3/2 Full Suit: Lower Water Temp Comfort?

[breakbad]

The nonsensical 'manliness' version of the equation:
(water temp + air temp) <=  (board displacement in Liters - age)

[supthecreek]

whatz^

I pretty much go by the sun and wind.
We just don't spend a lot of time in the water.

If the sun is strong, a 3/2 can handle pretty low temps.
 
If its windy and dark, I need more rubber.

Flat-water is a different story.... I wear my 3/2 in almost all weather conditions. If it's cold, I add a golf vest over it

Today is pretty normal for me
snow storm
27 degrees
15-20 mph

I wore my favorite old 3/2 (sorry JimK... I still love it)
with hood and Explorer boots.... frickin' awesome paddle. I'm making a short movie as we speak.

[Badger]

You guys are lucky to have so much internal warmth.

I call my 3/2 my summer suit.  I wear it when air temps are below 70 degrees.

When it gets below 50 degrees I pull out the 4/3.

When it gets below 40 I pull out the drysuit. I would need at least a 6/4 wetsuit. Not only are they expensive but they are very restricting and uncomfortable. I've been thinking of wearing the 3/2 over the 4/3 but haven't tried it in the water yet.

I only use wetsuits for surfing. They make sense in the surf where you often spend a lot of time in the water. I've never tried them on flatwater just because the drysuit is far superior in that element.

[WhatsSUP]

Craaaa.....Craaaaa.....Craaa-reeeeeeek, I'm shivering just looking at this pic!  God Bless ya!

Like Stone, I hate being cold - nuttin worse!

The O'Neil heat (3/2) looks pretty sweet (highlighted for water temps 50-55 plus) and not outrageously expensive. http://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/page/WW/3358#.VPm_E2AtCM8  While their 4/3 (http://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/page/WW/3358#.VPm_E2AtCM8) lists water temp 45-50 plus.

And here's some verbiage I found on the O'Neil Psycho III"

Bottom Line: The new 2014 O’Neill Psycho 3 wetsuit is going to be just about as flexible as the Pscyho 1 wetsuit and that’s unreal. This makes the Psycho III one of the warmest and most flexible combination back zip wetsuits you will find. This is the premier back zip wetsuit. If you’re surfing and want to make the most of your time in the water, the O’Neill Psycho II is the way to go. It’s also a lot more durable than the Psycho II wetsuit, thanks to the TechnoButter nylon coating, it looks like a parachute fabric that resists snags – great addition.

Best use: Cold water and chilly to cold air temp for the 3/2 and just plain cold for the 4/3. San Fran and areas around there will probably want to stay with the 4/3, it’s better to be warm than cold and the 4/3 feels more like a 3/2 anyway. Water temps down into the lower 50s and I would stick with the 3/2. With all the new features, this suit should be the primary suit you wear all season. If your water only dips into the lower 50s/upper 40s for a few weeks, I would skip getting a 4/3 and stick with the 3/2 and a polyprop-shirt. It’s cheaper than buying two suits and it’s going to be a beast.

[Wetstuff]

I really like Bean's scale - I like having some sort of benchmark.   Adding to Creek's Sun & Wind ..I found switching to a smoothie wetsuit when I kited in the early 2000s made a big difference.  ..then, I wanted wind but not the chilling side effects. Now I get piss'd if it's windy ..but happy when sunny.

Jim

[andygere]

Covering your head can make a huge difference.  With the hood zipped onto my 3/2 Mutant, I go pretty deep into the year, below the 100 degree rule.  If it's a morning session, the hood comes off after some solar gain warms things up.  I'd much rather wear a hood than another mm of rubber.  Another trick is to wear some neoprene trunks under your 3/2 to extend it into colder weather/water.  You lose a lot of heat through that region (big arteries in your legs near the surface) and the trunks don't add any extra effort to surfing or paddling.  Final trick is a fleece short sleeve shirt under your suit.  Much less restrictive than a neoprene shirt or vest, and super warm.  Mysterioso makes a nice one.

The style of suit makes a big difference too.  Top loaders tend to leak less so you stay warmer.  That big zipper down the back leaks a lot of water and the wind cuts right through it.  I find that back zips tend to flush down the neck more when you are getting worked. A top loader 3/2 with sealed seams and a lot of smoothie can get you comfortable below the 100 degree mark.  Add a beanie or hood and it's even warmer.

[stoneaxe]

You got that right....I have a big noggin and no hair. I've always hated wearing hats and such but keeping your head covered is the easiest way to stay warmer.

[eastbound]

like jump, i dont want to deal with cold, period. I would rather be a touch hot than cold, that's for sure.

and i'm like a broken record with this--but i always dress assuming i may spend some unintended time in the water. especially in winter where there often arent many people around, and I tend to go out only when it's decent size.

i have a  psycho 3 (4/3, backzip), and a pyrotech (5.5/4, att hood)--both oneill technobutter (1 & 2). total game-changers, if you ask me.

[Twitchy]

Mid to low 40's (air) and mid 50s water temp was about the limit on my comfort level in my West 3/2.  It has gel/air sections in the chest and back that normally keep you toasty to quite hot depending on conditions and level of exertion.  Unless the air temp is low 50s or lower I don't even fully wear it. (I don't don the upper chest/neck portion.  Just leave it flapping behind me) 

[surfcowboy]

And if you're skinny, it's all wrong. I wear a 4/3 until the air is over 65° and the waters over 60°.

 But I got minimal meat in my bones. I really think this is something that you don't really know until your second season surfing. First year I froze and then I figured out what I needed to wear.

Don't let anyone tell you what to wear unless they are your size.

[stoneaxe]

Age seems to be a factor as well. Used to be I just didn't get cold if I was doing any level of exertion....now I can't wait for retirement to become a snow bird.

[eastbound]

agreed re the age effect--never felt cold before i was forty--concern re surfing skiing was more to avoid overheating than worry about warmth--over the last 10-15 years i find i overheat less and chill way more easily

[55NSup]

I feel an algorithm coming. 
Temp in air and water,  wind speed, how many times you fall in,  body mass index, ...