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Hello.
Any locals care to recomend a good wetsuit shop?
Looking for one for swimming and surfing. I have Raynauds so probably a winter one for spring/summer/autumn. I know they can probably be had cheaper online but I'd rather try it on before buying.
Anyone care to recomend one that they like? I'm 5'11" and quite skinny. Are removable hoods a thing? Just in case we have a warm day and even I get too hot with one. Budget is three figures, ideally starting with a 1, maybe a 2 at a push.
Cheers.
Lomo wetsuits are good value. They have a shop in Glasgow.
https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/glasgow-wetsuits-shop.html
Swimming and surfing are (oddly) quite different uses. A swimming wetsuit would be ripped to shreds used surfing. A winter surfing wetsuit will be too restrictive in the shoulder to be great for serious/prolonged swimming. Which is the priority?
Hmm. Didn't realise they were different. Another reason to go to a proper shop rather than online, find some staff who know what they are talking about.
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It won't get a huge amount of use, maybe surfing 3/4 times a year. At present I just hire one with the board, they sometimes smell a bit but are otherwise fine. A couple of friends have taken up wild swimming and I keep getting invited, not actually been yet (winter, Reynauds, etc) but would be nice to go. Harder to hire one for this. Not sure how regular that would become.
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Would it better to surf in a swimming suit or swim in a surfing suit? Again, probably better if I could try it on and wave my arms about.
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And thanks Craig. I'm not in Glasgow very often but it's not a million miles away so worth the journey if nothing closer.
[EDIT] posting at the same time, thanks Doug, much easier to get to. Will go and have a look
As a windsurfer with several suits I wouldn't want to swim in any of them. My swimming is limited to getting back to the board after an unscheduled dismount.
Decathlon at Hermiston gate usually have some swimming ones out all year round. Surf ones only tend to be out when its a bit warmer, but they may have them behind the scenes? or you can order online and have delivered to the shop/return to shop if not a good fit.
Swimming ones tend to be more flexible, especially around the shoulders, also the neoprene seems softer than my old windsurfing one making it more likely to tear (not designed to come into contact with anything other than water)
You could try St Vedas surf shop in coldingham? They stock a few brands and sizes so could see what fits you?
I'm similar dims to you and take a medium tall in Rip-Curl but a medium in O'neill. As usual, sizes tend to differ between brands. Alternatively speak to the guys at coast to coast in Dunbar? Josh and Sam used to all have Janga suits and get a deal on them but they aren't cheap and may not be to your taste in colour/design?
As mentioned above though, surfing and swimming suits are very different, i can only comment from a surfing perspective, but a good winter suit will be fleece lined (flashbomb or similar) with a fixed hood (prevent flushing) so you would most likely bake swimming in this for any length of time but vital for scottish winter surfing conditions. Usual story of not one product fits all applications sadly.
I thought real wild swimmers didn't wear wetsuits... 😉
Was in Hermiston Gait Decathlon yesterday. They have a few swimming wetsuits but not many. For some inexplicable reason, half of them are hanging on the back wall next to the bikes and half of them are hanging in the swim section.
Agreed, totally different use cases. As I do both my suggestions are...
Read up and with your experience you’ll have a rough idea of good vs bad fit then goto wiggle & order about 3 suits, hopefully you only need to send 2 back! I did this for triathlon suit and it worked well
I presume you’ll be surfing in the North Sea which is exceptionally Baltic so I’d suggest a 5.3 one but not too expensive as you’ll also need hood, boots & gloves.
If it was me I’d just get the swimming one at the moment as surfing in the North Sea can be fickle so going with the renting option for a wee while longer won’t hurt... unless they’re really bogging! 😆
Thanks all. Some useful tips there.
Might go for a swimming one just now then and keep renting the surfing one, I need to rent a board anyway so am unlikely to be there when the hire place isn't open.
I have my own boots and gloves already.
Even given my Raynauds would I need a particularly thick one for swimming spring/autumn in Scottish Lochs? Possibly one thickness up from whatever most folks use, I don't have it too bad.
Good shout on St Vedas, it's that area I do going surfing (and once near Sagres in Portugal, which was terrifying for a beginner, and yet huge fun at the same time 🙂 )
I found a hood was the most amazing transformation for swimming in very cold water with crappy extremity circulation.
I’ve still not found gloves that I’m really happy with.
@brant - try the Lomo swim gloves. The Mrs has them and says they've made a massive difference. Close cut,sealed seams all meant to stop/reduce water entry. She is swimming/dipping in Loch Morlich weekly through the winter. No wetsuit but socks, gloves and hat are mandatory.
https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/triathlon-swimming-gloves.html
I gave a 4/3 decathlon a go (normally spend about double that on an f bomb or similar) and was presently surprised. Not quite as good, but not far off, and relatively easy to try for size. I imagine you will be an MT in most brands
I swam 100s off times in my old surf wetsuite. Just make sure it's really stretchy. It was fine to swim in but slow. Swimming wetsuits have buoyancy on the front making the position in the water easier to get correct. This is based on hiring a swim wetsuits once.
I think I'll buy another surf wetsuite. I'm to clumsy for a fragile swim suite
Lomo swim wetsuit is meant to be highly rated.
the alpkit ones are really good too
If it is a swimming wetsuit you want , buy DHB from Wiggle.
Another windsurfer here.
Good advice above, In winter you need a 5mil but you wouldnt want to swim in it al all.
Decathlon are great value for money, i have 2 decalthon suits and the full length 2/3mm is excelant. I have a far more expensive RipCurl wintersuit and i try to avoid it as it is so much more restrictive (but in winter it is essential to have that thickness).
2x cheaper suits are better than 1 good one IMO as the difference between a thick winter suit and thin summer suit is massive. My recomendation is get a 2/3mm Decatlon surfing suit and wait untill it warms up a bit.