New Wetsuit

[shogun1204]

Last season I had the full Skin 4/3 Neil Pryde 3000 series suit. Very nice suit and very warm. Not the most flexiable thing, and the skin on it started to crack after 6 months. The cracks are not that big of a deal just get some Wetsuit repair stuff to fix them. Go to Water Sports West and try one on they are very nice Wetsuits, just remeber if you get one to get the repair stuff too. If you start to see a crack fix it quick or it will just get bigger. This year I got a 5/3 Mystic Crossfire and that suit is freaking sweet! Very warm and super flexible. When I first got it I thought I it was too thin! I thought there is no way it is a 5/3, this thing feel so much thinner than my 4/3 Neil Pryde. Nope very warm in it and it feels like I have a 3/2 suit on because it is so flexible. They are expensive, but I think they are worth every penny! Was ridding in it this weekend when it was 35 with wind chills in the teens up in Ft. Walton. Was nice and warm, but my feet where frozen! Have to order some thicker booties now dang it!

[LSUkiter]

Tried the Neil Pryde and really liked it, but I wanted to try the Mystic first since I've read several good reviews

Try suncoast surf shop... they usually have decent sales on suits. I picked up a 3/2 for like $40 and I've been using it for 3 years now. My body doesn't usually get cold, but my hands and feet do when it's in the 50's and blowing 25+.

I'll probably replace it soon though...

I prefer a good surfing wetsuit.. lots of flexibility and stretch.

[Rodan'sWings]

Originally Posted by LSUkiter

Tried the Neil Pryde and really liked it, but I wanted to try the Mystic first since I've read several good reviews

I wouldnt spend $300 on any of those fancy kite-brand wetsuits yet.......shop around 1st, any surfing style wetsuit with 3-4mil thickness will work about as good as any overpriced Mystic or Neil Pryde. Yes the Neil Prydes have alot of rubber-top neoprene to act as a wind barrier which is nice but check this out:
At WSW I found a 4mm Quicksilver MX fullsuit for $35, the retail price tag on it was $289! It had alot of black rubber up top and fit me perfectly. I liked the wetsuit so much i went back and bought two more, one in 3mm and the other 2mm.....BTW..The nice thing about Surfing wetsuits is that you can also use them for other sports like surfing or skin diving, Neil Prydes are too thick in the armpit region for paddling or swimming IMO (designed for windsurfers)
WSW consistantly has the best deals on wetsuits, everywhere else you have to wait for the Sales days, and even then only odd sizes are left by the time you get there in my experience.

Hope this helps

C'mon, scrow, don't be a pussy. I kite the coldest days around here wearing nothing but a thong and a bow tie. You can't impress the ladies wrapped up like a pig in a blanket.

[Rodan'sWings]

Originally Posted by E-Bone

C'mon, scrow, don't be a pussy. I kite the coldest days around here wearing nothing but a thong and a bow tie. You can't impress the ladies wrapped up like a pig in a blanket.

Promise me you'll never try the hello-kitty-rainbow-slide trick in that thong.
PROMISE ME!

[kent]

buy what ever suit fits your budget, however the assumptions on kite specific suits are totally incorrect. Neilpryde and NPX are good examples of suits designed with a specific purpose in mind. Just think about it, you spend $1200 - $1600 on a great new kite. you want to extend your session as long as you can and be comfortable doing it. In truth it is the very tight surf suit that limits your flexibility while kiting, not to mention that they are cold as hell. Surfers spend most of their time in the water and are not affected by evaporation like kiters and windsurfers are. a nice, flexible smooth skin upper keeps you far warmer. Additionally, the reenforcements around the harness area keep you suit intact in areas with rubbing. NPX and NP for example do loosen up the arm area to allow for good movement. Additionally, these suits are blind stitched where the suit that you are going to get for $35 is probably a flat lock suit with wet seams allowing for cold water flush. How many times have you been bolting along in your surf suits on a kite and you end up with "kankles"? The water jets up your leg and stays there adding 20 lbs. of weight to you body. This sucks and is another example of using the wrong tool for the job. Things like water sheding material, blind stitching, arm and ankle closures, mesh skin, and apex flex material are very, very important to having a good ride to me. Once again, if it's just budget, get what ever will get you through, but if you can spend a bit more it will come back to you.

Kent

[inferno]

Originally Posted by kent

Just think about it, you spend $1200 - $1600 on a great new kite. Kent

do people actually spend that much on a new kite
thats almost my whole quiver (one 2008 and two 2007's)

[Rodan'sWings]

Originally Posted by kent

buy what ever suit fits your budget, however the assumptions on kite specific suits are totally incorrect. NPX and NP for example do loosen up the arm area to allow for good movement. Additionally, these suits are blind stitched where the suit that you are going to get for $35 is probably a flat lock suit with wet seams allowing for cold water flush. How many times have you been bolting along in your surf suits on a kite and you end up with "kankles"? The water jets up your leg and stays there adding 20 lbs. of weight to you body. This sucks and is another example of using the wrong tool for the job.

Kent

Blind stitching has been on the market for years. Not only does my $35 Quicksilver have blindstitching, it's seems are welded on the inside. This is the warmest suit ive ever had, and ive gone thru alot of wetsuits.
These $300 kite suits are marginally better.....id rather put that $$$ into kites. ive been buying wetsuits since the 80's and its comical how these companys come out with gimmicks to outsell the competition, remember "titanium injected neoprene"? Rip Curl claimed "Titanium is 200% warmer than regular neoprene" well if titanium worked why dont we see titanium dust used in wetsuits anymore?. Then one year it was the copper inner lining thing that would make your skin turn green LOL.....
But If i were rich man id buy the top of the line stuff too, and not have to worry about shopping around which is a PITA and id drive a Ferrari Testossarosa Gucci sunglasses etc......