West Coast Wetsuit Guide: Southern California

Welcome to the ultimate wetsuit guide for surfers on the West Coast. Whether you're riding the iconic waves of Tofino, Canada, or catching swells in Southern California's sunny surf spots, having the right wetsuit gear is crucial for maximizing your time in the water and ensuring comfort throughout the seasons. 

From the chilly waters of Oregon to the temperate surf of San Diego, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to select the perfect wetsuit for your surf adventures. We'll cover tips for choosing the best suit for varying water temperatures and essential accessories to keep you warm and agile. Get ready to dial in your surfing experience with gear hand-selected for the diverse and dynamic conditions of the West Coast!

We’ve created a three-part West Coast Wetsuit guide based on each region and season to help narrow down the best surf gear quiver. Although opinions defer, for the sake of this blog, we consider Southern California to include the Southern California coastal regions of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego County. If you’re curious about what gear you need for the other areas of the West Coast, check out the links below.

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 Southern California Surfer Need?

Whether or not you’re a surfer, no single place in the United States embodies surfing more than Southern California. Rich in surf history, this area was at the forefront of the surfing boom in the mid-1900s. Compared to the Pacific North West region's vast size of 1,800 miles, the Southern California coast stretches only 230 miles. However, this small stretch of coastline is home to some of the world’s most iconic breaks, such as Malibu, Rincon, Trestles, Blacks, and Huntington Beach. It has also produced countless icons of the sport; Tom Curren, Rob Machado, Robert August, and Al Merrick, to name a few. 

Although I don’t hail from California, having a brother who lived in Santa Barbara for 10 years, many surfers from Santa Barbara and Ventura areas claim the Central Coast and differentiate themselves from their neighbors to the south in Los Angeles and San Diego. However, for the sake of water temperature and selecting the right wetsuit, in this guide, Southern California encompasses everything south of Point Conception. We chose that specific waypoint since water temperatures can dip up to 10 degrees F just north of Point Conception. 

Follow along as we guide you through the recommended wetsuit gear for surfers from Santa Barbara, CA, down to the Mexico Border crossing in San Diego.

West Coast: Southern California Wetsuit Recommendations

Spring: March - June

When Spring starts along the Southern California coast, the sun and warm weather are beginning to return. The Northern Hemisphere storm cycle has slowed down as surfers prepare for south swells to start churning out waves onto the iconic surf breaks. Winter has come and gone, and those brisk Southern California winter mornings are in the rearview mirror. The likelihood of needing a 4/3 wetsuit and boots becomes less frequent as well. A good 3/2 suit will get you through June, which is typically when you can ditch the neoprene altogether.

Summer: June - August

The Southern Hemisphere storm cycle is in full swing, and this region has plenty of spots that amp these swells. After a few swells roll through, the ocean warms up significantly as water from down south trickles into the numerous bays and crannies where fun surf awaits. San Diego County sees average water temperatures hovering in the upper 60’s F, with plenty of days over 70 degrees F. Up north, the average temperature in Ventura is in the mid-60s F, although there is a strong probability the surf is flat due to the Channel Islands blocking the summer swell.

Like the PNW, Southern CA is extremely susceptible to upwelling. 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, the water temperature can drop 5 degrees F or more in a matter of days.

Most surfers can get away with a 2mm spring suit during this time of year. However, the further North you are, having a 3/2mm on hand is never a bad idea. In the southern parts of the region (Orange County, San Diego), there will be days when surfers can get away with just board shorts/bikinis and perhaps a 1mm neoprene jacket. If you’re not sure what piece of surf gear you’ll need, it’s always good to check the winds and understand how they can affect the water temperature.

"Only Surf in the Summer" Wetsuit Recommendations

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

• 2mm Spring Suits: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• Neoprene Tops: Men’s and Women’s

Fall: September - November

Fall is another transitionary season where the North Pacific storm cycle wakes up. South Swells become fewer and farther between while larger Northwest and West swells light up the coast. After a few Fall swells, the water temperature dips enough, allowing you to stash that 2mm spring suit away until next summer. It is time to dust off the 3/2 full suit, which will provide plenty of warmth through December. However, the air temperature will begin to dip drastically towards the end of Fall, which may warrant using 3mm booties and a hood for those not susceptible to cold air. Side note: hoods can also be a second line of defense for surfer's ear alongside earplugs.

Winter: December - February

The Arctic Storm cycle is in full swing sending an abundance of swells to most breaks with west facing exposure. This is also when the ocean and air temperatures are the coldest in the region. Most southern areas, such as San Diego, will see water temperatures around the upper 50’s F, while further north in Ventura and Santa Barbara, the water temp can dip into the mid 50’s F. This is the time of the year when most surfers will opt for a 4/3mm. Though many of us think of Southern California as endless sunshine and bikinis year round, there are plenty of mornings with air temperatures in the 40’s F and sometimes colder. With morning offshore winds, it is a good idea to have a hood and a pair of 3mm booties.

Year Round Southern California Surfer Wetsuit Recommendations

So, you’re one of the committed year-round Southern CA surfers. Since the water temperatures don’t fluctuate dramatically like they do on the Atlantic Coast, you can get away with less gear. Here is our list of what the “year-round” Southern CA surfer needs in their wetsuit quiver.

• 4/3mm Full Suits: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 3/2mm Full Suits: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 2mm Spring Suits: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 3mm Wetsuit Boots: Men’s, Women’s, and Youth
• 1.5mm Wetsuit Gloves: Men’s and Women’s
• Wetsuit Hoods: Men's and Women's

We highly recommend the O’Neill Hyperfreak Wetsuit, which is available in men's, women's, and youth models. It’s been a bestseller for years here in the PNW. Insanely flexible and lightweight neoprene and a quality liner make it the perfect blend of performance and comfort for year-round surfing along the South West coast.

With so many surf boots to choose from, the options are endless. However, you can’t go wrong with the Xcel Drylock 3mm booties. Available in both a split toe and round toe, these booties have gained a reputation for being some of the best of the best. If you’re looking for something slightly more affordable, check out the O’Neill Heat, which hold up so well over time that we use them in our rental fleet.

Blog Recommendations

Looking for some more wetsuit and surf gear recommendations for surfing in Southern California? Check out some of the blogs listed below for everything from spring suits, boots, and gloves.

• 7 Best Wetsuit Surf Gloves for 2024
• 7 Best Surf Boots for 2024
• Surf Wetsuit Hood Guide
• Best Spring Wetsuits of 2024
• Best Women’s Spring Wetsuits of 2024

Final Thoughts

There you have it, the Southern California Wetsuit Guide. Though we may associate this stretch of coast with endless sunshine, palm trees, and bikinis, a wetsuit is recommended for all but a couple of summer months. For most of the year, a good 3/2mm will get you by. Having a 4/3 for those cold winter mornings is essential, as the outside air temperature can dip far lower than the ocean temperature from December through February. On the flip side, there will be times in the summer when you can get away with a spring suit and even trunk it. It’s best to know the weather conditions and how they affect the water temperature – wind direction and speed may play a factor in what piece of rubber you pack to the beach.

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 Southern California. Don’t hesitate to call our support team at 888-546-6176, drop a comment below, or email us at support@clealinesurf.com.

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