Key points for Winter Surf Equipment

Looking to buy Winter Surf Equipment? Read these key points on what you should be looking for...!

Post-freezing surf excitement @ The Cove 2011

That time of the year has come again... The time when tree leaves start changing colors and the air becomes crisp.... Slowly cold winter starts surrounding us and doing what it can do best... create waves! The best thing we can all do is get ready by suiting up to face this extreme weather and surf safely.

When I first started looking into purchasing the equipment for surfing in the Great Lakes during Winter, I started off with the wrong foot. Now that I have some experience I want to share it with those who are looking into buying the equipment so they don’t make the same mistakes I did. These are Key points for those who don’t know what to look for and for those who know, maybe something can be added to the list!

 After 3 years of experience surfing in the cold water of Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Ontario, I would like to present you with a number of key points that will help you to buy the right surf equipment for winter in the Great Lakes. Remember this equipment will be there to protect you from freezing temperatures and water that without protection would give you frostbite to say the least, and could lead to a frozen death if you don’t have the correct equipment. Surfing The Great Lakes is not an easy task, let alone doing it during winter time. 

Being safe should not be an option, it must be our choice. Being safe is something we owe to ourselves and to our families. Please, keep in mind these are recommendations I make based on my personal experience with the only goal of helping guide those new Great Lake Surfers to enjoy the sport in a safe way.

 Wetsuit 6/5/4 with Hood attached. (CAD: $300 - $650)

The thickness of the wetsuit is very important. I’ve found the 6/5/4 mm the best option to endure strong winds and cold water. You will find two options for the wetsuit: I. Back zipper and II. Zipper across the chest. This second option should be the one you should be looking at as it prevents better cold water from filtering inside your wetsuit.
 

You might also find wetsuits with attached hood or no hood at all. In the last case you will have to purchase a thick hood as well. I definitely recommend having an attached hood as the best option. There will be no chance for cold water to filter through the wetsuit and hood.

I personally use everything from Xcel. It is funny how a company based in Hawaii – where the weather is mostly nice and warm – can produce one of the best wetsuits for extreme cold temperatures and provide high performance as well. I am very happy with the quality they provide.

  Boots 7mm – Round toe (CAD $50 - $80)

Your feet are the first body parts to get cold. Maybe because these are the body parts the furthest away from your heart. After some time in the water (anywhere between the 1^st hour and on) your feet start getting cold, specifically, your toes.  For this reason, keeping your feet nice and warm for as long as possible is very important. The possibility of getting frostbite is much higher on your extremities. 7mm boots have been more than enough to surf anywhere between 2-5 hours during severe winter storms in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Nevertheless if you really want to stay warm with the maximum protection out there and you got the extra few bucks get the 8mm boots! There's a big difference with only 1 mm more!

Gloves 5mm – Mittens (CAD $40 – $70)

These type of gloves keep your fingers all together with the exception of your thumb. They can be somewhat uncomfortable when you first get them. We are used to be able to use our fingers to grab things and move around. However, I think that keeping your fingers close to each other increase the warmth on your hands. As a result, this helps increase the time your hands can last in cold water before starting to get cold. After a while you do get used to having your fingers all together. I have yet to try the 5mm gloves – 5 fingers this winter. If you have tried them before, please let us know what you think about them and in what kind of weather you tried them on.

These are the basic parts of your winter surf gear. However, these are essential for a great surfing experience in The Great Lakes during winter. Keep in mind that these items can be a bit expensive when you first buy them but are totally worth it. Believe me; you don’t want to be telling yourself once in the water you should’ve saved up a couple hundred bucks more to ensure you would remain warm and toasty while surfing. Being cold during winter time is not nice and unsafe!

I have seen surfers wearing other kind of accessories as well during winter time. Items such as masks and creams are used to remain warm or protect eyes/skin from strong winds. What kind of accessories do you use when surfing to remain warm? share with us! Or if you have any question please address them right on the comments section!