ISURUS wetsuits have been tested in the coldest surf conditions on earth, so we know what it takes to provide comfort when the temperature gets extreme. Thanks to an obssession with smart design and the hyper flexible materials used in our wetsuits, wearing a hood to surf is no longer the downer it once was. Many ISURUS surfers prefer to wear a thinner thickness of Neoprene and use a hooded wetsuit to provide thermal protection. After all, a bare head is where you lose most of your body heat.
This guide covers our range of hooded wetsuits and takes you through some of the finer points you might want to consider in selecting your surf armour.
We have 4 hooded wetsuits in our men's wetsuits collection - we'll start with the warmest and work our way down to the most flexible.
If you're looking for our incredibly warm women's hooded wetsuit, that's available in a 5.4 and you can view it here.
This wetsuit has been tested in the coldest surfing conditions on earth, from Siberia to Patagonia. This is for adventurous surfers pushing the geographical limits of wave hunting.
Features Titanium coated Z-feece insulation and Yamamoto #40 Limestone Neoprene.
$724.95
Engineered for very cold conditions, the 5.4 remains an excellent choice if you will not be surfing around icebergs. From summertime Alaska to New England winters, this wetsuit will keep you comfortable in frigid conditions.
Features Titanium coated Z-feece insulation and Yamamoto #40 Limestone Neoprene.
$699.95
This wetsuit was born and tested in the epic conditions of Mavericks. Many of our ambassadors (including Grant "Twiggy" Baker) claim to never need anything warmer. It is a secure and protective wetsuit that has stood the test of time and continues to deliver.
Thanks to the innovative combination of #39 & #40 Yamamoto Neoprene, this wetsuit remains hyper flexible despite its incredible thermal properties. This is also thanks to the use of Z-fleece insulation.
$599.95
The newest addition to our line-up of hooded wetsuits is the 3.3 version, and it's quickly becoming our most popular wetsuit.
It stands out for a couple of reasons:
It is constructed from single thickness 3mm limestone Neoprene throughout the wetsuit, but with extra stretchy #40 in the upper torso.
It is from the SHIELD collection, so it has a zipfree closure system. This means no chest zip and almost zero shoulder restriction when paddling.
This makes it the warmest, most flexible suit combination we've ever designed.
$499.95
There is a pretty clear decision-making process involved with choosing the right wetsuit from our hooded collection... You are here to get a very warm wetsuit, so the only question is "how cold are the conditions likely to be where you are going to be surfing"?
If you are going to freezing conditions and there's any doubt whether a 5.4 is going to be warm enough, then you should go for the 6.5 (and probably add some gloves too!). We're talking 40°F & below!!
If the conditions are likely to be 40°F+ then the 5.4 (plus gloves) is most likely to suffice - it's a really warm suit and offers more flexibility.
However, when the temperature starts to rise above 50°F, then you'll want to select the 4.3 as the 5.4 is going to start feeling a little warm. We know you don't believe us, but many have doubted, and many have had over-heated surfs despite cold conditions!
If you rarely travel to conditions colder than central California, then the 3.3 is all you are going to need to see you through the winter.
Below is a table showing the approximate temperatures for each of the wetsuits. Bear
in mind this is an estimate and everyone is different - so you need to make a personal assessment as to your body's ability to stay warm in cold conditions.
Wetsuit Style: | Minimum temp | Max temp |
6.5 Ti Alpha Hooded Wetsuit | 40°F and below | 40°F |
5.4 Ti Alpha Hooded Wetsuit | 40°F | 50°F |
4.3 Evade Hooded Wetsuit | 44°F | 54°F |
3.3 Shield Hooded Wetsuit | 46°F | 56°F |
Many of our team riders appreciate the versatility of the 3.3, as it allows them to pull up the hood when paddling out, but pull it down when surfing.
Max Beach gives the lowdown on why he values the integrated hood in the ISURUS 3.3 Shield ZipFree wetsuit. Whether it's the dreaded brain freeze whilst duck diving or a chilly breeze sat in the line-up, the hood can be quickly put into action!
This combination allows surfers to maintain a flexible, light and mobile suit, but ensure extra warmth when it's needed.
If you're looking to introduce more warmth to your surfing set-up but a hooded wetsuit seems like too much of a commitment, you could consider accessorising with either gloves or a hood (or both). You may have also heard that the Gecko is coming....
This 2mm thick detachable wetsuit hood can be added to any wetsuit. It's made from Yamamoto Limestone Neoprene and Z-fleece insulated lining to provide additional warmth and protection.
The perfect combination of dexterity and warmth, these 5-finger gloves are constructed from 3mm Yamamoto Limestone Neoprene with a Ti Z-Fleece liner. If you get cold hands, then these gloves are for you!
Professional surfers love our wetsuits (although we don't pay them to say nice things!), but normal surfers also swear by the excellence of our hooded wetsuit collection. We've collected some of our favourite, genuine reviews: