Power Kite Forum

My first wetsuit

Kamikuza - 22-3-2011 at 06:11 PM

Having depleted the strategic reserves of Neoprene in the Northern Hemisphere, Hyperflex have worked up many square miles to provide me with the first wetsuit of my own :D

So ... what's the easiest way to put one on?
(I seem to remember something about talcum powder ... I should imagine me clambering into one will look like a whale trying to fit a seal-suit and the resulting image something of a rubbery necrotic sausage ...)

What does one wear under a wetsuit?

What's the little pouch next to the zipper for?

ripsessionkites - 22-3-2011 at 06:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kamikuza
Having depleted the strategic reserves of Neoprene in the Northern Hemisphere, Hyperflex have worked up many square miles to provide me with the first wetsuit of my own :D

So ... what's the easiest way to put one on?
(I seem to remember something about talcum powder ... I should imagine me clambering into one will look like a whale trying to fit a seal-suit and the resulting image something of a rubbery necrotic sausage ...)

What does one wear under a wetsuit?

What's the little pouch next to the zipper for?


pink thong

pouch ---> keys?

kiteboyza - 22-3-2011 at 06:17 PM

no powder, use a plastic bag on your foot to step into the suit with ease, the zip is on the back...this does catch a few out...lol

It's your suit, you are allowed to wee in it...hahahahaha, extra heat on them cold days

Kamikuza - 22-3-2011 at 06:18 PM

Already took my car keys - plus remote :o - into the lake in a leg pocket ... most people here just leave the keys in their cars and their doors open. That's a very big plus about living in Japan!!!

Pink thong ... ah-ha :frog:

BeamerBob - 22-3-2011 at 06:53 PM

NO WEEING IN THE WETSUIT. Very bad show if you do that. It never quite rinses out. :embarrased: Your suit (unless it is circa 1958, will be nylon lined inside, so you should slip right in. Its a good idea to wear board shorts underneath the suit in case you get a rip or tear in a conspicuous place. I think it looks ridiculous, but some wear shorts OVER the wetsuit. I guess it would protect the suit if you sit on the ground and don't have a seat harness on. You can go commando underneath and that's much more comfortable but you are at risk and you have to either show yourself of find a place to change into and out of the suit.

indigo_wolf - 22-3-2011 at 06:54 PM

I look forward to the first pics.



Hopefully, you were able to spring for the fully-kitted suit.

ATB,
Sam

Txshooter38 - 22-3-2011 at 07:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
I think it looks ridiculous, but some wear shorts OVER the wetsuit.


Lol......please tell me they don't....your killin' me!!!

Kamikuza - 22-3-2011 at 07:21 PM

Your wish is my command ...


No to the peeing? ... darn!
Commando sounds ... dangerous. I'll probably wear shorts over the top as the seat harness might rip it up good. Might have to go shopping for lycra undies :o

flyjump - 22-3-2011 at 07:28 PM

When I put my wetsuit on for scuba class I would always jump into the water first and put it on innthe shallows, then again it was freshwater and I'm not sure if you are on the ocean or a lake. Goodluck Kami

ripsessionkites - 22-3-2011 at 07:51 PM

i have no issues taking my wetsuit on and off ... shaving your legs helps (but im hairless)

mgatc - 22-3-2011 at 08:03 PM

Commando or lycra shorts (UNDER the suit NOT over it, geez!) to avoid the dreaded board shorts bunching around the b@!!s. If its really cold, peeing in the suit is wonderfully warming. lol Just be sure and pull open the leg cuffs and rinse your ankles before leaving the water!:smilegrin::smilegrin::yes:

Bladerunner - 22-3-2011 at 08:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kamikuza


What's the little pouch next to the zipper for?



Condems !
Chicks really go after a guy in a wet suit ! ;-)

macboy - 22-3-2011 at 08:57 PM

+1 for "under the suit"

I wear regular swim shorts and they fit good. No real issues donning the suit, just pull. I work my feet in and trough and THEN pull up the legs, tucking the shorts as I go so it doesn't look like "I've wrapped it around my leg". Arms in and then the Jedi reach for the zipper pull.

Taking it off.....THAT'S a whole different game. Invert and peel it off like the casing off a sausage.

And though I've been tempted, I just can't bring myself to warming my suit like I'd warm my swim trunks. BUT I hold no ill feelings to those that do.....only those wearing shorts over the wetsuit.

Shorts AND a T-Shirt? (I've seen it...for real!) :facepalm:

Kamikuza - 22-3-2011 at 10:20 PM

My harness has chewed up my t-shirt so I'd rather it didn't chew up my wetsuit ;) and I'd like to hide my curves from public consumption too ... those that wear only the wetsuits here still look like someone let the gimp out!

ragden - 23-3-2011 at 05:10 AM

I wear compression shorts under my wetsuit. Works great. I do tend to wear board shorts over my wetsuit but this is more so my wife can spot me and take pictures while I am riding (can't use the kite cause there is another guy with the exact same kites that I ride with).

After a session, it is always a good idea to thoroughly rinse out your suit. When I live in California, I would go back home and use the hose to really thoroughly rinse the entire suit (inside and out), then hang it out to dry, but not in direct sunlight. Just so you know, I've had the same suit for 6 years now and it is still in great shape.

If you take care of your suit, it can last a really long time...
:)

Kamikuza - 23-3-2011 at 07:48 PM

After a test-fit at home with tight-fitting undies on - that bunched up under my bum and were all VPL - I decided to Go Commando at the lake this afternoon ...

Easy enough to get into, no problem with the legs. Gently work it up to get a good fit under the crotch ... phew it's hot! So I left the top down and put on a t-shirt and waddled over to the beach, pumped up the kite and then got into it properly.

Bit tough getting the body to move up cos it stuck to my skin under a vacuum effect but got into it in the end. All a bit stiff and unyielding, kinda hard to get my knees up to my chest to get the board on my feet!

Warm enough though, I was cold but not uncomfortably so - unlike my hands ... the rubber gardening gloves I bought actually worked pretty good at blocking the windchill but once the water got inside, sucked weenie big time. That problem was solved later when one of the guys who converted from windsurfing last year (and nearly wrapped himself up in my Speed) gave me his gloves cos they were too big for him :o mad props for the kiting brother!

Had my shorts on and should have put my t-shirt on over the top too - the extra windbreak factor was noticeable, especially on the beach ...

I think I need booties cos blasts of cold water up the legs was ... interesting ... and the little inflations they caused around the ankle was an interesting sensation!

Oh, it was 6°C on the roadside thermometer ... there was snow on the hills and the wind was fricken cold too! So, wetsuit for the win!

Now I better go wash it :o

BeamerBob - 23-3-2011 at 08:45 PM

A couple things.

"Waddled over to the beach" srsly :lol:

"better go wash it". You didn't did you? really? with long legs of neoprene on? :wow:

at 6c, I'm thinking a drysuit might be appropriate. How cold is the water? My rule is that if the air and water temp don't add up to 120F, its drysuit time. If you are in and out of the water, that number can go up.