Wetsuit Temperature Guide for the Ocean and Great Lakes


The Surf Ontario shop staff have over 60 years of combined Lake and Ocean Surfing experience. Some of us have learned the hard way and together we know exactly what to wear and when. Here's a brief summary to help you know what to wear. Although not listed below, 1 to 2 mm tops, shorts, socks or tanks can be used to fine-tune your wetsuit experience. 

Keep in mind everyone is different, however, if you want to stay warm and surf for more than 30 minutes, invest in the proper gear - it works, it lasts and it will get you in the water NOW! 

 

1 - GREAT LAKES TEMPERATURES

 March - April:

• 6/5/4 hooded full suit

• 5/4 hooded when air is warm

• 7-8mm boots - the water is still near ice cold

• 5-7mm mitts/lobsters 

 May - June:

• 5/4 or maybe 6/5 hooded full suit on Lake Ontario

• 5/4 or 4/3 hooded on Lake Erie and Lake Huron

• 3, 5, 7mm boots depending on activity - SUP or Surf

• 3-5mm gloves/mitts/lobsters depending on activity

• Flatwater SUP - just booties - but don't fall in :)

 July - August:

• 4/3 or 3/2, 2mm Springsuit or sometimes boardshorts & bikinis in August

• Sometimes 3mm boots Lake Ontario 

• Flatwater SUP - boardshorts or bikinis

 September:  

• most lakes 3/2 or 4/3 full suit. Some days a shorty if the air is warm

• no boots

• no gloves

• no hood - although a light hood can take the edge off on a cool North wind

 October:

• all lakes 4/3 full suit to 4/3 hooded. Cold air days you could do a 5/4 no boots or gloves

• 3-5mm boots

• maybe gloves

• 2-3mm hood likely

 November:

• all lakes 4/3 to 5/4 full suit with hood

• 5-8mm boots

• 3-5mm gloves or 5mm lobster gloves

• hood mandatory & usually attached to 5/4.

 December:

• all lakes 5/4 hooded to 6/5 hooded full suit

• 7-8mm boots

• 5-7mm mitts/gloves/lobsters

• maybe thermal layer under 5/4 for added warmth if you don't have a 6/5

 January - February:

• all lakes 6/5 hooded full suit

• maybe 5/4 hooded for short sessions no wind

• 7-8mm boots (wetsuit socks optional)

• 5-7 mm mitts/gloves/lobsters

 

2 - WAX GUIDE TO THE LAKES

wax guide to the lakes

 

3 - GENERAL TEMPERATURE GUIDE FOR WETSUITS

O'Neill wetsuits guide:

XCEL wetsuits guide:

Wetsuit temperature guide

We ship hassle free to the west coast of B.C. and the east coast Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. We ship everywhere in between too as Canada has many river surfers and travelling surfers: Quebec, Alberta, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the N.W.T!