Flotation Suits and Keepin Warm

15294 Views 33 Replies 23 Participants Last post by rustybitz, Nov 17, 2018

mattyn

Discussion Starter · Oct 16, 2011

Apologies if this is an obvious question, but is it worth getting a flotation suit to keep warm whilst fishing from the beach in the winter?

Apart from the obvious safety benefits, would a flotation suit be better for keeping warm on a freezing cold day/night as opposed to layering up and wearing a good quality bib and brace together with a fleece and jacket?

Have seen the new Imax Thermo suit advertised, but would this be as warm as one of the Sundridge Crossflo Pro suits for example??

Thanks in advance for your advice

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

big spurrie

· #2 · Oct 16, 2011

During the winter i'm sometimes out fishing in temperatures of -10 and that's when my Sundridge Entec floatie comes into it's own, you don't need as many layers as a waterproof jacket, fleece etc.. to keep you warm. It's one of the best buys i've made.
I'll wear my waterproofs, layers etc.. most of the time but for extreme cold my floatie wins hands down!

Yagamog

· #3 · Oct 16, 2011

The entec is a good investment.
This will be its 3rd winter for me and i just wear jeans and a woolly jumper underneath!
Also a good hat is vital as you lose most your body heat through your head!
And ive chosen skeetex boots that are amazing even with normal sport socks.

PhilR

· #4 · Oct 17, 2011

I sold my floaty because I was simply too hot in it.

eddrush

· #5 · Oct 17, 2011

I'm looking at the Sunridge SAS MK7. As I feel I need one myself. Has any one else used this one?

andy 1985

· #6 · Oct 17, 2011

I was out in -14 last winter in my crossflow pro and i was toasty, i do wear a sundridge -6 sleep suit (base layer) under my floaty mind and a team diawa pull over scalf and sakuma wooly had.

also sometimes use some sundridge flease gloves but they tend to get in the way.

regards andy

Rob

· #7 · Oct 17, 2011

eddrush said:
I'm looking at the Sunridge SAS MK7. As I feel I need one myself. Has any one else used this one?

I've got the MK6 two piece. If the temperature is above 5 degrees you can't walk to a mark in it, it's like a sauna. Put it on when you get there or put it on when you're on the boat. It is totally waterproof, windproof and very warm but nice and light and easy to move around and cast in. The lined pockets keep your hands warm as toast. It's not the cheapest suit but it's not the most expensive either, cost around 90 quid I think.

Scotty

· #8 · Oct 17, 2011

Sundridge Floatation suit all the way for me, I normally just wear joggers and a jumper underneath and to be honest its the best bit of kit you can purchase. Nothing worse than being cold & wet. I have the Sundridge gloves also and they are fantastic.

I cant recommend them highly enough.

eddrush

· #9 · Oct 17, 2011

Rob said:
I've got the MK6 two piece. If the temperature is above 5 degrees you can't walk to a mark in it, it's like a sauna. Put it on when you get there or put it on when you're on the boat. It is totally waterproof, windproof and very warm but nice and light and easy to move around and cast in. The lined pockets keep your hands warm as toast. It's not the cheapest suit but it's not the most expensive either, cost around 90 quid I think.

Thanks Mate,

Just what I want to hear

fishballs

· #10 · Oct 17, 2011

i've got a one piece mainstream thermal/waterproof suit.nowhere near as warm as mytwo piece sas mk6.even the bitter winter winds don't get through it.well worth the money imho.

ian

Birds_nest

· #11 · Oct 17, 2011

I use my crossflow pro pretty much all year, coldest I have used it in was about -8 last winter and only had a t shirt and hoody under the jacket, never got cold at all.

Nice thing as it's breathable is that in warmer temps you can still use it and not cook inside it.

Best floatie I have owned by miles.

eddrush

· #12 · Oct 18, 2011

What are people using to keep there hands warm? was looking at neoprene gloves????

Scotty

· #13 · Oct 18, 2011

I use sundridge neoprene gloves and love them.

Shorefisher

· #14 · Oct 23, 2011

mattyn said:
Have seen the new Imax Thermo suit advertised, but would this be as warm as one of the Sundridge Crossflo Pro suits for example??

Just noticed this thread. So no one know how good the Imax thermo suit is?

Fisher

· #15 · Oct 23, 2011

Shorefisher said:
Just noticed this thread. So no one know how good the Imax thermo suit is?

I have the Sundridge Crossflow pro 2 piece and cant fault it. I've owned the Imax 2 piece, Not the latest Thermo version, and the difference between the imax floatation suit and Sundridge crossflow is the weight. The Crossflow is so light and its breathable.

Imax have a good aftermarket sales which is worth noting but if I had the choice again and only by reading the Imax write up I think I would go for the Crossflow again, reason being is for the money you get a qaulity light suit with the bonus of the floatation, (free gloves from the ebay seller), Unlike the Imax thermo at tad more expensive and dosnt have the benifit of being a floatation suit for those odd occassions I go out on a boat.

storsy

· #16 · Oct 23, 2011

eddrush said:
What are people using to keep there hands warm? was looking at neoprene gloves????

got neoprene gloves, but prefer to dry hands on towel and just stick them in floatie chest pockets.
I have got quite big hands though, and feel most gloves are a bit too tight.

Reactions: 1

Shorefisher

· #17 · Oct 23, 2011

Fisher said:
I have the Sundridge Crossflow pro 2 piece and cant fault it. I've owned the Imax 2 piece, Not the latest Thermo version, and the difference between the imax floatation suit and Sundridge crossflow is the weight. The Crossflow is so light and its breathable.

Imax have a good aftermarket sales which is worth noting but if I had the choice again and only by reading the Imax write up I think I would go for the Crossflow again, reason being is for the money you get a qaulity light suit with the bonus of the floatation, (free gloves from the ebay seller), Unlike the Imax thermo at tad more expensive and dosnt have the benifit of being a floatation suit for those odd occassions I go out on a boat.

Thanks Fisher, Yeah I guess your right on the floation part. But just wondering if the Imax thermo suit would be lighter by not having it. Imax seems to have very mixed reviews & Sundridge has mainly ups.

Mate just got the mk6 & is liking it but as most peeps Im sure, dont like to have the same gear as ya fishing buds lol
So its either bite the bullet and get the same as him or go for the crossflow pro which is £50 more

This is mainly why I was interested in the Imax thermo suit.

Also still trying to work out what the difference is between the MK6 & MK7. Apart from the MK7 is just a jacket & cost just as much as the MK6 :S

Btw, what fleabay seller did you mean?

bluetooth1989

· #18 · Oct 23, 2011

i bought a sundridge en tec the other week, used it first time yesterday, thought it was too hot for the whole thing, so just worn the trousers... had trackies on underneath, and muck boots with a pair of normal socks with holes in the toes and soles lol... and was in a t-shirt from 12midnight until 2ish, i was that warm.... and that was on chesil with 30mph winds in my face, and only the bottom half of a floatation suit! so im mega impressed, although the boots helped alot aswel! didnt get hot either walking over chesil, so they were very breathable.... i got hot walking back up my road though, but thats a steep b******

Fisher

· #19 · Oct 24, 2011

Shorefisher said:
Thanks Fisher, Yeah I guess your right on the floation part. But just wondering if the Imax thermo suit would be lighter by not having it. Imax seems to have very mixed reviews & Sundridge has mainly ups.

Mate just got the mk6 & is liking it but as most peeps Im sure, dont like to have the same gear as ya fishing buds lol
So its either bite the bullet and get the same as him or go for the crossflow pro which is £50 more
This is mainly why I was interested in the Imax thermo suit.

Also still trying to work out what the difference is between the MK6 & MK7. Apart from the MK7 is just a jacket & cost just as much as the MK6 :S

Btw, what fleabay seller did you mean?

Fishing-mad was the seller I used but have to say the prices have gone up to 139.00 plus 6.00 postage and no free gloves? thats 1 £15 dearer then the Imax thermo, but still better value in my opinion due to the floatation aspect in the crossflow.. I paid 127 for the crossflow including the postage and gloves a year ago.
He is currently doing a deal on the mk6 gloves boots for 108 which seems quite reasonable. I can tell you the difference between the mk5 and 6 in that the mk 6 is alot lighter, if its anything like the crossflow its like wearing a day jacket and very easy to move around in, thats what impressed me with the crossflow, as for the mk7 I cannot say as its the latest in that price range.
I know just how difficult it is when choosing a floatation suit though, the only other advice I can give is find a tackle shop that deals in the sundridge range and pop in to try them on.
Or just go and buy the crossflow I know you wouldnt regret it, I have found it as I have said very light, warm, and good quality, with the patten crossflow foam design, which outshone the old Imax I had by a mile. The only gripe I have with the crossflow is their is no pee hole.. lol

I hop you find what you want though Shorefisher..

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liphook

· #20 · Oct 24, 2011

I bought an Imax Thermo suit from Gerry's for £86 including post in case your interested. Not tried it in heavy rain yet but it's plenty warm enough and seems well put together.

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