Hey.  HoStevie is still alive and kickin.  I can't vouch for his fullsuites, but I reckon if the neighbors ain't run him outa town still, he might be doin somethin right.  I know he can make me laugh.  🤣🤙

I'm pretty happy with my winter suite.  First year of Technobutter 4.  This will be winter #5. Pretty incredible for the high end stuff.  Of course, they last longer since I got 2 fullsuites the past several years.  Them 3/2 "spring" suites still only seem to last a coupla years. 

If I was gonna replace it, would be this.  

Those look nice, a little more than I'm looking to spend, I still have my Vissla 7 Seas 3/2 Chest Zip that's in good shape still, and my old Ripcurl 3/2 Back Zip, which doesn't really have "holes' but not the warmest anymore with old seams and outdated neoprene. I like to have at least two good suits to rotate back and forth while one dries. I don't really enjoy putting on a cold damp / wet suite first thing in the morning. Plus, like you said, they last longer when you have a rotation vs having one suit, and with as much as I surf, I really do need at least two. I want a 4/3 too, but I think I'll prioritize my 2nd 3/2 first, then maybe down the road add a 4/3, but we'll see, I have gotten this far without one for many many years, I haven't owned a 4/3 since I was a Gulfster, those Winters can be brutal lol. I know I know, youse Northerners don't want to hear it. 🤣 

Fit.  Fit.  Fit.   

The game changer for me when I switched from Xcel to O'Neill was the fit.  I can get in their size S and not get my chest crushed.  Almost everybody else, I can't breathe in a S.  Have to wear M.  Loose around my waist.  Best decision I ever made.  

Word. Fit is everything. That's also part of my issue. I'm a fit 150lbs now, 5'9", on the cusp of a Medium, Medium Short, or Small. My Vissla 7 Seas is a Medium and fits good for the most part. The ankle / lower calf area is a little looser than I would like and can sometimes get a little balloon going at the bottom of one leg, minor issue.

Size / fitness wise, I aint the same dude from even a year or two ago, let alone when I joined the forum. I just donated a ton of clothes and shit that I'll never wear again. I got 4 of my 6 pack back! HAHA I got a little more work for the 6'er, but man, it's been a journey. It's pricey replacing all my shit though, so there's that. I'll take it though. 

DP. I am pretty much exactly your size, but I am in the 165 range now, which is 10-15 pounds over my fighting weight. Anyway, for years I went with a Medium. And then when I moved to SC, and had to add a 5 mil to the equation, and it was so much rubber, I went to a store and tried some shit on, and it turns out, I am a perfect, exactly M/Short size.

Here is a link to a SOLID Oneill 3 mil, for less than $150. Solid suit that will last you at least two seasons of daily use....

IMO, I would probably prioritize a medium-higher end 4/3. I could get away with a 3 mil all year in San Diego, but water temps dip to about 56-57 degrees in the dead of winter, so I found that the use of a 4 mil was PERFECT. And with some of the medium-higher end suits, the material is a little more stretchy and feels thin, so the reality is that the fit of a good 4 mil is really no different than a 3 mil. And in most years, I would wear my 4mil most of the year and the 3 mil starting in May/June etc....

So, the water temps here hit around 50, which is 5mil territory for me, although I did go through my first winter here in a 4 mil only....

Point is, you can get away with wearing a 4mil from December-early March and be good.... Sure, you can get away with a 3 mil in central Florida for some of that time, but I would argue that having a little extra warmth, without a lack of flexibility is a great thing. 

Now, you surf more than I do at this point, so upgrading to something a little higher end might make sense for you, but on my schedule and surf volume, the lower end suits have been getting me through 4-5 years of use and still in really good condition.....

IMO: One good 4/3 is more important than two 3/2s. If you are surfing as much as you are, comfort is key, and warmth is tantamount. 

https://www.amazon.com/ONeill-Reactor-Wetsuit-Black-Medium/dp/B0757DQPPG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NZWBSEO1BBDM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SoQOgECGGFZqvPJZrwzrfHROg85-VJxuI8TrHO1WQwwIJ7ReQDdGpDS0UjL9rxcXXa8yYTlWMnhnN5O3mBjunhNRv8PCOlGus2cRPN1hDg5XaKqO68p0oHrfEW0XOTIs5fn9qs9xN3Rtdplu2xmDENFRoR7O_JKCaMDj6iCgZ7ClZc9-gxvluQFwFAfL0e8YRpaFWDyOY7rtQ9E5-xGyYxOC7n0aynXhO8uMB_kFUCHWgwzIcn3uOhxLWmEWtdYEAF-5pDRwXmSdS__nC33qLnuxEds4PzQKrgiMkq8H72A.QylSA4BrOp4NpZ-9wC4Hs-dHgO_b5mhiX0KCSRDwIw4&dib_tag=se&keywords=quiksilver%2Bmen%27s%2Bwetsuit%2Bmedium&qid=1787753035&sprefix=quiksilver%2Bmen%27s%2Bwetsuit%2Bmedium%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

For the price, if I play my cards right, I may be able to get both that 3/2 back zip Oneill AND the Ho Stevie 4/3 Chest zip. That's like $354.92 plus tax total, since it looks like I could get free shipping. That's incredible if they are decent. My O'Neill Psycofreak 3/2 Chest Zip was pretty low quality after a couple seasons, I don't even wear it now, I tried doing some repairs but I'm over it, but maybe this one is more durable. I see lots of good reviews on the Ho Stevie latest suits, seems he made improvements after feedback over the years. 

Funny story. About 12-13 years ago, I reached out to Under Armour. At the time, they were big, but not quite as big as they are now. They are from Baltimore, Maryland. The owner/president of UA is a UMD grad/football player. His senior year, one of his O-Line team mates died at practice from heat exhaustion, and this guy vowed to dedicate his life to creating wickable, breathable, safety fabrics for athletes. That is how it all started.

Anyway, 13 ish years ago, I emailed their development team and pitched the idea of UA developing wetsuits. I had it all planned out, haha. I was like, you guys design them, send them to me, and I will put them through the ringer and give you all the feedback you need. 

I actually got a response and a thank you, and a "If we go in that direction, we will reach out and get you involved"... To date, they have still never developed a wetsuit, which is stupid. AU could fetch $400+ for a name brand wetsuit and sell it to swimmers, surfers, divers and any water athlete....

Anyway, still waiting to hear back from them =)

And with the Ho-Stevie suits, if you are seeing good reviews and feedback, fuck it and get one. There were always a handful of "off brand" wetsuits in San Diego that were made by smaller companies and the local guys swore by them. I would argue that some of the lesser known brands probably out do the big name brands on a regular basis. 

I halfway don't care that my high end 3/2 won't last 5 years.

Say WHAT? 😲

It's kinda hard to believe they can even MAKE a fullsuite so flexy that's still toasty inside.  I don't buy cars, or surfboards, or golf clubs, or a whole lotta other things.  My wetsuite is basically it.  I want every advantage I can get.  I never really felt or understood the difference til I got over the mental hump and pulled the trigger on a $500 fullsuite.  If you haven't tried one yet, maybe better you don't.  You might decide it really was worth it.  😁

They completely rebuild NHRA dragster motors after each 4 second race.  Not very cost conscious, but it works for em.  Sometimes, a long life ain't what matters.  

I could maybe get a 3/2 made outa car tires for $99.95.  Might last a hundred years.  And I'd be walkin around like a knight in full armor.  Clunk... clunk... clunk...    I wanna be FREE AT LAST!  FREE AT LAST!  😎

I'm gonna keep buyin Technobutter 4, even though it's pricey.  Hopefully they keep squeakin more months out of it as time goes on. 

I can make like I'm a tour pro with a closet full of brand new shredder suites.  New one each day and shit.  Who cares.  Haha

Well, if you get use out of the suite, then it is probably worth the investment. I would drop $400 back in the day on a nice 4 mil, with the pyscho freak stretch shit and really high end seem work. That is also when I was surfing 7 days per week, 365 and a lot of times, twice per day. I needed a dry 4mil and a backup 4mil to rotate every other day, so per year, a high end wetsuit was costing me about $1 a day...

And when you are in the water a lot, it's worth it.

My main reason for going to the more bottom of the barrel name brand suites is because I don't clock nearly as much water time as I used to. And the prime swell season/hurricane season, I am in boardies here. 

So, my general annual calendar for rubber is as follow: To note, our high water temp is 87 and our low is around 50. 

March 15-October 31st - Trunks and Rash/Vest

November 1-December 15th - 3mil / 4mil

December 16th-January 31st - 5 mil

February 1st - March 15th 3mil / 4mil

So, with that, I can go right from trunks to a 4 mil. My 3 and 4 mil are equally stretchy and comfortable because my 4 mil is one of the higher end suites. One fall/Spring swells that last more than one good day, I just swap between the 3 and 4 mil based on which one is dry.

But to note: When I clock 3 and 4 days of surfing in a row, it's almost always during hurricane season. So I am always in trunks anyway. 

Late fall/winter swells are usually 1-2 days swell windows, max, so most of the time, I am targeting the peak of that particular swell, and if there are decent leftovers, I sometimes get 2 days in a row....

But in the winter, when it's time for the rubber, I will go surfing if it's waste+ and clean on a day off. I will take time off of work and surf whenever it's chest+ and clean in the winter....

But other than that, I will hang on the beach and fish or whatever. Maybe a quick body surf, but I would say in the winter months, I average using any one of the wetsuits about 4-5 times per month and in total, maybe 15 times per season. Because I go from 3 mil to 4 mil to 5 mil and then back down the scale pretty quick. So each window of time for using the suit is about a month and a half....

So, anyway, I don't put pressure on the seams like I used to. I don't put them on and off each day. They all get a good rinse and then hang neatly in the garage.... So really, I don't need anything fancy. I just need a watertight, dry wetsuit that will keep my warm for 1.5 hours or so....

And as I have mentioned before, the average water temps here are usually about 52 degrees. Lowest I have ever clocked on my weather station was 48. And 50 is about the average low for a pretty cold winter. And around here, winters are weird. The water can be 52 degrees, and the weather can be 65 degrees most week. Then you can get 48 degree water and 45 degree air temps. So, on days like that, and in cold winters, the "locals", or the guys who have been here for every all paddle out in 6mils, with hoods, gloves and all that. I can't do it man. It's just not that cold. I have been out on a day with 30 degree air temps and 48 degree water with my boots and a 5mil. No worries. Warm at the core. 1.5-2 hour session no problem.... These guys suit up like it's Maryland in January and shit... 

Oh, but to tie a bow on that, the reason I mentioned all that nonsense was to say: IBC, it seems to me based on your posts and updates that you clock a LOT more water time than I do at our current stages. So if I was going and playing in the ocean as much as you are these days, I would probably expand my horizons on a good suit and open up that wallet. I just can't justify it at this current moment. It ain't broke, so I ain't gonna fix it kinda deal. 

I reckon I'm just sayin the good good stuff makes sense for me.  I probably do get a goodly amount of use outa my 3/2s.  I know we ain't got the best surf, but it's really close to my house.  I'm fortunate to be able to ride my bike, or even walk, to some surf in just a few minutes.  

My almost wore out 3/2 is the older Technobutter 3.  Next one will be the new TB4.  Maybe that lasts longer.  The 4/3 is TB4.  This will be its winter #5.  I'm guessin the longer life is half cuz it's colder when I'm in it.  Maybe other half is TB4>TB3.  

They got the 3/2 I'm lookin at in both a chest and a back zip. Same price, basically.  I ain't never had a chest zip 3/2.  Almost like it was the rules.  3/2s are back zip only.  I might go try that rascal.  3/2 chest zip from NASA.  😎🤙

Chest zip will have added warmth. Just a touch more annoying to get off and on, and in my experience, you end up putting more wear and tear on a front zip as you have to pull it up and over and back off each time. I think the Back zips take a little less stretch, aside from the very bottom center points beneath the zipper base on the back. That is the spot on backzips (at least mine) that will go first. So, I always try and grab the neoprene right below the zipper before I yank up on it to zip it up. Those threads take a beating everything you pull it up. But on my chest zips, that seem line goes straight across, so there is just a lot more surface area to potentially damage...

But like I said, the chest zips are always warmer and delay that rush of cold water that slips down a back zip on a cold duck dive. 

Pros and cons for both. I think the back zips are just easier and more convenient. 

I always feel sealed up better in the chest zip. Don't recall seein that choice in a 3mil til now.  I try bein careful not to mangle the suite climbin in and out of it.  Also keep the zipper clean and lubed.  Keeps that like new. 

I decided to pass on the Ho Stevie, and just put this Xcel 4/3 Axis Backzip on my Christmas list. We'll see if it makes into the budget. Not bad for the money, I feel good about my other Xcel products so going with what I trust here. Bang for buck and kinda know what to expect. I chose back zip instead of chest zip on this one because I will be wearing it with a hood / vest combo on the coldest / windiest days of the year. I have tested with chest zip on my 3/2 and it's too tight around the neck so back zip it is, which is fine w/me, I am good w/either, $10 cheaper too.

https://xcelwetsuits.com/products/mens-axis-back-zip-full-wetsuit-4-3mm-me43axg5-blk?variant=42279791657019