Wetsuit Recommendations

I am looking to buy my first wetsuit in the next few weeks and am at a loss on what to get. I plan to use it for going through basic canyons during the spring through fall months. I am just a beginner so I do not plan on going through any major canyons. When looking at websites like the TommyDSports site I get overwhelmed in the options. Do you recommend the traditional full suit or should I go with the Farmer John style or a shorty style. I don't get cold very easily so am wondering is it best to go with 3mm or 5mm? I would assume that 7mm would probably not be needed.

Thanks

You want a full wetsuit. The wetsuit I use 90% of the time is a full 3mm, and I have at least one of every wetsuit you can think of.

I like rear zip wetsuits for everything but canyoneering, where I prefer a front zip so I can unzip it and cool off on long walks between potholes.

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Originally Posted by Iceaxe

You want a full wetsuit. The wetsuit I use 90% of the time is a full 3mm, and I have at least one of every wetsuit you can think of.

I like rear zip wetsuits for everything but canyoneering, where I prefer a front zip so I can unzip it and cool off on long walks between potholes.

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X2
I do the exact same thing.

My go to is typically the 3mm full wetsuit for nearly everything from April to October. Summer has the shorties like for the subway and other Zion canyons. But really though, being warmer and comfortable is worth the weight plus as well as making the trip much, much more enjoyable.


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Originally Posted by Archie

I am looking to buy my first wetsuit in the next few weeks and am at a loss on what to get. I plan to use it for going through basic canyons during the spring through fall months. I am just a beginner so I do not plan on going through any major canyons. When looking at websites like the TommyDSports site I get overwhelmed in the options. Do you recommend the traditional full suit or should I go with the Farmer John style or a shorty style. I don't get cold very easily so am wondering is it best to go with 3mm or 5mm? I would assume that 7mm would probably not be needed.

Thanks

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Whatever you do, get some cheap board shorts and a long sleeve polyester shirt to wear over your wetsuit to protect it. I also wear knee and elbow pads pretty much everywhere but Zion.

Get a 3mm for all round use and buy a 1.5 or 2mm vest to use for colder conditions.

don't forget to check Thrift stores and Craigslist - your suit will get trashed - so used is just fine

I have no clue what you guys do to trash your wetsuits but I've been using the same one for the past 10 years and I do a lot more canyons than your average canyoneer. And I don't bother with clothing over the top. I do armor some of my high exposure seams with shoe goo but that's the extent of it. Yes, my wetsuit shows some wear but it has been heavily used. I paid $50 for the suit so that breaks down to about $5 a year so if it's destroyed tomorrow it's not a huge loss, but I'll probably get another 5 years out of it. YMMV

Thanks for everybodies feedback. The one 3mm I have been looking at is only $79 so for the price I am not too concerned with finding one used to save a few bucks. I will likely invest in a pair of the Neoprene shorts to wear over it as I am new to the sport and am sure I will be harder on the suit than most. I won't be going a ton but i hope to definitely get my money's worth out of it.

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Originally Posted by Archie

I will likely invest in a pair of the Neoprene shorts to wear over it as I am new to the sport and am sure I will be harder on the suit than most.

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If you're going to do that you don't want neoprene shorts. You want the cheapest pair of gym/board shorts you can find, or even better is the old pair of gym/ board shorts sitting at the bottom of your closest that you no longer wear.

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Originally Posted by Iceaxe

If you're going to do that you don't want neoprene shorts. You want the cheapest pair of gym/board shorts you can find, or even better is the old pair of gym/ board shorts sitting at the bottom of your closest that you no longer wear.

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If you're not thrashing an unprotected wetsuit then we are obviously canyoning in different venues.... We ghost 90% of what we do and so sliding while capturing and soft-setting ghost anchors can kill an unprotected wetsuit in a hurry. That said, I have one wetsuit with well over a hundred canyons on it and it has held up fine because of the stuff I wear over it.



I use the golds gym neo shorts that I have covered in a clear sealant to make them close to bomb proof. My last pair had ~60 canyons on them and my wetsuit is immaculate.

Either way, cheap protection for your wetsuit is never a bad idea.