsuits are far more stretchy and comfortable than they used to be.

h20 said...

sboardcrazy said...

Ive been using 2 thermals under mine and that has helped although its not as cold as it would be down there in Tassie ( water gets to 11dgrees and usually sailing in min 12 - 16 degree air temp).
In the local sailing shop I just discovered a wetsuit 'top' like a rash vest but wetsuit that dinghy sailors use $60 so I'm going to buy one of those to put over my 2/3mm suit and hopefully that will be a cheap way to be toasty in winter..

I have used a thermal and long sleeve rash under 4/3 last month or so and been sooooo toasty. Needs to be awesome thermal though

Peter Storm bushwalking / skiing ones are good..thick blue colour.Mine must be 20 years old though so I don't know if they still make that type.
I got my old ripcurl steamer 'enlarged'last year.. it does the job but is quite restrictive compared to the stretchy material in my new cheap one ( that let water pour in everytime I fell in).