5/4mm hooded suit, 5mm booties, 3mm gloves — the gear that keeps you in the lineup December through March.
The lineup at Manasquan in February is empty for a reason — but if you have the gear, the waves are bigger and cleaner than any NJ summer day. The kit that makes it possible.
Tested through three NJ winters at Manasquan, Belmar, and the Spring Lake jetty. Below 45°F water, anything less than this kit ends sessions in 20 minutes.
Total kit cost
$400–$700 total · Prime-eligible
Pick what you need below. Every link is Prime-eligible where possible — most arrive before the weekend.
5/4mm with attached hood — the only suit that handles 38°F NJ water.
O'Neill
O'Neill Psycho One 5/4 hooded — taped seams, attached hood. The suit that keeps you in the lineup December-February.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — Manasquan jetty February swell
5mm round-toe — the winter foot-warmth standard.
O'NEILL
O'Neill Heat 5mm Round Toe — 5mm warmth, split-toe variant for better board feel. Required below 50°F water.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — Belmar 8th Ave November dawn
3mm winter gloves — the difference between a session and frostbite.
XUKER
O'Neill 3mm Mundial Glove — thin enough for paddling, warm enough for January. Don't skimp on glove thickness — cold hands ruin sessions.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — Spring Lake jetty January session
Detachable hood for shoulder seasons (October, April).
O'NEILL
O'Neill 3mm Surf Hood — wear over the 5/4 attached hood for max warmth in 38-42°F water, or solo with a 4/3 in shoulder seasons.
Tested on the Jersey Shore — IBSP October pre-dawn
Manasquan jetty (offshore wind), Belmar 8th Ave (clean swell), Spring Lake (less crowded). Avoid IBSP — too remote for safety in winter conditions.
Bring a thermos of hot water and pour it into your suit before paddling out. Adds 10-15 minutes to your session before you start losing heat.
Don't winter surf alone. Tell someone where you are. Cold water + remote winter beach = real risk if anything goes wrong. Common sense matters.
Hot car heater + hot drink + dry change of clothes ready BEFORE you go in. Hypothermia sets in fast post-session. The 30-minute warmup ride home is the danger window.
Seasonal deals on the gear we test on the shore.
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Yes, with the right gear. Plenty of locals surf year-round — December-March water is 38-45°F. The 5/4 hooded suit + 5mm booties + 3mm gloves combo extends sessions to 90+ minutes comfortably.
Air temps below 25°F or wind chills below 15°F are the practical limits — your board ices up, your gloves freeze. Water temps below 35°F are also painful even with a 5/4 suit. Late January to mid-February is peak cold.
You don't — once. Gear lasts 3-5 years if cared for. $700 / 3 years = $230/year for unlimited sessions in waves bigger than any summer NJ break. Cheapest version of fun on the shore.
Maybe in October and April (shoulder seasons). Definitely not in January. The 4/3 doesn't handle sub-50°F water for more than 30 minutes. The 5/4 hooded is the only safe choice for true winter.
3/2 vs 4/3 vs 5/4 by NJ season.
Read more →Starter kitSummer version of this kit.
Read more →ComparisonBest boards for the year-round lineup.
Read more →GuideHow to make a $400 winter suit last 5 years.
Read more →CategoryBrowse all NJ-friendly surf gear.
Read more →BeachesBest NJ winter wave break.
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