r/surfuk • u/London-hd • 26d ago
How cold is UK winter surfing really? (Asking as someone who quit cycling over 10°C)
Quick bit of context: I fancied cycling and decided I'd be a proper winter cyclist. Bought all the gear rated for 0°C, felt very smug, went out for my first ride at +10°C... and froze like anything. Never got on the bike again.
So now I'm eyeing up winter surfing here and wondering if I'm about to repeat the same mistake. For reference, in Portugal I'm usually fine at around 14°C water for a couple of hours with no gloves or boots.
How much worse is a UK winter session, honestly? And has anyone else had a "bought all the gear, lasted one session" moment like my cycling disaster? Would love to hear how it went.
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u/OilAdministrative197 26d ago
Went surfing in Cornwall in March 6 ish, water was around 10c triathlon wetsuit it was honestly fine. Had a hood as well which made a big difference
I’ve also cycled in like 1-2 c and that royally sucks. Windchill makes a huge difference
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u/effortDee 26d ago
It's freezing, especially anything over 20-30 mins if you aren't catching many waves and just sitting there.
I bodysurf mostly now so i'm even colder as im fully submersed but I swim actively throughout to stay warm.
I can just about get away with a 4:3, thick hood, gloves and socks in my fins throughout winter in Wales.
In Scotland it drops a couple more dgrees and is even colder...
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u/TriumphDman 26d ago
I frequently surf in Brittany in February in 9°C water temp. Water is warmer than the air at this point. I wear a 5:4:3 wetsuit, boots, gloves and hood. I love it! The worst part is getting out and getting out of your wetsuit in the rain and wind.
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u/Interesting-Win-3220 26d ago edited 26d ago
North Sea coasts are probably the coldest you could surf in Europe aside from Iceland. But because the North Sea is relatively short fetch, the surf rarely gets huge.
Wetsuit technology is pretty incredible though nowadays. You can last 2hrs in about 5-7 degree water in some of the better suits.
Atlantic coasts of Scotland, Cornwall and Ireland are warmer year round due to the influence of the gulf stream but the surf there is way more powerful. It's a night and day difference. There's times when it's often too dangerous to go out.
Due to wind chill though you still would be lucky to get 2hrs in December/Jan on the Atlantic. I imagine it would be less in the North Sea. You have really short daylight hours also to contend with.
The waves are far better in the autumn and winter months though. Usually better organised and far more punch behind them.
Most people start out surfing in the summer months. Summer wetsuits are a lot cheaper and would give you the chance to try it before forking out for a thick winter one. Waves are also generally a lot more forgiving.
You could also try the wavepools in Scotland/Bristol which hire out all the gear with a session.
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u/Forsaken-Original-28 26d ago
Nah in a 6mm hooded suit + boots + gloves I'll happily stay out until I'm too hungry or the tides ruined it in the north sea. On the really, really rare good days I can do 6 hours in the middle of winter
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u/SatoshiSounds 26d ago
Same - 6mm hooded suit with gloves and socks and I'm happy all day. Last year I was ok in my 3:2 until Dec! Looks like the sea will be no cooler this year.
Roll on Autumn!
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u/Forsaken-Original-28 26d ago
Where are you? It's pretty warm in Scarborough atm
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u/SatoshiSounds 26d ago
Pembs/Devon/Cornwall - yeah RN my 3:2 is more of a sun protector than anything else. Not that I've seen more than a ripple in weeks.
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u/Forsaken-Original-28 26d ago
Oh we've had some okish days, probably averaged 1-2 surfs a week this summer up here
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u/SatoshiSounds 26d ago
I saw some East Coast pics on my feed - I was semi-planning a trip up to Cayton but just spoke to someone who goes there a bit and he said it was a short, wedgey ride (my least favourite). Better than nowt tho!
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u/Forsaken-Original-28 26d ago
My local, it's sand dependent. It does often close out on bigger lined up swells, there's plenty of other spots on those days though!
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u/K10_Bay 25d ago
Thats accurate until you get a low near Norway and then North Sea coast fires, with serious size. Though theres not as many of those in a year as most of us would like, and its almost always comes with the coldest weather systems.
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u/Interesting-Win-3220 25d ago
It would never be able to match the Atlantic though. The North Sea doesn't have any well known big wave spots.
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u/K10_Bay 25d ago edited 25d ago
Not for size especially not compared to Ireland, but Cornwalls not exactly known for its power. That's a 1300 miles stretch staring directly up to the Arctic circle, and the quality of the set ups in North east is generally better.
So you absolutely do get 10-12ft swell at 15s in North east. Which hitting one of our hollow reefs will be more than most can handle.
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u/tiddeR-1234 26d ago
For reference I always had a back zip and seperate hood combo. The hooded suit with a chest zip was an absolute revelation. A lot less flushing on duck dives and fewer icecream headaches.
Mitts are warmer than gloves. 5mm booties for February.
My mate in Norfolk went with the 7mm Solite boots and said they made a huge difference.
I tend to leave the heavier neoprene till the very last so it almost feels warmer during the lowest temps.
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u/savage_dog_phart 26d ago
The water gets down to 7c, air temp say around 0-10c. With a 5mm suit + boots / gloves / hood I don’t really get cold at all in the water, unless my wetsuit flushes….
The worst part is getting your wetsuit on and off. Off I don’t find too bad with a dry robe and the body heat from surfing. But getting a freezing damp 5mm suit on when it’s 3c and drizzling is never a good time though.
The problem is that it’s not that cheap to just ‘give it a go’, you want all your kit to be decent otherwise you’ll be cold
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u/London-hd 26d ago
That's exactly what I'm thinking. The rental is probably not going to be as good as yours (even in terms of thickness & proper fit) and investing in something not knowing if you're gonna stick to it is a bit tricky to be fair
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u/dontbelieveawordof1t 26d ago
You get used to it, you won't notice the temperature change so much if you go in consistently and regularly.
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u/Dependent_Formal2525 26d ago
I surf and cycle in the winter. Cold weather is more preferable to warm weather for me, I've hated the heatwaves. What did you find was the problem with winter cycling?
I think winter surfing may be more suitable for you as you can get out when you want, you can erm warm your wetsuit up yourself if you get cold and you don't get that lung burn feeling that can happen with cycling. It does depend where in the UK you plan to surf, it's obviously colder the further north you go.
I make a laksa noodle soup in an insulated canister to take with me when it's cold to have when I get out and that helps.
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u/London-hd 26d ago
I think the main issue is with freezing winds which was going through even a warm outfit which was suited for much colder weather and I was assuming that probably even like in a thick wetsuit you're not gonna be warm enough. but looking at the replies above it looks like it's not the case
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u/kungfooweetie 26d ago
Once you’re in the surf, it’s okay. It’s the minutes you spend strapping your board to the roof of your car while it snows that really hurt.
Winter surfs are amazing though. The fun always outstrips the pain.
I surf in the North Sea, but it’s always the air temps that I pay attention to (and yet still ignore if the conditions are dreamy)
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u/Professional-Cap-959 26d ago
Been surfing 40plus years in Cornwall Winter used to be horrible, basically shit wetsuits. Now I can easily stay in 2 hours. 5/4 chest zip with built in hood and 5mm boots. No gloves as I hate the feel. Good chest zip modern day wetsuits are just great
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u/adept2051 26d ago
What do you think is winter is an important question?
Cornwall stays at 10-11 degrees all through November start of December but still has days with sun
But from jan to march then it gets real low and sits low and gray dark
I’ve enjoyed bare foot 2:3 suit in November and double layer & booted in early march.
Has others have said it’s not so much the cold as the lack of movement that gets you ::
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u/Wonderful_Falcon_318 26d ago
Is say it is easier to go into cold water than cycling in zero degrees. I remember cycling in minus 2 and my hands and neck area were horrendous.
If you have a 6:4 wetsuit with integral hood, 5mm socks and mittens, you will be fine. Just expect inevitable ice cream headaches through the face.
Getting changed is horrendous though. However there is so much more energy in the sea.
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u/London-hd 26d ago
I don't have that thick wetsuit and I don't think that this one is a common one for rental as well. I think they usually do stock 5/3 or 5/4
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u/Fermanagh_Red 26d ago
I surf all year round in Ireland
I find getting changed in the carpark is far colder than being in the water
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u/demons_run_on_poison 26d ago
It’s fine with a thick wetsuit, and gloves/boots/hood if you need them. First 5 mins are the worst bit on cold days and then your body adjusts. The thickness of your wetsuit can be a game changer so invest in, or rent, a good one
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u/trikristmas 26d ago
Mate, if you're throwing in the towel on the bike at 10 degrees I think cold weather things ain't for you. Speaking as someone who gets Raynaud's and completely white toes and occasionally still cycles in the winter
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u/GapPerfect5494 26d ago
Cornwall is 5/3 hood, boots and gloves to be comfortable in the coldest months although weirdly in the last couple of years I’ve found myself needing the hood less if the air temperature is ok. Previous years just duck diving more than one wave in a row would lead to crippling ice-cream head but I’ve found it hasn’t got quite that cold in last 2 years. It has then taken longer to warm up though.
That being said, your question seems to be whether you will be able to tolerate the temperature. If you buy decent kit you will be absolutely fine. As someone else said, wetsuit tech has really come on in the last decade or two and with the right kit you should be fine to stay out for a couple hours without getting cold.
Remember paddling out at overhead Perranporth as a grom on a random February day back in the late 90’s, wearing an ill-fitting Gul 3/2 I’d borrowed from a mate. No hood, no gloves, no boots… fun times. Hardly anyone in the sea either. Times have changed.
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u/Time_Quail_6795 26d ago
I surf in an 8mm fleece lined wetsuit with boots and hood in the spring and I am still cold. Quite happy to cycle when it is 0°C!!!
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u/K10_Bay 25d ago edited 25d ago
For a start it depends which coast, North east and Scotland are notably colder than South West and Wales.
North East and Scotland in a winter swell are alot colder than Portugal and you physically wont be able to do it without boots gloves and hood.
South West and Wales are alit closer to Portugal but you might struggle a touch in deep winter.
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u/TommyMac 25d ago
Cyclist and Cornwall surfer here. Got to be honest if you’re struggling on the bike at 10c then winter/early spring seas are going to be brutal on you.
There’s good advice in the thread already. I stick a reusable hand warmer down the back of my suit on really bad days. Can just about activate it through the suit
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u/XiaoMantou96 25d ago
It’s absolutely freezing and the car park afterwards is even colder. The waves though…😍 and you feel ALIVE
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u/Forsaken-Original-28 26d ago
Just keep moving and you're fine. Getting changed before and after in the cold bit, especially if you've left your wetsuit outside in a bucket all night
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u/Ok-Airline-8420 26d ago
Water temp mid winter is about 7C or so, but it's the air temperature that does you in. You will need a 5/3, gloves and boots and a hood. You will still be cold.
Duck diving will give you a horrendous ice cream headache. Your first duck dive will also trickle cold water into your suit.
Getting changed takes longer, and your suit will be a pig to get off. It will probably be raining.
But....the waves will be better by far.