Cheap wetsuits fo us and the kids,

[barbelblanker]

Now my eldest (8) is like a bloody seal and wouldn't feel the code before the ambulance carried her away with full scale hypothermia. Me I'm a bit more of a wimp, the little one shivers in a sauna and the wife screams "It's freeezing" when she steps in to the bath.

Now everywhere seems to sell cheap wetsuits but I am not convinced they'll be any use in water between 10 - 16 C which I seem to remember is our sea temperature in Cornwall and the Isle of Wight (hols this year).

I am not going to spend a bomb on kit and likewise don't want to waste money buying stuff that will be of little or no use.

Anyone got any tips ?

[Greenheart]

I managed to buy a cheap one last year from ASDA at St Austell of all places. (Yes they did do a XXXXXXFB size... ) Used it for a few hours snorkeling & found it very warm.
Failing that, you could always ask your local butcher for a drop of Goose Grease....

[Portland Pirate]

I bought my Son one from Newquay. It was cheap, but it kept him warm enough for a few hours in the Sea.

[PlanktonBoy]

The Range are doing them down here and Asda.

[lazy hooker]

Barbel

when are you going!!!

wetsuits have a massive range of warmth even when looking at all the same thickness 3mm you have

stitched - the basic, will let water through the seams, will warm up but are quite easy to get flushed (the water your body has warmed up gets pushed out of the suit)

Blind stitched - better seams so not as much water movement through the seals

blind stitched, glued and taped - great, no water will come in through the seams, it will still fill with water but that has more chance of staying in and warming to a lovely temperature if not too warm...you can actually take the arm of one of these suits and blow it up like a balloon they are so good.

as it happens i'am looking at selling a suit i have used in surfing

i have a rip curl suit 5mill chest and back, 4 mm arms blind stitched glued and taped with slick skin technology that i'm about to sell...its well over the £150 which you can have for £55 and will be far better than any new suit you would get for that price and would be perfect for snorkelling, surfing or being dragged behind a boat. I'm seeing Dan saturday if your interested. its a size large which is for people between 13 and 15stone 5' 10" - 6'2" tall oh and if you just use it for your holiday you'll be able to sell it and get your money back or cut it down for use on the kayak.

pm me an let me know
john