What to know before buying a wetsuit?
Whatever you use your wetsuit for, the most important thing to get right is the fit. Your wetsuit should feel snug and tight all over. If there’s excess material in places like the neck and cuffs, it will let water in and negate all its insulating properties. Don’t be too taken aback by the tightness of a wetsuit. When buying your suit, consider: Fit: A wetsuit should be snug but comfortable. A too-loose fit will allow water to flood the suit, undermining its warmth, while a too-tight suit can be constricting and uncomfortable. Thickness: Wetsuit materials come in a range of finely tuned thicknesses.A wetsuit should fit like a second skin. It should feel tight but not restrictive, with no gaps in the nooks and crannies of your body such as under your arms, the lower back and behind the knees.Is It Easier to Put on a Wetsuit Wet or Dry? There is really no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The answer is that it’s based simply on your personal preference.So in theory not wearing anything that can interfere with that layer will make your wetsuit work more efficiently. Also wearing anything under an already tight-fitting wetsuit will reduce flexibility, so if you want the maximum range of movement in your wetsuit, it’s probably best to wear nothing under it.The key is finding the sweet spot between thickness, buoyancy and mobility. A thinner wetsuit will provide less warmth and buoyancy but more mobility, and a thicker wetsuit will keep you warmer and buoyant but can be more constrictive and uncomfortable for swimming.
How to buy a swimming wetsuit?
When choosing your wetsuit size, prioritise weight over height. Brands like Zone3 design their suits to fit within two size brackets: comfort fit and performance fit. Comfort fit: Ideal for those new to swim wetsuits. It offers a slightly looser fit, making the suit easier to put on and take off. Typically, a wetsuit is designed for activity in outdoor waters, and natural waters, such as lakes, rivers, and the sea. On the other hand, swimsuits are more for leisure and going to the swimming pool or a casual day at the beach.Wetsuits fit more snugly than clothing. Wetsuits are meant to be form-fitting. You don’t want loose folds of neoprene or large pockets of air or water in your wetsuit.If your suit fits properly, that single thin layer of water becomes securely trapped, and because it’s trapped it will heat up. You’ll feel warm, lightweight, and happy when swimming. So a wetsuit should be a tight fit.If you land between two sizes, or you’re at the top of the size range and are unsure which would be best suited to you then we would always advise sizing up, wetsuits are already designed for a tighter fit without restricting your range of movement therefore its best to accommodate for this by sizing up.
Can I swim breaststroke in a wetsuit?
There are now neutral buoyancy wetsuits and breaststroke wetsuits where the buoyancy is designed to enable breaststroke – traditional wetsuits are too buoyant in the legs, making breaststroke hard and torquing the knees. Modern wetsuits aren’t just warm – they’re engineered for performance. Whether you’re racing in your first sprint triathlon or aiming for a PR in open water, the right wetsuit can help you swim faster, more efficiently, and with less fatigue.Ultimately, what you wear under your wetsuit is your choice. Whether you choose swim shorts, a swimsuit, a bikini, a rash vest, or nothing at all, the goal is optimum comfort, ease of movement and total confidence when in the water. If you’re unsure, try out some options before settling on what suits you best.Wet suits don’t keep you dry, but they can keep you warm. Wet suits are made of waterproof, closed-cell, foam-rubber (neoprene) which insulates even when wet. The two main things that determine how warm you will be are the thickness of the neoprene and the snugness of the wet suit.Buy a swimming specific wetsuit With the more continuous motion of swimming, all over thickness of the wetsuit for warmth is not required. Instead, a thinner suit with carefully positioned panels allow more flexibility in areas such as the arms and legs and thicker panels for warmth on the and buoyancy.
What is the easiest wetsuit to wear?
Back-zip. Back-zip wetsuits feature a long zip along the back of the wetsuit. They are the easiest and fastest wetsuits to get in and out of. However, the longer zipper tends to make the wetsuit less flexible and let more water into your suit. Wearing fleece-lined thermal layers underneath your wetsuit will provide you with extra neoprene thickness. This will add the warmth you need, whilst allowing you to avoid the cost of purchasing a brand-new winter wetsuit.Cons of Using Wetsuits While wetsuits offer great insulation, they are bulkier and restrict mobility more compared to spring suits. The thicker neoprene material limits flexibility, making paddling and maneuvering slightly more challenging.The main factor when considering what wetsuit thickness you need is the water temperature. After all, a wetsuit’s first job is to keep you warm, and the colder it is, the thicker the wetsuit will need to be to perform! Everyone has slightly different cold thresholds, so individual preferences can vary.Whatever you use your wetsuit for, the most important thing to get right is the fit. Your wetsuit should feel snug and tight all over. If there’s excess material in places like the neck and cuffs, it will let water in and negate all its insulating properties.Neoprene Tops and Shorts A 1-2mm neoprene top and shorts will give a good extra layer of warmth, more so than thermals and will give your core extra protection. Go for zip free options to wear under wetsuits, so you don’t get marks. Zips can get really uncomfortable when pressed close to you under the wetsuit.
What is the most flexible wetsuit for swimming?
The Athlex Flex V2 wetsuit, made with Yamamoto neoprene, offers a combination of high elasticity and medium buoyancy for swimmers who can naturally maintain the correct position in the water. Ultimately, what you wear under your wetsuit is your choice. Whether you choose swim shorts, a swimsuit, a bikini, a rash vest, or nothing at all, the goal is optimum comfort, ease of movement and total confidence when in the water. If you’re unsure, try out some options before settling on what suits you best.Wetsuit Tops and Wetsuit Jackets Wetsuit jackets and tops are great for use in warm waters to take the edge of cooler breezes or the morning surf.Full wetsuits are more buoyant than short suits, which can make diving and swimming easier. This extra buoyancy will also help keep your head above water after a wipeout when you’re surfing, skiing, or wakeboarding.Wetsuits, usually made from neoprene, keep you warm by trapping a thin layer of water between your skin and the suit. Your body heats that water, and the neoprene helps retain the warmth. The thicker the neoprene, the warmer you will be, so thicker wetsuits are better suited for colder water.A safe open water wetsuit should be a 3:3 thickness for women and a 3:5 thickness for men.
How much do good wetsuits cost?
This will give you several thickness options. The prices of decent fullsuits start at $100 for warm water surfing and over $300 for cold water surfing. But if you have extra money, spend it on suits that range from $200 to $350. Recommended Budget for a Wetsuit The prices of decent fullsuits start at $100 for warm water surfing and over $300 for cold water surfing. But if you have extra money, spend it on suits that range from $200 to $350.This will give you several thickness options. The prices of decent fullsuits start at $100 for warm water surfing and over $300 for cold water surfing. But if you have extra money, spend it on suits that range from $200 to $350.Full wetsuits are more buoyant than short suits, which can make diving and swimming easier. This extra buoyancy will also help keep your head above water after a wipeout when you’re surfing, skiing, or wakeboarding.A wetsuit should keep you warm and comfortable, but not too hot. Additionally, it shouldn’t restrict your range of movement. Therefore, it is important to choose the right wetsuit thickness for the weather conditions and water temperature in which you are going to use it.