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Old 12-21-2010, 01:21 AM   #1
de los muertos
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Open cell suits for surfing?

Anyone know of any? After buying my first open cell dive suit and improving my underwater enjoyment ten fold, I have started to wonder about the possibilities in the topside realm. Open cell's seem like a much more flexible, warmer alternative for surfing, not to mention cheaper. WTF is the deal here? anyone have some insight?
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Old 12-21-2010, 01:42 AM   #2
phil herranen
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

With surfing you are in and out of the water a skin in would be way to sticky for surfing
Phil
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Old 12-21-2010, 01:51 AM   #3
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

I've surfed up North and at Todos in my freediving suit. Kinda doesn't work... I dunno, I was warm, but it felt weird. I guess if you could get used to it, it'd work. I like surf suits for surfing and dive suits for diving, but that's just me.

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Old 12-21-2010, 02:00 AM   #4
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

What suits are you looking at? I was at Katin today and they had 3/2 Rip Curl E-Bomb chest-zips for 190. That's far cheaper than a open cell, and way more durable as well.
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Old 12-21-2010, 02:25 AM   #5
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

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Originally Posted by phil herranen View Post
With surfing you are in and out of the water a skin in would be way to sticky for surfing
Phil
Actually its the complete opposite. Did it once when I forgot my surf suit. Besides feeling like a complete idiot wearing a camo riffe out surfing. The suit slipped and slid all over the place when paddling and stuff. To fragile as well.
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Old 12-21-2010, 02:28 AM   #6
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

Seems like you would get hotter than hell in that thing with all the paddling and what-not.
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Old 12-21-2010, 02:31 AM   #7
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

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Originally Posted by Mike Morgan View Post
Actually its the complete opposite. Did it once when I forgot my surf suit. Besides feeling like a complete idiot wearing a camo riffe out surfing. The suit slipped and slid all over the place when paddling and stuff. To fragile as well.
To me it was very sticky in the arms and upper body when up on the wave and after waiting for sets and the suit was drained out
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Old 12-21-2010, 02:42 AM   #8
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

Bad idea.
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Old 12-21-2010, 06:06 AM   #9
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

It's a good question. If two Surf Style Suits were made exactly the same except that one was Lined and one was Open Cell, the Open Cell Suit would be:
-Warmer
-Lighter
-More Flexible
-Less Expensive
-Less Durable
-More difficult to take care of
-More difficult to put on..

In order to use an Open Cell Suit for Surfing, you would need to allow some water into the suit. Many top Surfing suits these days can allow you to surf almost dry inside. This will not work with Open Cell. Nor would you be able to put on the suit without some water or lube..

While surfing, an open cell suit is Slippery in the chest and this doesn't allow the wearer to 'connect' top their board. However, a suit that fit well, and perhaps had a lined Chest, would work well. I've made a few Open Cell Short John prototypes and those were real nice to surf in when we get the cooler water in our winter. I was toasty in a 2mm Short John in 7O degree Water.
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Old 12-21-2010, 08:52 AM   #10
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

I've kitesurfed with my open cell when I forgot the regular suit. Worked just fine, just got hot as hell (which is always better than cold). The open cell suit definitively feels more fragile though.
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Old 12-21-2010, 10:28 AM   #11
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

I had one years ago when I was in the surf biz, it was a prototype by excel maybe or anther small brand. I loved it, dint freedive so did not know about lubeing up. I was easy to put on when it was dry but a second session if the suit was wet was a bitch to get into. It was super warm and worked really well. I think they opted against if for usability and durability. Surfers abuse their suits.

on a similar note I have been wondering why none of the freedive suits use the liquid rubber seam tape. All the surfs suits have it and its great at keep the seams from leaking. Its great as the suit gets older it does not leak like suits with out it. I would love that on my freedive suit.
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Old 12-21-2010, 11:01 AM   #12
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Behslayer View Post
It's a good question. If two Surf Style Suits were made exactly the same except that one was Lined and one was Open Cell, the Open Cell Suit would be:
-Warmer
-Lighter
-More Flexible
-Less Expensive
-Less Durable
-More difficult to take care of
-More difficult to put on..

In order to use an Open Cell Suit for Surfing, you would need to allow some water into the suit. Many top Surfing suits these days can allow you to surf almost dry inside. This will not work with Open Cell. Nor would you be able to put on the suit without some water or lube..

While surfing, an open cell suit is Slippery in the chest and this doesn't allow the wearer to 'connect' top their board. However, a suit that fit well, and perhaps had a lined Chest, would work well. I've made a few Open Cell Short John prototypes and those were real nice to surf in when we get the cooler water in our winter. I was toasty in a 2mm Short John in 7O degree Water.
Perfect! I used to do all the wetsuit buying for RipCurl and have seen some open/closed cell mix suits. The main problems with open cell for surfing is the slippery feel to the chest when paddling, and the fragile nature of the non lined rubber. Also most two piece dive suits would get a lot of water forced inside in waves with power, so you need a 1 piece design which for an open cell suit is tough to get on without all the slippery lube. Hotskins (which are thin open cell titanium lined jackets in .5mm) have been very popular for years.
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Old 12-21-2010, 12:32 PM   #13
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

Some of the Japanese surf suits use open cell... I believe axxe is one of them. Not cheap however. They hook a friend up with suits and he says they are ten fold the comfort and warmth...

http://www.axxe.jp/us/
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Old 12-21-2010, 06:09 PM   #14
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

I surfed Chinese a few weeks ago in just my 7mm farmer john bottoms, i was warm but any water that got in the chest made it so slippery it was hard to stay connected with the board and paddle in to waves with any stability. It was so bad i paddled to the boat to switch into my surf suit.
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Old 12-21-2010, 08:26 PM   #15
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Re: Open cell suits for surfing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by de los muertos View Post
Anyone know of any? After buying my first open cell dive suit and improving my underwater enjoyment ten fold, I have started to wonder about the possibilities in the topside realm. Open cell's seem like a much more flexible, warmer alternative for surfing, not to mention cheaper. WTF is the deal here? anyone have some insight?
The new surf suits are sick, I dono how anyone could complain. XCEL drylock infinity zip.
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