I'm moving to Newcastle next year and will be needing to buy a steamer. At the moment I can get away with my Ripcurl Springsuit as I am in QLD. I will be buying a Ripcurl Ebomb chest zip steamer. I will be doing a mix of SUPing and surfing and was wondering if I needed to get a 3/2 or 2/2. Has anyone bought one and wish they had gone for a thinner/thicker one.? I am going to buy one this year, when the sales start so I don't have to cough up over $500. plus I still get an Aussie warranty rather than buying one from the US cheers

A good emphasis on good 2/2 will be fine except for those chilly earlys though I find my 3/2 good except a Little bit to hot sometimes though I'm 1 hour south of Newcastle ... But you coming from qld would find it freezing so I would say a 3/2 for u

I'd definitely get a 3/2. Today in Newy was about 15-16 in the water and at 8am air was about 8, water will get a few degrees colder still over winter. But not much 12 would be a really cold day. I have pretty much the same suit as the Ebomb and it's perfect for around here. Can be a bit warm early on in autumn but from July on if you want to surf early or on cold days the 3/2 is the go.

Hi Flaker, I live in Port Stephens (1/2 hour nth of Newy) and rotate between a 2/2 and a 3/2 and find them both fine for here. I just wear a hood and booties when it is really cold. I am originally from the Goldie and you just get used to the cold water after a while. We have had a good run the last couple of years with the water temp rarely dropping below 16c. I heard those new nineplus wetties on http://www.wetfins.com.au/ are good. Good luck

It really depends on the weather each particular year. To be safe, I would be going the 3/2 prefferadly seem sealed. The last few years I have known more than one experienced surfer to wear a 4/2. Ok, you might be thinking that's the kind of suit you need for Bells Beach, but I tried surfing through the kind of weather that inspired guys to go that thick in an unsealed 2/2 and nearly f#$king froze to death. the other problem with the more ecpensive 2mm steamers is that they wear out in one season. Unless you are rich or scam the warranty they are not worth it. Yes I am talking Newcastle. Till my street turned to sh!t with an influx of ice freaks, menopausall old bitches and wannabes I surfed there for best part of every day for the last 25 plus years.