For me I find a 3/2 useless in NE. There's like a week in the fall and spring where you might wear one and then it's either too cold or too warm.
Conversely a hooded 4/3 is the most versatile suit I own. Can wear it from a cold, windy October day where air temps are in 40s through New Years before the water gets too cold and then again in the spring. I've got a like 2 4/3s and a 4/3 hooded and then a 5/4 hooded and a spring and an all 2 mil full which is also really versatile.
Spend money on the 4/3s and 5/4. Then others buy on sale. Xcel comps are good enough.
Just ordered a 4/3 Isurus as my first Japanese rubber. Fingers crossed.
Conversely a hooded 4/3 is the most versatile suit I own. Can wear it from a cold, windy October day where air temps are in 40s through New Years before the water gets too cold and then again in the spring. I've got a like 2 4/3s and a 4/3 hooded and then a 5/4 hooded and a spring and an all 2 mil full which is also really versatile.
Spend money on the 4/3s and 5/4. Then others buy on sale. Xcel comps are good enough.
Just ordered a 4/3 Isurus as my first Japanese rubber. Fingers crossed.
In the NE you need a pretty big quiver of suits to surf year round and take advantage of swells. I typically have 2 5/4’s (back up is usually a 2-3 year old suit), 4/3, 3/2 and a summer suit. I get a lot of use out all my suits other than the 5/4’s which I seem to wear out within 2-3 years no matter what brand I try. It’s a pretty expensive place to be a committed surfer in all honesty.