how cold can a 3/2 suit go?

[Duster8]

Whats the coldest water/air temp u guys have ridden in with just a 3/2 suit? I just got mine and im trying to figure out if ill be able to ride again this year.

 

[demolition_x]

just go for it... if its too cold you will know real soon

 

[Matt_E]

I've got a Matrix suit - which is a 3/2 suit. Last time I was out, the water was 58, air 60.
It was comfortable enough - I think I could go down to 50 water/50 air, but that would be the limit.

Last december, I wore that suit and a 3/2 shortie over it in sub 50-degree water and 32 degree air. It was alright.

 

[beachedflunkey]

I used mine last year at 40/40 air/water temps but restricted and routed some of my motor's water up my pole and into my suit. Just couldn't ride for much more than an hour without my feet or hands eventually going numb.

 

[Duster8]

are farmer john style suits any warmer or colder than reg full size suits?

 

[Mike Serlin]

Johns are a joke for cold water. They don't seal around the neck so when you go under water your suit flushes itself. If your suit doesn't fit properly, it isn't going to keep you warm. It needs to form a good seal around all of the seems. there is supposed to be a thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene. Your body heat will keep that layer of water warm and insulate you from the outside. My 3/2 works fine all winter long, with the air in the high 40's and water temp in the low 50's. Much colder and I would go with a 4/3

 

[Duster8]

well dammit, i wish id gotten a regular 3/2 suit now. I shoulda figured that it wouldve been colder. oh well. i guess ill give it a try anyway.

 

[Cannibal]

Just get yourself a 3mm neoprene long sleve shirt to go under your farmer john.

If you are cold with your 3/2 suit when not in the water, get yourself a wind breaker jacket and pants. It keeps the wind off and will keep you and your suit warmer.

Steve

 

[Duster8]

they're like $80 for a 2/1 mm shirt. extending your riding season gets expensive :shrug:

 

[demolition_x]

i would just get a spring suit and wear that underneath

 

[Duster8]

im going to try to ride on sunday (supposed to be at least 60 degrees). then ill decide if i need to spend more. thanks for the suggestions though.

 

[DaUpJetSkier]

i rode into the mid-low 50's with my slippery 3/2 john style, good gloves help and boots too. I def think a one piece suit or dry suit iis the way to go for cold water.

 

[daylite67]

When it gets really cold I've doubled up on wetsuits in the past, but I have found that in addition to a suit the next best defense against the cold is hooking up some hothands.
Bring your cooling lines up to your handle bars. This has made the biggest difference in my cold weather riding. There have been many threads on how to do this with a dozen arguments on the best way to implement it. Once you do this you'll wonder how you ever rode in the winter without it, and you'll regret all the winter riding you missed because you didn't do it before.

 

[Mark44]

Dry suit is the answer why fight it.

Mark44

 

[djkorn1]

I made hot hand and hot feet warmers on mine!! :cheer::woot:

 

[hangtime]

I wore a 3/2 in January before in the ocean 35 degree water and it was fine .I also had a float coat on too .I had 8mm boots and 7 mm gloves which were too thick and now I wear 4mm gloves with my hand warmers .
Oh ya a helmet to keep the dome warm helps tremendously :biggthumpup: