Top 5 Winter Wetsuits

Top 5 Winter Wetsuits

We are all stoked that it is finally winter, and the winter swells are starting to fire up; finally giving us half decent surf conditions along the South Coast of the UK where we are based.

Unfortunately, British winters also bring darker evenings - meaning no after work surfs (huge thumbs down from us), wind, rain, cooler seas… and the risk of mild frostbite if you go surfing without the right wetsuit. The water can drop down to around 5 degrees centigrade in the depths of Winter.

A well-fitting, good quality winter wetsuit is an essential purchase for any surfer wanting to make the most of the best surf of the year.

There are so many great wetsuits on the market it can be overwhelming and difficult to decide which one to go for, so this is why we have done the hard work for you and compiled a list of our top 5 winter wetsuits to keep you warm this winter.

Read on to discover more about our favourite winter wetsuits this year and what makes them so great.

O’Neill Hyperfreak

The O’Neill Hyperfreak range of wetsuits stand out due to their clean lines, minimal design and statement colour blocked panels.

These great looking wetsuits are consistently one of our best-sellers for a reason; they look great and they do what they are supposed to. The flexibility and warmth of these wetsuits can be undoubtably be attributed to the hours of research and development O’Neill have put into developing this top-notch range.

This range of wetsuits are constructed using O’Neill’s popular TechnoButter3X (TB3X) neoprene technology; a pre-stretched neoprene which maintains its structure for premium, weightless flexibility.

TB3X increases warmth with a low profile that sheds water rapidly and drip-dries faster between sessions. O’Neill themselves claim that their Technobutter 3X neoprene is the lightest, most flexible and softest material ever created and we have to admit it is great.

Offering something for the whole family; the Hyperfreak range includes both hooded and non-hooded wetsuits, for men, women and kids with their winter collection ranging from 4/3mm comp or chest zip suits all the way up to the warmest 5.5./4mm hooded steamer wetsuits.

The 5.5/4mm Hooded Hyperfreak is one of the most comfortable steamer wetsuits on the market and is one of our most popular winter suits for this reason. This wetsuit is also available without the hood, for men and women, in a 5.5/4mm thickness, perfect if you don’t like wearing a hood or want a more versatile suit that you can wear throughout cooler months of spring and autumn as well but can pair with your own hood when it’s icy cold out.

The 4/3mm Chest Zip Hyperfreak wetsuit is great if you are more tolerant to the cold or for those only planning on surfing in all but the coolest of winter conditions.

For the female surfer, the O'Neill Hyperfreak 5/4+ mm chest zip women's wetsuit is perfect for chilly winter surfs. This ladies Hyperfreak has been upgraded this year and now has fully taped seams which ensure no water intake whilst still maintaining flexibility. The + means this wetsuit has an extra 0.5mm of Technobutter 3 neoprene on the body of the suit and an extra 0.5mm of 3X neoprene on the arms and shoulder which helps to provide that much needed extra bit of warmth.

There are 3 different Hyperfreaks available for children; 4/3mm, 5/4 and 5/4mm hooded wetsuits all with chest zips. The 5.5/4mm hooded Hyperfreak is great for keeping those super keen groms cosy and warm during their icy winter surfs. This kids wetsuit is also available without a hood; making it perfect for use in those cooler months in spring and autumn too, but it can also be paired with an O’Neill Youth Psycho wetsuit hood to keep them extra toasty during those really chilly winter surfs if you want this option.

The HyperFreak comp, the zipless version of this suit available in 5/4mm, has been designed with as few seams as possible and completely seam free paddle zones. Minimal seams mean larger panels, more flexibility, better fit and improved durability, resulting in a winner of a wetsuit. We love the minimal design of this wetsuit and think it looks as good as it functions!

Key Features: 
- Zipless (Hyperfreak Comp) – This is a one of the best zipless suits on the market, with lightweight Closure System with 360⁰ barrier with drain holes, cinch cord adjustment and watertight seal and generous step-in opening.
- Fully Sealed- This wetsuit has triple glued and Blind Stitched seams with extra 0.5mm split-neoprene seam tape.
- Minimal Seam Design with seamless paddle zones
- Double Seal Collar

Construction:
 - TB3X Fully Taped seams / GBS Seams 
- Technobutter 3 & Technobutter 3X
- Aqua Alpha solvent Free Neoprene lamination

Hurley Advantage Plus

Hurley’s Advantage Plus wetsuits are made from the world's best materials and technology, resulting in a wetsuit that rivals any other suit you can get your hands on. These Hurley wetsuits are not just kind to you though, they boast ground breaking Eco friendly credentials that will make you feel good inside and out.

Available in 4/3mm, 5/3mm and 5/3mm hooded options - you can choose the perfect suit for you depending on the water temp where you will be surfing. The 4/3mm wetsuit should be perfect from October to January for the UK but if you plan on surfing oin the coolest months - January to March we recommend opting for a 5/3mm suit. 

The warmth this suit provides, is due to several key features. The eco friendly process which includes the carbon black recycled from tires, the limestone based neoprene and the dope-dyed yarns all combine to trap in heat, ensuring you are able to surf for longer than ever while being as comfortable as you ever have.

The Advantage Plus wetsuit from Hurley is equipped with fleece lining on the chest and back and this is using hollow fibres to ensure the heat is not escaping, double glued and blind stitched seams as well as having 100% taped seams, which not only keeps water out, it also gives the suit a longer life time.

You will not only be snug and warm in the Advantage Plus wetsuits, but the flexibility these offer is amazing! The placement of the seams have been carefully thought out and the performance patterning means there is next to no restriction of movement when paddling and popping up.

This placement paired with the new ExoFlex material, which is the most flexible and stretchy ,material Hurley have ever had! All of these features are topped off with how quick this suit dries. The heat trapping yarn used gives you an insulating interior, but when you are out of the suit, this material can dry rapidly to get you back in the sea quicker!

The team at Hurley are bringing a top class wetsuit to the table for you to surf in! The research and development that has been done prior to the manufacturing of these suits is evident and the result is a wetsuit that will last you a long time, have you warmer than ever without tiring your shoulders out!

Key Features:
- Chest Zip 
- Double Glued and Double Blindstitched with Hurley 100% Internal Taping
- Lined with Hollow-Fiber Insulating Fleece Material
- Fleece Lining using Hollow Fibres

Construction:
- 100% ExoFlex Limestone Based Neoprene
- Carbon Black for Hurley wetsuits is sourced using recycled tyres which limits CO2 emissions by 200 grams per wetsuit. 
- Dope Dyed Yarn. This eco construction method means liners and stretch tape are dyed using a special process that saves water, reduced energy consumption and avoids excess water pollution. 

Vissla 7 Seas

Vissla are strong believers that less is more and on the basis that a wetsuit’s primary function should be just that – that it is a great wetsuit; they created the all function, no-frills 7 Seas range, free from any marketing gimmicks and unnecessary knick-knacks. We rate that.

The 7 Seas wetsuits are constructed using their eco-friendly, super stretch limestone-based neoprene ensuring the wetsuits are flexible, lightweight and easier to take on and off (perfect for those wanting to avoid accidentally flashing innocent bystanders whilst changing out of their wettie in the beach car park).

Not only are they super stretchy, lightweight, and flexible, these wetsuits are incredibly warm. The Thermal Brain Fuzz lining is great at insulating heat and gets the job done when it comes to keeping you cosy and warm and keeping you out surfing for longer on those cold, windy days.

The 7 seas range includes a variety of wetsuits of differing thicknesses; from 4/3mm wetsuits, perfect for autumn, spring and milder winter surfs to the 6/5mm hooded 7 Seas wetsuit – perfect for the most committed surfers intending to surf in even the coldest conditions.

The Vissla 7 Seas Chest Zip 4/3mm wetsuit, available in several colourways is perfect for spring and autumn months, great if you want several wetsuits better suited for certain conditions or if you don’t intend to surf in the coolest months of the year.

If you want a wetsuit to that will do the job though the entire winter season, look no further than the 7 Seas Chest Zip 5/4mm. This suit has consistently been most popular chest zip winter steamers over the last few seasons. The suit is lightweight and super soft to the touch, making it one of the most comfortable suits we have worn here at Boardshop.

For those who prefer hooded suits, the 5/4mm and 6/5mm 7 Seas Hooded wetsuits are the ultimate in understated winter wetsuits. Perfect for the keen surfer that doesn’t want the cold cutting their winter surfs short.

Vissla wetsuits are also constructed with the environment in mind, made using eco-friendly limestone-based neoprene, eco carbon black (pyrolyzed from recycled tyres) and dope dyed yarn which used significantly less water than traditional methods.

Kudos to Vissla for doing their bit to make their wetsuits eco-friendlier. After all, the surfing industry isn’t known for being the most environmentally friendly, so we feel that every effort to reduce surfing’s impact on the environment helps. 

Key Features:
- Chest-zip entry, minimal bulk with a contoured watertight design 
- Tripled glued, double-blind stitched seams 
- Vissla super stretch Neo 2.0 tape allows for maximum seam sealing 
- Easy access secure key cord 
- Knee pads made with recycled Supratex are abrasion resistant for flexibility and strength.
- Liquid tape cuff seals to prevent flushing at cuffs.
- Glideskin on the neck seals to the skin to prevent flushing

Construction:
- 100% super stretch limestone-based neoprene –– An eco-alternative to traditional materials using petrochemicals which makes Vissla’s wetsuits lighter, warmer, softer, stretchier, easier to put on and take off, and allows for more freedom of movement 
- Thermal Brain Fuzz lining - This insulates heat and dries fast. 
- Dope-Dyed Fabric –– A softer, eco-friendly, anti-fade stretch jersey made by Bluesign approved mills. This method uses significantly less water and energy compared to traditional methods. 
- Eco Carbon Black – Carbon Black, one of the key ingredients of neoprene, is pyrolyzed from scrap rubber tires for Vissla wetsuits. This significantly reduces energy consumption and cuts CO2 emission by 200g per wetsuit.

 

O’Neill Epic

An O’Neill classic, this range proves popular with surfers year after year. This range of wetsuits consists of some of the best value wetsuits on the market, whilst not compromising on quality and giving some of the more expensive suits out there a run for their money.  

With a reputation for their reliability and performance, these popular winter wetsuits are also known for their amazing fit, thanks to their 100% super stretch neoprene. These wetsuits have also been redesigned this year and look better than ever.

Perfect for the everyday surfer, The Epic wetsuits are one of the best wetsuits you can buy in their price range. With 100% ultraflex neoprene, an UltraFlex Firewall chest, a double seal neck closure, LSD (lumbar seamless design) and a re-engineered Covert Blackout Zip – these wetsuits are packed full of top features.

If you are after an autumn / spring wetsuit for cooler days, this wetsuit is available in a 4/3mm option which can be paired with gloves, boots, and hood to make it more wearable on cooler days.

The Epic range includes 3, 3/2, 4/3, 5, 5/4 and even 6/5/4mm hooded suits, so there is an Epic suit appropriate for everyone, depending on how cold the sea temperature is where you are surfing, and whether you need a hood or not. 

The 5/4mm Epic wetsuit; the most wearable Epic wetsuit in terms of its suitability for UK water temperatures, available with a back zip or F.U.Z.E. Chest Zip, is incredibly warm thanks to its smooth skin exterior which deflects wind and water whilst the Fluidflex Firewall construction retains your body heat within the suit.

If you are after something warmer, this suit is available in a 5/4mm hooded option for both men and women, and also in a 6/5/4 mm thickness, both of which will be perfect for surfing in coldest conditions you experience in the UK, around March time. 

We can’t fault these wetsuits and due to their timeless design, great construction and affordable price they are understandably becoming more and more popular.

Key Features:
- Glued and Blindstitched Seams
- Double super Seal neck
- New glued in zipper construction
- Krypto Knee Padz
- External key pocket with loop
- Smoothskin FluidFlex™ Firewall

Construction:
- UltraFlex and FluidFlex neoprene
- UltraFlex Firewall back Smooth Skin
- Glideskin

Xcel Infiniti

 A new staff favourite here at Boardshop, we are really impressed with Xcel’s Infiniti range. These winter wetsuits are without doubt some of the very best cold-water wetsuits available.

With 3 Wetsuit of The Year wins behind them, Xcel are not showing any signs of slowing down and are constantly releasing new innovative wetsuit technologies to further improve their products, with the Infiniti range being no exception to this.

This range combines the Channel Flex, Radiant Rebound and Thermolite IR technologies to create the Infiniti X2; one of the best winter wetsuits of 2020. We offer this in two different thicknesses, a 5/4mm available with and without a hood and a 6/5mm hooded suit for ultimate warmth.

If these suits are not warm enough already, Xcel have an incredibly warm 6/5mm hooded wetsuit which is sure to keep you warm even in the iciest of winter waters. With radiant rebound technology on the chest and a high pile plush lining from the ankles to the chest, this wetsuit is insanely warm and would be our go to wetsuit for snowy surfs without a doubt.  

Pair the Infiniti wetsuit with Xcel’s 7mm Infiniti wetsuit boots and the Infiniti 5mm mitts and we guarantee you won’t be feeling cold during your cold-water surf.

One of the reasons we chose to stock Xcel’s wetsuits is due to their eco conscious approach to making their wetsuits. They use water-based glues, eco carbon black, Limestone neoprene, dope dyed yarn and they recycle as many of their neoprene offcuts as possible.

With solar powered headquarters and several eco initiatives on the go they are working hard to try and reduce their impact on the environment.

If, like us, you are trying to opt for more environmentally friendly options where you can, including when purchasing new surf gear, we highly recommend Xcel’s products for their eco conscious approach as well as their amazing performance in the harshest of winter conditions.

Key Features:
- Semi-dry chest zipper with magnetic closure
- Triple glued and BlindStitched seams with Fusion X internal seam tape
- Nanoprene Lite limestone based neoprene
- 'Grown-on' hood with thermal lining 
- Toggle adjustment and small visor.

Construction:
- Channel Flex exterior
- Radiant Rebound Chest
- Nanoprene Japanese Limestone Neoprene

 

As if the wetsuits aren’t good enough on their own, at Boardshop we are too nice for our own good, so when you buy a winter wetsuit from us you’ll get an extra 1 year on top of your wetsuit warranty totally free of charge.

We are stoked to be stocking all these high-quality winter wetsuits and we can’t wait to see what amazing technologies the top brands come out with next!

So, what are you waiting for? Click here to check out our full range of Winter Wetsuits.

Still stuck on what winter suit to go for? We have over 100 years of combined wetsuit experience here at Boardshop, we love talking about all things surf related and are happy to offer our advice! Drop us an email at info@boardshop.co.uk or give us a call on 01243 674250.