My mom saw the HangAir Wetsuit Dryer on my Amazon wishlist and wanted to get it for me, but since she doesn't quite have the hang yet of online ordering, she sent me a check and told me to buy it. Drying my 5/4 is about a two-day process, and I thought it would be great to speed that up to mere hours.Unfortunately, the HangAir is another surfing product designed for men only, and large men at that. The unit is enormous, with giant linebacker shoulders formed of hard plastic. Consequently, it just is not physically possible to insert the HangAir into the neck opening of my zipperless-entry women's size 2 wetsuit. Yes, this is the same opening that accomodates my entire body, but the inflexible HangAir portion that needs to fit through it is several inches greater in circumference than my hips. Although I can hang my warm-water zipper-entry suits from this device, I'd be concerned about shortening their lifespan by overstretching the shoulders while using it. Unless you're built like a football player, don't waste your money on a HangAir.
Not going to happen, my friend.
Is that a Firefly GT 5/4mm? I think my wife has a similar suit. How long have you had it? Do you like it? They seem very durable.
ReplyDeleteI have both a 5/4 and a 4/3 Firefly GT. Hotline is the only company I've found that makes decent cold-water women's wetsuits in size 2, so I've been going with them for years. I really can't say much about durability without a base for comparison. The O'Neills I've had in the past for warmer waters haven't gotten much use. But I'm pretty satisfied with the Hotlines.
ReplyDeleteRoughly the same size suit as my wife. She's 5'0" and maybe 97 pounds or so. Interesting that you chose the Firefly GT over the PhoenixX, which uses newer technology.
ReplyDeleteI was being cheap! Right now the limiting factor on my water time is not the wetsuit but the booties. If I ever find some that keep my feet from freezing in about an hour during winter dawn patrols, then I may need to upgrade the suit.
ReplyDeleteBase layer Polyolefin Hot Socks.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___45556?CS_003=2477120&CS_010=45556
7mm O'Neill Round Toe booties.
http://www.tactics.com/oneill/heat-7mm-round-toe-bootie?src=gglb
Looks like smallest size is men's 7. Maybe this is too big?
It looks like the Hotline 7mm comes in a size 5. What type of bootie are you using now?
If the feet still get cold, try two layers of Hot Socks
I have Mysterioso socks, similar thing. Yeah, men's size 7 is too big. I have men's size 5, 6/5/4 O'Neill booties, since they only make up to 3mm in women's sizes (I think O'Neill believes women don't surf in cold water, grr). They're a bit wide, but the socks help.
ReplyDeleteI've been wearing Xcel 5mm Infiniti split-toe boots for a couple of years and they seem to be OK for local waters (SF, San Mateo). They go down to size 5. I'm wearing size 7 but I think their boots run a little small because regular shoes in that size are way too big for me.
ReplyDeleteXcel makes two other 5mm boots, and one 7mm model and one 7/6mm, all available in size 5.
Thanks, I'll check out the Xcels.
ReplyDeleteI think that certain people have a problem with feet getting cold. I'm one of these people. My feet get cold sitting in my office. I'm tried a number of different strategies to keep my feet warm in the winter. I used to use RipCurl 3/5/7mm hidden split toe booties. This wasn't enough.
ReplyDeleteI think that the round-toe boot is warmer than the split toe. My big toe would get cold before. Now, it is warmed up by my foot. If you're still having problems with cold feet, you don't have much to lose by trying a 7mm round toe boot with two layers of mysterioso socks.
Good luck.
Craig's right, some people have sensitive extremities and I imagine the round-toe boots are slightly warmer. When I used to snow ski, I had to wear mittens, not gloves because my fingers would get too cold.
ReplyDeleteI know that my circulation is poor when I don't get enough sleep and my extremities get cold. Maybe you can go to bed earlier? :)
seany, I think the analogy of the gloves to the split toe boot is a good one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the suggestions. Though I know I go to bed early enough! Usually (well) before 10, since I get up at 5 to swim before work.
ReplyDeleteYou get up at 5am? Man, I'm a slacker. I thought I was being ambitious getting up at 6:30am.
ReplyDeleteSo I ordered my husband a warmer knowing I could never use it for myself (I use a women's 4/3 xcel infiniti frontzip), based on what you wrote in your Amazon.com review... and from a superficial peek at the product itself, it looks like it's simply a plastic 3.5" computer fan mounted into an extra large wetsuit hanger with vents above and below it (and an appropriate plug-in power adapter to power the fan, of course). Genius! I wonder what the original hanger looked like when the original creator came up with the concept.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost tempted to figure out if I can build a tiny one for myself. Haha! Or have you tried already?
No, I haven't tried making one. If you do, let me know how it works out!
ReplyDelete