5/3 steamer recommendations

[gozokiteboarding]

I love theCamo Np mission 543. Very stretchy and plenty warm for the winter months.

https://www.npsurf.com/collections/miss ... 7136969755

[RadDrDuke]

Get a Ripcurl Flashbomb and the flashbomb boots and 5/3 3-finger mittens.

You will be super stoked and warm and uninhibited although you will be about $600 poorer.

[Sun]

Another recommendation for NP combat 5/4/3. I have a back zip, but if the front zip is anything remotely like it it should be very good. Like other guys have said most modern wet suits from different companies fit different body styles a bit better. The NP certainly seems to be cut for more muscular guys. Fits me beautifully, except I think they use Nick Jacobsen’s balls to size the crotch. Loads of space down there.

I have used it in cold water in my winter here (High 40F water with mid 50F air) and in the Cape Town summer. Also took it on a several hour river hike in SA during 80F weather and 70F water, did not overheat. No worse for wear after clambering over and sliding down rocks for hours. Seems to have a very wide service range temperature wise.

I do not like the Velcro closure on the back zip, not easy enough to ‘hide’ the cling side of the Velcro to stop it from snagging the inner suit liner when removing or storing the suit. Also the batwing anti-flush panel that goes over your head migrates out of the neck over time. I need to bunch it up to keep it inside the neck. Neither of these deters from the warmth or utility of the suit, but they should be solved on the front zip version.

Seems to have held up well over the past year. The liner near the neck is showing a little pilling from the aforementioned Velcro closure, and the ankle Velcro straps have lost a stitch or two, but I expect the core suit to hold up for quite some time. Outside looks just like the day I took it out of the plastic really.

[kjorn]

There's definitely a difference between ordinary surfing and kiting. I think surfers suits allow more shoulder rotation for padling so you get this back for warmth.

This totally. I went from surf suits to kitesurf and the difference was great.

Spend a bit extra for the fleece inner as it is warmer.

[TomW]

I've found the ripcurl flashbomb to be really nice and warm. The boots on the other hand don't stand up to kitesurfing. The sole on the inside wears through at load points at toe. And they flush a lot. Recently replaced the ripcurl 5mm boots with xcel 7mm and they are both more comfortable, warm and flush less at cuff.