So a local shop was recomending the mystic venom SL 5/3 (seattle area)...

What do you guys think.. I know you non locals will have a hard time gauging the thickness. but is this a good quality suit for the money or do you have suggestions of other good suits to look into?

Thanks

I have been bodyboarding for about 20 yrs now off the California Coast (yes I live in VA, but I have family there that I visit from time to time). As far as wetsuits go, 5/3 is probably a good thickness. You could look for a 5/4, but you will lose that flexibility. And since you wont be spending too much time in the water (hopefully), you'll probably be fine. Personally dont know the brand, and I cannot recall what brand I have back in Cali. I want to say its a body glove, but not positive. I'd recommend you try them on and see which fits the most comfortably.

Ocean Rodeo make kiteboard specific dry suits. They are very popular up here in Vancouver. I'm happy with mine.
If it is for surf they have just come out with an awsome new outfit.
http://www.oceanrodeo.com/surfing/drysuits.php

hey ya it is for kite. I'm not sure im ready to go the drysuit route, but i hear a lot of good things about them. The guy I dive with and I are just real stubborn about drysuits for some reason. I'm sure we'll convert over, but I'm just partial to wetsuits.

Stupid.. i know

Mystic makes top wetsuits for kiteboarding. I have 2 already and very happy with it. My 5/4/3/ steamer is super flexible almost don't know its on me plus its warm. I would recommend it. On the other hand I know Oneil makes good suits and they can custom it for You.

Anything over 3mm and I say use a drysuit. That's what the Coast Guard rescue divers use up off Alaska and the Bering Sea, and that's what the commercial divers use up off the drilling rigs in the North Sea off Scottland. Two of the nastiest places on earth to be in the water. If it's good enough for them, then it's good enough for me.

In water skiing, the fuzzy rule is to use a drysuit if the water and air don't total to 100 degrees F. You can wear a wetsuit colder than that but it gets more and more uncomfortable. I'll wear a drysuit no matter what if our water is below 60. But I'm a sissy in cold water. The thing is you don't want to overheat, so you need to be in cool enough air or dip in the water often enough to bleed off excess heat. The drysuits are nice because I can go for a slalom run in sweatshorts and a tshirt and peel it all off and be dry unless I do a header and force water down my neck. That's very nice when the air is cold and dry which would evaporate water off your clothes and skin quickly and make you cold. The drysuit gaskets around the neck, wrists, and ankles can be less comfy than a wetsuit and are harder to get on and off.

Some people aren't bothered by certain bodily functions in a wetsuit, but that is disgusting to me. If you're ok with it, it isn't an option in a drysuit.

... plus in an emergency, you can stick your mouth under the neck seal and blow the drysuit into a lifejacket, or even wear a lifejacket underneath if you prefer. The major hassle with drysuits is the time it takes to take them off and put them on.

i have use quicksilver 2/3 glued and stitched and air/water temp 50/50 and seemed hot to me.
and for the money (MAYBE $150) WITH THE GLOVES, hard to beat

but Pac NW could need maybe a fraction more. dry suit =HOT and restricting could not get use to it.