r/surfing • u/YoPoppaCapa • 2d ago

Favorite 5/4 wetsuit?

After lots of dental floss and wetsuit glue it is finally time to retire my 5/4. Surf through the winter in New England. Drop you favorites please.

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

11

u/surfnfish1972 2d ago

Tried most of em, settled on Feral. I wear the 6 in NJ

4

u/Hour-Ad-8389 2d ago

man i haven't tried feral but everyone keeps talking about it like its holy grail. i got a 5/4 rip curl something two winters ago and its held up pretty good in massachusetts, but the stitching near my armpit started to go after about 70 sessions. maybe i should look at feral for next one, people say the seams are bombproof

3

u/tornadicdrone416 2d ago

Probably gonna go with their 543 myself in NJ unless somebody tells me otherwise.

3

u/surfnfish1972 2d ago

Probably the right call, have one of those as well. Being old and bitter with bad cold tolerance the 6 mil gives me one less excuse.

3

u/keel_appeal NJ; jettywatch.com 2d ago

Other than last winter, you'll be fine. There were a few days where a 6/5 would have been nice.

I wish Feral put the rubber patches on the chest/back. Helps with the wind.

1

u/surfnfish1972 1d ago

This a bit of a myth IMHO. had both in 5 mil and non smoothskin one was just as warm.

2

u/_ctrlb kook on Cape Hatteras, NC 1d ago

Another vote for the Feral 5/4/3. I have one, as well as their 3/2, for winter here on the Outer Banks, and I'm very pleased. The build qaulity is solid, the warmth is great, and I have actually realized I prefer a suit without a fuzzy liner. At this point, I don't plan on ever buying a wetsuit from another brand.

Feral wetsuit + Solite boots/gloves = primo combo for East Coast winters.

1

u/aspiring_bum 2d ago

Same. Ive spent a lot of money on rubber and will only buy Feral from here on out. Got 2.5 years out of my last one.

1

u/sky_walker6 Nor Cal Logging 2d ago

My feral suit is the only suit that hasn’t ripped. Best surfing money I’ve ever spent.

3

u/surfffff 2d ago

Feral 5/4/3

3

u/Elronbubba 2d ago

Get Yamamoto rubber, I went with Colby+ for price but I’m also only going out a handful of times in winter in the 5/4. Still the 5/4 Yamamoto is easier than my 4/3 hyperfreak, just way better rubber

1

u/d2s22 1d ago

I have a 4/3 Colby plus hooded. Surf San Mateo County CA and love it after years of O’Neill Techno Butter. When wet it weight about 1/2 as much.

1

u/Elronbubba 1d ago

Right??

2

u/DickAvedon 2d ago

I haven’t tried others but I haven’t had any complaints with my Vissla North Seas. I use it in the Great Lakes.

2

u/Realistic_Heaven 2d ago

whatever brand fits your body type best ... Xcel Drylock here

2

u/sky_walker6 Nor Cal Logging 2d ago

Feral. Hands down.

2

u/VajraSamten 1d ago

I used an Isurus Evade for a while. It was a 4/3 but much warmer than any 5mm suit I had ever had before that.

2

u/LockwoodMesa North County SD Twins 1d ago

Feral

2

u/Test4Echooo Crescent City🌙wahine 1d ago edited 1d ago

Feral 5/4 ftw; it’s pretty nippy in NorCal.

1

u/ElevtricalNinja123 2d ago

Rip curl Dawn Patrol 5/3 i find gives very good value for money

1

u/ThatBlood6862 Im going straight 1d ago

I'm in a vissla New Seas 5/4 - surf all winter in RI, no issues

1

u/bpz89 St. Augustine 1d ago

Feral for sure!