1st layer for wet suits?

  One of my resolutions this year is to fish the ocean/bay.  Before I do this, I would like to get a wet suit.  I just looked at REI and they have an NRS Ultra Jons 3mil for $135.  Having never worn a wet suit, how important is having a "1st layer"?  Is the 1st layer for added warmth? Rash guard?  I have Mysterioso pants & top that I use now with spray pants & top.  Also, I guess booties will be required if I don't want frozen feet.
  I've probably asked this in the past, for our waters, not for diving, but for sit on top kayaking, will a 3mil wet suit be warm enough alone?  With the mysterioso 1st layer?   Should the wetsuit be a full suit? (with arms)
    I expect to get dumped on my very first few attempts at getting out to fish, I just want to be comfortable while do so.
Also, I might use the wet suit for surf perching.  

A full suit will be uncomfortable for paddling. I use a Farmer John 3mm. If it's cold outside then I wear goretex pants and shell over it. Feet will be the first thing to get cold. I wear neoprene socks under my neoprene boots on cold days and that works for me. Don't forget a warm hat.

I use a myterioso shirt & pants as a base layer if I know I'm going to get chilly. I wear a pair of NRS rodeo pants and a sprayjacket as outerwear. If it's going to be a cold/wet day I add a 3mm short sleeved shirt or a 3mm vest or a fleece shirt into the mix (I like options )

Wetsuit booties/shoes with 1mm neo socks and a warm hat really help to keep warm OTW.

Buck ass naked under the wetsuit for maximum comfort.   

-Allen

Ok, how should the fit be?  I'm thinking the fit should be "clingy" or snug.  Not to tight? When I go to get the wet suit, should I size it so that it'll be snug with mysterioso?  Should I bring my mysterioso with me when I go to size the suit?  Or do these things stretch enough with a snug fit to allow the mysterioso?

Ok, how should the fit be?  I'm thinking the fit should be "clingy" or snug.  Not to tight? When I go to get the wet suit, should I size it so that it'll be snug with mysterioso?  Should I bring my mysterioso with me when I go to size the suit?  Or do these things stretch enough with a snug fit to allow the mysterioso?

After getting my mysterioso pants for xmas, and paddling with them under the rodeo wetsuit pants for 3 hours yesterday I would say bring the mysterioso with you & try on whatever neoprene outerwear you are interested in over them. I now wish I had a size larger pant to go over the mysterioso pants. The wetsuit pants I have still worked, confort-wise, but in hindsight if I'd known i would be going with the mysterioso under the neoprene i would have chosen the next size up of neoprene pants.

  So your suit is a 2-peice?  If you had gone with the next size up in pant, would they still keep you warn if you got dunked without the underlayer?   Or would the pants be too large without the mysterioso to take up the space?  With my chest waders, the legs are very loose fitting, (can't say same for gut area now)  I can easily wear jeans under them. (Feet might be a little crowded though)

  Well, it looks like I'll do just that then, bring my mysterioso with me when I go shopping for my wetsuit.
Thanks for the info!

Troy

Buck ass naked under the wetsuit for maximum comfort.   

-Allen

Sounds like you made your decision but I'll throw my 2 cents in anyway,  I've been wearing wetsuits for about 25 years now and I have different suits for yaking and diving,

For yaking I wear a 5 mil farmerjohn, with only a speedo under it, the speedo is just so I can strip down anywhere and not be accused of being naked, It's not a pleasant sight tho     then I put a hydroskin shirt over the top for a little more protection and to slowdown water intrusion during the occasional swim.

I put my own relief zipper in which at my age I consider a requirement,  

lastly, I learned to man-up and just saturate the inside of the suit with baby powder before I put it on, now this is for everybody, try it before you laugh, makes for a much more comfortable day on the water, aids in getting the suit on and off (booties too).

I'm thinkin getting a decent fitting wetsuit to slide up over a pair of mysterioso pants will be a feat. But if you do go that route try the baby powder, or Talc if you'd rather smell more manly.....

good luck, being on the ocean is worth whatever it takes to get there.

Dale L

Personally, I say scratch the wetsuit idea and go with Kokatat's new ocean fishing garb that is due out later this month.  SBD and a couple others have demoed the stuff and really seems to like it.  The down side is that it will cost you more than $135.  I'll try to find the link.

Michael

Kokatat Tempest Pant Looking to stuff the stocking of that certain paddy-happy someone with stuffable stockings? Well, not exactly stockings. But Kokatat gives you the next best thing with the integrated socks on its new Tempest pant (left). For the first time, the California manufacturer combines pants with the same sock system found in its renowned dry suits. With the kayak angler (or anyone else looking for impervious splash protection from the waist down) Kokatat builds the Tempest with TROPOS, its element-shedding, three-layer, waterproof-breathable fabric, and tops them with a neoprene waistband with adjustable “hook & loop” tabs, so they don’t get caught with their new pants down (that is, if you don’t opt for the relief zipper). $159, kokatat.com

I wear a 3mil farmerjohn (relief zipper a must) with a pair of knockoff Under Armor boxers and long sleeve tee shirt.  Then I wear a pair of BDU pants to help keep my wetsuit in good shape.  The Tee shirt and boxers are about $10 each from Target and keep you comfortable under the neoprene.  The long sleeves give me some sun protection without too much extra warmth.  If it's real cold, I'll add a polar fleece ($5 at Old Navy) and a spray top.  Add a pair of dive booties with wool socks for my feet.

I hate being cold, but too hot is almost worst.

Greg

Thanks Shim!  I got distracted and completely forgot to look it up.

One more thing Troy, SBD offered a Freshwater How-To class last spring and a Saltwater How-To class last summer.  I attended the Freshwater class and learned tons.  Unfortunately I couldn't attend the Saltwater class because of prior commitments but I'm really hoping he offers it again because if it is half as informative as his Freshwater class, it will be very beneficial.

Just food for thought.

Michael

The 3mm NRS at REI felt pretty hot and not as flexy as the 2.5mm they make 

I need a fresh one so I checked out the NRS website and they sell the 2.5 mm for $90(!)   I think I paid over $200 for it in Monterey 6-7 years ago

I've taken more than one offshore swim in the 2.5 and it's good enough     although if your yak got away from you it could wind up being a chilly swim home   You just want to not let that happen

With farmer johns you can play around with topwear so you can cover any weather conditions, like wear thin, and carry medium and a h20 proof breathable windbreaker     The old Kokatat sweatshirt I have dries out fast like a miracle even after complete soaks



and for sure if you're over 50 the fly's the thing       I use it more often than I check bait



Maybe the new waders are foolproof but I can’t imagine dogpaddling around the Pacific in a gale in those     If it comes down to what happens when you’re swimming in the ocean wetsuits are made for it

Thanks all.
  I went to our local surf shop, O'neils down on 41st ave, and tried on for the very first time one of their wetsuits.  The first one was a large.  (I'm 5'11, 185lbs, 34-35" waist) Well, it felt like I needed some Vaseline to help me into the large.  Off it came with some work.  Next I slipped into a XL "Heat" model suit. 3/2  It felt much better!  Was a little tight around the shoulders/neck when I zipped it up, but I think the tee shirt I had on under it was bunched up.  This was a full suit, and I after a few minutes, the tightness up top wasn't a bother. 
   I heated up pretty quickly though, so I took it off.  That particular suit was $185.
After donning that suit, I noticed there was a short sleeved version, but I didn't try it on, and I didn't have my mysterioso with me.
  So, now I'm wondering  debating with myself, do I really need a full body (long sleeve or will the short sleeve suit be OK for our waters.  Part of the reason I like the long sleeve is protection from the sun, with the short sleeve I wont get that completely.  Then I'm thinking if it's a real nice day out, the short sleeve would probably be a little cooler.  I suspect this is a dilemma that most that have wetsuits and use them year round have faced and conquered.   Well, now it's my turn.
   If I go with the short sleeve, full body suit and weather turns I do have a a spray jacket and pants to put over,  I'll need to work the layering beyond that.

  I hope to make it over to REI soon to try on an NRS suit.   

 Dale, I'm no stranger to baby powder (Johnsons to be exact) After reading your input, I got an answer to an as yet unasked question.  I wont have any problems powdering the areas needed inside the suit after I get it now!
  I kinda like the idea of the zipper also!  I guess those need to be installed afterwards?  How water tight are they?

Lastly, what/how do you guys deal with a wife that thinks fishing on the ocean is really dangerous?  I've explained to her already I've got all the safety gear, and I won't be out alone.  I still get "Its way to dangerous to be out on a little kayak on the ocean" bit
  What I told her was, yes I know the ocean can be dangerous, (Reason for the wet suit) then I explained that I have all the safety gear needed (Most anyway) to be out,( VHF, PDF) I'm just lacking experience.  Shes threatened to sit on a beach or overlook somewhere with binoculars to keep an eye (or two) on me!

  Looked at the Kokatat site a few weeks back, that stuff is a little out of my price range right now.

Lastly, what/how do you guys deal with a wife that thinks fishing on the ocean is really dangerous?

Fish with a buddy. You'll both feel better about it.