recommended sock and glove thickness for Monterey

It's been like 30 years ago since I dove salt point and I just rented my gear then.  Will a 2 mm thick sock and gloves keep me warm enough or do I need at least 5mm in the Monterey waters?

Rey

I think both of mine are 3mil, but they are the freedive kind.  My scuba gear I have in 5mil, but honestly the 3mil is warmer, since no water gets in the freedive kind.

Im I reading this right??? Your gonna get wet before Pat? .... 3 mil is just fine....

It's been like 30 years ago since I dove salt point and I just rented my gear then.  Will a 2 mm thick sock and gloves keep me warm enough or do I need at least 5mm in the Monterey waters?

Rey

I started here with 5mm gloves & 5mm booties... but thick gloves present a dexterity issue.  Fine for ab-diving, but a pain when dealing with smaller tasks in spearfishing/etc.  Right now I use 3mm gloves & 4 or 5mm booties.

More than anything, it comes down to a personal comfort issue.  I think the stitching makes an equal or greater difference than the thickness.  My first pair of gloves here were some overpriced 5mm Henderson gold core gloves.  The stitching was horrible & went through the whole fabric... causing hundreds of tiny water entrance points.  If you filled the glove with water & held it up, water would trickle out of each finger.  On the other hand, I had an old pair of 3mm gloves from hawaii that were properly blindstitched (process used for all euro freedivingsuits & high quality surfing suits).  The 3mm gloves were much warmer after a couple hours in the water than the 5mm Henderson ones.   

Lots of factors, but I think a good pair of 3mm gloves will work fine.  Booties, I tend to like thicker ones just cause I'm a wuss when it comes to the cold.   

Wow, thanks guys.  Lot's of good info before I go shopping.

Rey

It's been like 30 years ago since I dove salt point and I just rented my gear then.  Will a 2 mm thick sock and gloves keep me warm enough or do I need at least 5mm in the Monterey waters?

Rey

I was out there for over 2hrs. Fri. and mine are 5mil. hands and feet got really cold but how often will you be in the water that long.

It's been like 30 years ago since I dove salt point and I just rented my gear then.  Will a 2 mm thick sock and gloves keep me warm enough or do I need at least 5mm in the Monterey waters?

Rey

I was out there for over 2hrs. Fri. and mine are 5mil. hands and feet got really cold but how often will you be in the water that long.

The last time I was out we stayed in the water for almost 5 hours. 5 mil was a good idea that day. I think we pushed it a little long that day.