If you already have one, here are some recommendations on how to care for your wetsuit, but if not, we'll start from the beginning.
What is a wetsuit?
This is the first step to understanding what we're referring to. It's an invention that began being commercialised back in the 1960s, made from a synthetic rubber composed of countless nitrogen bubbles, a gas that provides high buoyancy and acts as an excellent insulator.
Thanks to this suit, you can stay in the water for several hours even when the temperatures are far from pleasant. Many people tend to think that water doesn't enter a wetsuit, but this isn't true. What happens is that depending on its quality, seams or zippers, more or less water may enter (with the latest advancements, almost none gets in), but that water is heated almost immediately by body heat and stays that way for the entire time you're in the water.
Remember that the wetsuit must fit snugly to your body but still allow for proper mobility. It's crucial that it doesn't constrict your neck, arms, or chest too tightly.
Types of Wetsuits
They are primarily classified according to water temperature. What facilitated their creation is the ability to practice any water sport like surfing, diving, windsurfing, or kitesurfing at any time of year, avoiding the seasonality that characterises these sports.
You can find long suits, short suits, long-legged with short sleeves or vice versa, with knee reinforcements, reflective elements for night activities, hoods... and most importantly, with varying thicknesses.
Choosing Wetsuit Thickness
The thicker the suit, the more it protects you from the cold, but with less mobility, as it loses elasticity. For example, a 3mm wetsuit typically has this thickness on the chest, back, and legs, and 2mm on the arms for more agile paddling (commonly referred to as a 3/2).
Wetsuit thickness ranges from 2mm up to 7mm in this order, following the above explanation of body and legs first, then arms: 2mm, 3/2mm, 4/3mm, 5/4mm, 6/5mm, and 7mm.
Depending on water temperature and your cold sensitivity, you can follow this guideline:
- Polar waters: Dry suit
- 5°C or below: 6/5mm with neoprene boots and hood. Some people also use gloves.
- 6°C to 8°C: 5/4mm with neoprene boots and hood. Gloves are optional.
- 8°C to 10°C: 4/3mm and boots
- 11°C to 14°C: 3/2mm with boots
- 15°C to 17°C: 3/2mm
- 18°C to 21°C: Shorty 2mm
- 21°C to 23°C: 1mm neoprene vest and swimwear
- 23°C or above: Lycra top and swimwear
Wetsuit Seam and Zipper Types
An important consideration, as these determine how much water might seep into the suit. Ideally, it wouldn't have zippers (the type you have to pull over your head), but these are slightly less convenient than back-zip or chest-zip models.
It's essential that all seams are properly sealed to prevent water from entering the wetsuit.
How to Choose Your Wetsuit Size
Above all, the key is that you feel comfortable in it - it should allow mobility, be easy to put on and take off... and fit like a second skin. It needs to be completely snug with no wrinkles or folds. Don't despair if the first or second one you try doesn't fit perfectly. Remember you'll need to feel comfortable in the water and will spend many hours battling waves.
Consider your height and body shape, as we're all different. Each brand has its own sizing, but for both men and women, you should measure chest, waist, and hips.
Neoprene Accessories
Depending on your cold sensitivity, you'll need these to varying degrees. There are boots for your feet, gloves for your hands, hoods, and vests for your body. Some feel boots reduce board sensation, but they're excellent protection against coral, rocks, or scorpionfish.
Flickr and Billabong photos
