West Coast Wetsuit Guide: Pacific Northwest

West Coast Wetsuit Guide: Central California

West Coast Wetsuit Guide: Southern California

We suggest using the National Centers for Environmental Information to keep up to date with your region's air and water temperatures. Following those recommendations will help narrow down what gear will work best for you before paddling out.

What Does the Pacific Northwest Surfer Need?

When you think of surfing in the PNW, you imagine empty beaches surrounded by towering coniferous trees, dense fog, relentless rain, and frigid waters. Unlike the East Coast, the ocean temperatures of the PNW fluctuate very little and are usually just plain cold year-round. For example, Tofino, BC and San Francisco, CA are 1,800 miles apart. However, according to SeaTemperature.org, the two locations' 12-month range of ocean temperatures are very similar (San Francisco 50°-58° F / Tofino 45°-57° F). For this reason, when we refer to surfing the North West, it encompasses British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, which is north of San Francisco. Consequently, it makes choosing the right wetsuit on any given day pretty easy. Generally, a hooded 5mm wetsuit paired with 5mm boots will get the job done. In the winter months, gloves are a must. 

In the past, these cold ocean temperatures and rugged coastlines made surfing reserved for only the most dedicated and hardcore enthusiasts. It wasn’t until this century that surfing really started to boom in popularity, thanks to advancements in wetsuit technology and access to better gear. Nowadays, there are still core surf communities in nearly every coastal town and weekend warriors flood to the popular spots in droves for most swells. That being said, if you want to surf alone, there is still ample opportunity to do so which makes this area a gold mine for surfers in the know.

West Coast: Pacific Northwest Wetsuit Recommendations 

Spring: March - May

Springtime in the North West is a transitional period not only for weather but for swell as well. The predominant wind direction begins to switch from a Southerly flow to a Northerly flow which means there are a lot of days with onshore slop. There are still plenty of surfable days depending on the winds. 

Upwelling is a phenomenon that happens when the north winds blow, circulating the colder deep water to the surface. If there are several days of strong northern winds, you can expect the water temperature to drop 5 degrees F in a matter of a few days. Because of this, a hooded 5mm suit is still the call. On the contrary, prolonged southern flows (especially further along in the spring) can warm the water enough to get away with a 4/3mm suit. I recommend using 5mm boots and a pair of 1.5-3mm gloves, as there are still plenty of frigid days.

Summer: June - August

Summertime is definitely the busiest time for surfing in the PNW. Weekend surfers tend to escape the inland heat in droves to cool off on the coast and surf the fun summer swells and popular breaks with north wind protection. This is where West Coast surfing differs the most from the East Coast. As I mentioned earlier, upwelling is in full effect, and the water can dip to winter lows in a matter of days. A hooded 5mm wetsuit is still the call during the summer, even though the air temperature can hit 80 degrees F making the stroll to the water miserably hot.

Being knowledgeable about forecasts, especially wind direction, can help you make the right choice when surfing. A 5/4 hooded suit will work regardless; however, if you want to ditch the thick rubber, keep an eye out for multiple days of south or west winds. If you get two to three days of south winds in the summer, the water can reach upwards of 60 degrees F in Oregon and Washington. Just keep in mind that as soon as you get three days of hard north winds, the water temperature can dip below 50 degrees F again. Having a set of 1.5mm gloves is never a bad idea. They are easy to pack, and it’s always better to have and not need than to need and not have.

"Only Surf in the Summer" PNW Wetsuit Recommendations

For the many fair-weather surfers who simply want to enjoy those warmer months of surf in the PNW, here is what we suggest:

• 5mm Hooded Wetsuit: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 3mm Wetsuit Boots: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 1.5mm Wetsuit Gloves: Men’s, Women's and Youth

Fall: September - October

Fall is perhaps the best season for surfing in the Pacific Northwest. The northern hemisphere storm cycle wakes up and sends long interval swells to the region. Generally, September into October can be the warmest months in terms of water temperatures. Like spring, Fall is a transitionary period where the predominant wind direction shifts from north to south. 

The first month or two of steady south winds can keep the water in the PNW in the mid 50’s degrees F or warmer. This is the time you can make do with a hoodless 4/3mm suit. Booties may not be required on the warmest of days, but they should always be brought as a necessity for the unpredictability of day-to-day water temps. Though November is considered Fall, it falls more in line with winter by water temperature standards, which is why it is in the next paragraph.

Winter: November - February

Winter in the PNW is cold and wet. The Northern Hemisphere storm cycle is in full effect and relentlessly slams this area. This is one of the few places where, more often than not, you have to wait for the swells to die down to surf. The ocean, on average, is the coldest in these months and rarely gets above 50 degrees F. Furthermore, the air temperatures (especially the further north you venture) can be frigid, which makes having the proper gear even more necessary. For most folks, a hooded 5mm suit with a quality interior liner, 5-7mm booties, and 2-5mm surf gloves are the call.

Year Round PNW Surfer Wetsuit Recommendations

So, you’re one of the brave year-round PNW surfers. That’s impressive, considering the gnarly winter conditions of this area. Here is our list of what the “year-round” surfer needs in their wetsuit quiver.

• 5mm Hooded Wetsuit: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 4mm Full Suit: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 5-7mm Wetsuit Boots: Men’s and Women’s 
• 1.5-5mm Wetsuit Gloves: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth 

We highly recommend the O’Neill Psycho Tech 5.5/4+ Hooded Chest Zip Wetsuit - available in a men's and women's model. It’s been a bestseller for years here in the PNW. Insanely flexible and lightweight neoprene and a quality Firewall liner make it the perfect blend of performance and warmth for year-round surfing along the coast.

We’re also fans of the Hotline Reflex boots. The rugged sole makes them the perfect PNW boot for some of our rocky shoreline approaches. For gloves, our top recommendation is the O'Neill Psycho Tech model line - made from the same highly flexible neoprene found in the wetsuit with the same name.

Blog Recommendations

Looking for some more wetsuit and surf gear recommendations for surfing in Oregon and Washington? Check out some of the blogs listed below for everything from affordable to high end hooded wetsuits, boots, and gloves.

• 7 Best Wetsuit Surf Gloves for 2024
• 7 Best Surf Boots for 2024
• 6 Best Affordable Hooded Wetsuits for 2024
• 5 Best Mid-Range Hooded Wetsuits for 2024
• 5 Best High-End Hooded Wetsuits for 2024
• Best Women's Affordable Hooded Wetsuits for 2023
• Best Women's Mid-Range Hooded Wetsuits for 2023
• Best Women's High-End Hooded Wetsuits for 2024

Final Thoughts

Preparing for land activities in the Pacific Northwest is much harder than preparing for a surf session in the same region. While a single day in the PNW can feature rain, hail, snow, and sunshine on land, the ocean will remain the same old frigid cold throughout. Therefore having a quality hooded 5mm with 5mm boots and a set of 1.5-5mm gloves on hand will allow you to tackle any run of swell in every season in the North West. 

Based in Seaside, Oregon, Cleanline Surf has been the go-to surf shop in the PNW for over 4 decades. We use the gear we sell and are happy to offer surf gear recommendations for Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and beyond. Don’t hesitate to call our support team at 888-546-6176, drop a comment below, or email us at support@clealinesurf.com.