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I have a 4/3 suit with 5mm booties, 4mm gloves and 3mm hood. What temps should I be comfortable kiting in?

up 2 u I ride that same gear from -5c up to 25c put a polypropylene liner in when it's really cold others with the same sort of gear take it from 10c to 15c

Temperature range for wetsuits is pretty subjective: Body fat, age and sex are big determining factors, air versus water temperature as well. Women tend to feel cold faster than men. In a 5/3 hyperflex w/hood and booties I am comfortable with water temp from 10 up w/ cold air temps. I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to very cold and not interested in knocking ice from my lines.
Oh and how often you get dunked makes a BIG difference.
Happy kiting!

I use a 6/5/4 with 5 mm boots and gloves, in 4-5 deg water, late fall early spring. Toasty, my hands get cold first though, depending on how much time i spend in the water, which in my case is sometimes a lot! . For me a 4/3 would not keep me warm enough until later in the season.
One way to find out, go down to the water a test er out you'll find out pretty quick!

celly wrote:I have a 4/3 suit with 5mm booties, 4mm gloves and 3mm hood. What temps should I be comfortable kiting in?

Like the other posters have said,it really depends on your tolerance to cold. I am not a drysuit guy, I use a 5/3 wetsuit. When its very cold or after session one when I feel chilled, I wear a neoprene hoodie which adds 2mm and cuts any wind off my body.
http://www.npsurf.com/products/tops/neo-jackets.html

celly wrote:I have a 4/3 suit with 5mm booties, 4mm gloves and 3mm hood. What temps should I be comfortable kiting in?

Dépends also on the make of the suit. A bare vs excel won't get the same result. 4/3 usually won't get you going in really cold water. Last year I was on a 5/4 dry lock steamer and I could kite in freezing water without problem. My previous mystic 5/4 was not as warm. 4mm glove is also a bit thick. Your forearm will get tired fast. Better off with dakine Neo it or nrs toaster. Bothbprecurved and thinner on the palm. Depends also on your cold tolerance.

Canada is a big place. Some kite spots are cold, others are warm. Kite spots in Canada in the summer range from requiring a very warm wetsuit (or maybe even a drysuit) to just wearing board shorts and a decent top.

Im in northern Michigan so I know cold water. I have a 4/3 quicksilver syncro 4/3 and can handle water above 40 F no problem, if I wear a rash guard with a 2mm neoprene core a bit cooler. If its below 40 F water or the air is under 50 F I wear a 2mm neoprene hoodie over my wetsuit and I am fine even when there is ice on the beach.

My last 4/3 wouldn't keep me warm in 60 F water. With this suit my rash guard actually has dry spots after every session. The lack of flushing really helps keep me warm.

Mikites wrote:Im in northern Michigan so I know cold water. I have a 4/3 quicksilver syncro 4/3 and can handle water above 40 F no problem, if I wear a rash guard with a 2mm neoprene core a bit cooler. If its below 40 F water or the air is under 50 F I wear a 2mm neoprene hoodie over my wetsuit and I am fine even when there is ice on the beach.

My last 4/3 wouldn't keep me warm in 60 F water. With this suit my rash guard actually has dry spots after every session. The lack of flushing really helps keep me warm.

Thanks, very helpful. We are kiting in very similar waters then. Have you been in yet this season?

Getting close... Most of the water here has 8-10" of ice on top of it. Lake Michigan is all open water but the wind hasn't come with above freezing air yet.. Hopefully in a week or two.