Winter is coming, and the water is beginning to dip into those dreaded icy temperatures. Here at the Surf Station in St. Augustine (and in Northeast Florida, in general), we don’t exactly experience how insanely and relentlessly cold Mother Nature can be, but those brisk winds that do occasionally blow in from the North, plummeting the air temperature to a chillingly low 60ish degrees, are enough to perk our nips and send us running to the nearest coffee shop for a mochaccino with two shots of espresso, three pumps of vanilla, and whipped cream with a caramel swirl #basic. But when the waves are just too tasty to not send it, we’d recommend always having a solid, quality wetsuit in your closet that’s always ready to go when the sea beckons. And when you’re trying to find that right suit to keep you warm, the Surf Station has you covered! Here is a list of our top 5 wetsuits for this season’s nippiest days based on a combination of three factors—affordability, comfort, and maneuverability:
#5) Quiksilver Syncro+ 3/2 Chest-Zip Full Wetsuit ($199.95)
At number 5 on our list is the Quiksilver Syncro+ 3/2 Chest-Zip Full Wetsuit. Ideal for water temperatures around 59 degrees (Fahrenheit, that is, and 15 degrees Celsius for our homies across the pond), the Syncro+ is a great choice for when you’re on a budget. Quiksilver’s F’N Light neoprene—a technology in which the neoprene itself is packed with air-cells—makes this wettie super light and maneuverable but not at the cost of sacrificing warmth and overall performance, while the additional Thermal Smoothie neoprene in the chest and back protects from wind chill. All seams are triple glued and blind stitched, thereby reducing water entry, and the wrists and ankles possess Liquid Flex Seal (LFS) taped seams that allow for maximum comfort and minimal leakage (and the Surf Station is all about minimal leakage). The Quiksilver Syncro+ Wetsuit is definitely a banger, yet only a slight pew to your wallet.
#4) Rip Curl E-Bomb 3/2 Zipless Full Wetsuit ($299.95)
And at number 4, we have the Rip Curl E-Bomb 3/2 Zipless Full Wetsuit. Do you like Mick Fanning? We do, too! This is the wetsuit that the 3x World Champ has been wearing on tour this year and golly does it complement his figure well (call me, Mick). Rip Curl’s E-Bomb allows you shred and carve at high performance levels with the least amount of restriction possible. The suit is constructed of 100% E5 neoprene—Rip Curl’s newest and finest neoprene technology—with glued and blind stitched seams. This wetsuit’s E5 stretch point tape provides the ultimate seam seal, making it Rip Curl’s lightest and most-flexible suit they offer. And their new zip-free technology allows for easy entry and exit, minimizing the ballyhoo and bulkiness of traditional chest-zips. Frankly, this wetsuit is the cat’s meow, and if it gets us a phone call from the Mick himself, we’ll rock it harder than Donald Trump rocks a toupee.
#3) O’Neill Hyperfreak Comp 3/2 Zipless Full Wetsuit ($269.95)
Coming in at number 3 is the O’Neill Hyperfreak Comp 3/2 Zipless Full Wetsuit. The Hyperfeak Comp boasts O’Neill’s Technobutter pre-stretched neoprene technology with a featherlight ENVY foam rubber core, which is, as A Tribe Called Quest would say, like butter, baby. This wetsuit’s so ridiculously soft, if Michael Jackson’s voice were a wetsuit, it’d be this one. The zipless entry allows for ease of entry and exit, and with triple glued, fully taped seams, this is O’Neill’s lightest and most maneuverable wetsuit yet. Ever wonder what it’s like to surf naked? The O’Neill Hyperfreak Comp could be the closest you could get to actually doing so without becoming a registered sex offender, and that in-and-of itself is enough to earn a spot onto Surf Station’s top 5 list of anything!
#2) XCEL Infiniti Comp TDC 3/2 Chest-Zip Full Wetsuit ($344.95)
Our number 2 pick goes to the ever-popular and well-known XCEL Infiniti Comp TDC 3/2 Chest-Zip Full Wetsuit. This suit features XCEL’s Thermo Dry Celliant (TDC) as the inside lining, making the Infiniti Comp TDC lightweight and quick-drying. XCEL’s TDC lining converts body heat into infrared energy, thereby maximizing warmth, comfort, and performance. The Infiniti Comp TDC also boasts an ultra-stretch neoprene, which possesses a tighter weave textile that minimizes water absorption, enhances durability, and maximizes stretch and maneuverability. All seams are glued and blind stitched with a Thermo Dry Taped seam that creates a seal to keep water out and warmth in. A thin band of neoprene skin XCEL calls ‘NexSkin’ lines the inner wrists and ankles, forming a tight seal that keeps flushing to a minimum. Hands down, XCEL makes some of the best wetsuits on the market, and the Infiniti Comp TDC is their wonder child. Trust us when we say that it’s worth every penny.
#1) Vissla 7 Seas 3/2 Chest-Zip Full Wetsuit ($199.95)
Finally, we’ve arrived to the long-awaited number 1 Surf Station pick: the Vissla 7 Seas 3/2 Chest-Zip Full Wetsuit. This suit is made of Vissla’s Super Stretch Light neoprene, which allows for greater freedom of movement, warmth, and softness. The chest-zip entry has minimal bulk with a contoured water-tight design, and the seams are triple glued, double blind stitched, and sealed with Vissla’s super stretch tape that grants unrestricted stretch and comfort all while affording a maximum seal. The ankles and wrists possess liquid taped seals to prevent flushing and leakage (again, something we here at the Surf Station strongly endorse). Vissla seems to be doing everything right, and this wetsuit is a testament to how rad this company is. For the cost, you’re not going to find a better wetsuit anywhere on the market. Period. Vissla definitely holds a special place in our heart, and once you own this suit, they’ll snuggle up and take residence in yours as well.
There you have it: Surf Station’s Top 5 Wetsuits for Winter 2017-18! While these suits won’t necessarily hold up if you’re charging glaciers in Nova Scotia, they’re perfect for the coldest temperatures here in the Atlantic around St. Augustine and Northeast Florida. Now, go suit up, get like Kim Jung, and send it.
Let us know in the comment section below your tried-and true wetsuit of choice and any others we may have missed in order to share the stoke of winter surfing to our amigos who may be reading!
*** Surf Station proudly honors our Triple Guarantee—when you buy some rubber, shipping’s free! If, to your dismay, you find that the wetsuit doesn’t fit when it arrives, we’ll pay for the return shipping back to us, and then we’ll cover the cost of shipping (yet again!) to send you another in the correct size. The Surf Station Triple Guarantee: three trips of shipping at no cost to you! All of these suits and more can be found at our online store surfstationstore.com. ***
