Previously enjoyed wet suit Devon?

Mirror Painter

Mirror Painter

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Am aware from previous visits to the seaside that shops sell second hand wet suits. That was before the dinghy sailing bug started to bite. Any reasons not to buy used if the price is right? Any tips?

Also, and this is quite specific, any tips about suitable shops in North Devon?

Thank you.
 
Only reason not to is if you're squeamish about the fact that someone else will have peed in it. Can't say it ever bothered me. For quite a few years when I was a kid we used to go to the same bit of West Wales, and every year those of us who had grown much would go with our parents up to the dive shop (this was before many people other than divers wore wetsuits) to sell our old suits back to them and buy new (almost always second-hand) ones. A couple of the ones I used had been home-made by the lady in the dive shop many years earlier. They used a strange neoprene with a tough rubber outer instead of fabric, and they didn't fit particularly well, but they were cheap and that's what mattered!

Pete
 
Thanks Pete.

So the man at the surf lesson I took years ago was lying when he said that wet suits change colour if people wee in them?

I need two suits - one for my young son and one for myself. He is growing fast and I really must shrink a bit - so used kit would be prudent.
 
I have bought both second hand and new for the kids. The second hand ones are like new because the kids grow so fast and the wetsuits are used very little. When the kids started dinghy sailing I bought new. Price second hand kids, £5-£10, new £20, £25. New for me, 5mm £60. These prices are Scotland, at a wetsuit outlet that is well priced. The second hand prices are GumTree. If buying second hand for kids, look for as new condition, if they are tatty or worn on the knees, seat don't buy. They should be clean - sniff the suit there should be no body odour; there will be a hint if they have just been rinsed in fresh water. You could consider that buying second hand from dive/sailing/surf schools increases the risk of undesirable hygiene, if they are ex hire suits. Check GumTree, eBay, Marina websites or the local press adverts at home before heading off.
 
Moxon said:
Thanks Pete.

So the man at the surf lesson I took years ago was lying when he said that wet suits change colour if people wee in them?

I need two suits - one for my young son and one for myself. He is growing fast and I really must shrink a bit - so used kit would be prudent.
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Go to Tesco's and buy new... if he's growing as fast as I think he is then quality/longevity is not an issue at that price you can chuck and buy new... adults to less than £40...

http://www.tesco.com/direct/sports-leisure/wetsuits-rash-tops/cat3375372.cat
 
nigelmercier said:
On one trip, several kids got impetigo from the wetsuits.
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if you are worried, buy some napisan and keep them dunked in it for half an hour or so at double the strength... that should deal with things like that. Of course, bleach would also do the job, but it may ruin the rubber if left too long
 
I think he's finished with this one

IMG_1999a.JPG
 
prv said:
Only reason not to is if you're squeamish about the fact that someone else will have peed in it. Can't say it ever bothered me. For quite a few years when I was a kid we used to go to the same bit of West Wales, and every year those of us who had grown much would go with our parents up to the dive shop (this was before many people other than divers wore wetsuits) to sell our old suits back to them and buy new (almost always second-hand) ones. A couple of the ones I used had been home-made by the lady in the dive shop many years earlier. They used a strange neoprene with a tough rubber outer instead of fabric, and they didn't fit particularly well, but they were cheap and that's what mattered!

Pete
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I am several years older than you, and lived in West Wales in the late 60's/ early 70's. Saundersfoot to be precise, and went to school in Tenby. Barry Llewelyn was a rugby teacher at school as well as playing for Llanelli and Wales at the time (along with Gareth Edwards, JPR, Mervyn Davies etc) when they were on top of the world.

Barry set up a sports shop too, and sold wet suit kits. For those of us in the school sailing club, he gave us a discount and taught us to assemble the wet suits during school lunch hours. To minimise costs, I opted for a shortee one piece, and was jealous of those who had seperate top and full length trousers. We had to cut out the sections from a sheet of neoprene, butt them together and glue with Evostick, then attempt to sew the seems to add strength. Suffice to say that after a few outings it started to come apart and Barry was then very helpful and sewed it back together for me.

There cant be too many people who can say that their wet suit was built for them personally, by an international prop forward !!
 
Moxon said:
Also, and this is quite specific, any tips about suitable shops in North Devon?
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North Devon is full of surfers, not sure if they would understand your requirements. Saying that Tiki in Braunton were pretty good in the past.
 
Have surfed for over 15years and had many wetsuits of various thicknesses and price points. Fit is everything. A bad fitting £300 pounds wetsuit is no better than a £60 wetsuit from Asda. Avoid 2nd hand if they are at all cardboardy as they will have degraded and lost all stretch. At the top end the elastic neoprene now available will keep you as warm with a 2/3mm suit as a 5/6mm suit 10 years ago. I have broken into a sweat in mine in mid Feb! It fits so well it's partly dry after a 2 hour surf.

Make sure the cuffs and necks are intact when trying it on, try and avoid a void in the lumbar area of your back. If you tilt your head forward is there a void in at the nape of your neck ? not good. the down side of a really good fitting wetsuit is you get more exercise getting in and out of it than the activity you are wearing it for;)

Try lots on there are all cut differently, if you rinse it reguarly ,keep it out of the sun it will last years
 
Reading some of the comments on this thread, I've very glad I spent £5 on a secondhand O'Niell 5mm wetsuit on eBay a couple of years ago, rather than ask for advice first...
 
Mavanier said:
Reading some of the comments on this thread, I've very glad I spent £5 on a secondhand O'Niell 5mm wetsuit on eBay a couple of years ago, rather than ask for advice first...
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You did well. I have 5 wetsuits, only one bought new from Aldi. The rest come from eBay and range from 3mm shorties through to long 3mm and full 5mm winter suits. $700 to $800 winter suits sell for $50 on Ebay in immaculate condition. Women's suits are particularly good buys, they try scuba diving, scare themselves and sell up.
Wonder how the same people who would not buy a second-hand wet suit sleep in hotel/motel beds!
 
I bought a wet suit online for £25. I didn't get to use it for about 3 years and then when I got my Solo started using it. What a great fit. Almost no water got in. When I took it off my legs would be a bit damp (It may have been sweat).
 
Mission accomplished! Osprey brand shortie for £28 and one for the boy for £20 (both new).

Thanks for all the help.


Is it supposed to make me look this ridiculous? :-)
 
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