Should a wetsuit feel really tight?
A wetsuit should fit snugly around your body, but not so tightly that it restricts your movement or causes discomfort. Think of it as a second skin – it should feel tight, but not constricting. If the wetsuit feels too tight, it may limit your range of motion and cause discomfort. If your wetsuit is too big, the fabric will wrinkle and produce gaps which will allow the water in. People can be tempted to choose a wetsuit that is too big due to the ease of getting it on and off, but don’t be fooled, this will provide more pain than gain in the long run!Never put your wetsuit in the washing machine. Never use normal laundry detergent. Do not dry your wetsuit in direct sunlight. This is a quick way to shorten the lifespan of your wetsuit as it will break down the neoprene.Make sure you’ve got the wetsuit on right, as tightness problems around the neck and arms are often because you haven’t got it pulled up enough at the waist area. When you’ve pulled it up your legs, make sure it’s fully pulled up at to your crotch.If you are near the top of a size recommendation and prefer a more comfortable fit, size up. If your height and weight fall right between two sizes we recommend sizing down as the added side flex and fit panels can make this suit feel roomier. The Alliance and Glide wetsuit do not come in every wetsuit size.Soak It. As soon as you can, soak your wetsuit in cold or lukewarm freshwater (hot water can cause the suit to lose flexibility) with a mild solution of baking soda or wetsuit shampoo.
Is a 5mm wetsuit too thick?
A 3mm or 2mm shorty for summer, a 3mm fullsuit with watertight seams for dawn patrols and general later spring and early Autumn surfing. A 4mm suit for early spring and late Autumn before the winter really kicks in. A 5mm wetsuit for winter in most locations is fine, especially when couple with boots gloves and a hood. 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.If your wetsuit is too loose, cold water will enter the suit freely or “flush through”. Water sloshing around in your wetsuit isn’t conducive to you being the best you. You’ll feel cold, weighed down, and sad.Wetsuits do become more flexible when wet and will mould to the shape of your body so as we say a little space is fine. Our video walks you through how your new suit should fit. Once you have checked the knees and armpits, turn your attention to the wrist cuffs and the ankle cuffs.Unfortunately, a wetsuit that is too thick does have a few downsides. It doesn’t allow you to lose excess heat and can make you feel too hot. Additionally, the thick neoprene fabric on the arms and legs can limit your range of movement, which is not what you want when surfing, swimming, windsurfing or kitesurfing.
Do wetsuits get bigger in water?
Wetsuits do become more flexible when wet and will mould to the shape of your body so as we say a little space is fine. Our video walks you through how your new suit should fit. Once you have checked the knees and armpits, turn your attention to the wrist cuffs and the ankle cuffs. 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.Wetsuit sizing is based on a combination of height, chest circumference, and waist width. For women, hip measurement is also an important factor. To help you find the perfect fit, we developed an intuitive online Size Finder that makes choosing the right wetsuit size easier than ever.If your wetsuit is too tight, you will feel uncomfortable and restricted as you swim. Usually, you can spot that your wetsuit is too small as it will be very hard to get into (harder than usual!Wetsuits do stretch, and if they didn’t they wouldn’t be much use – you wouldn’t be able to get them on, for a start. Being elasticated, however, they should always resume their normal shape. If you’re wondering whether your wetsuit will “stretch out” over time, like the waistband of a pair of trousers, it won’t.
How to make a wetsuit fit better?
Make Small Fit Adjustments Check your legs and crotch to ensure the suit is snug and well adjusted; you do not want any gap between your crotch and the wetsuit. Finally check your arms and make small adjustments to move the neoprene up into the shoulders which will relieve any possible tightness or tension. For different top and bottom sizes, we recommend opting for a larger alternative of up to two sizes. Women’s wetsuits can sometimes feel slightly constricted around the neck, but this will feel more comfortable once you’re 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 sizing is based on a combination of height, chest circumference, and waist width. For women, hip measurement is also an important factor. To help you find the perfect fit, we developed an intuitive online Size Finder that makes choosing the right wetsuit size easier than ever.If your suit is loose, an abundance of water will flush through, making the suit less effective at keeping you warm. A wetsuit should also fit snugly around your neck (many people wear a rashguard underneath their wetsuit to prevent a neck rash).In general, a wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin, but not so tight that your range of motion is limited. The sleeves should fall at the wrist bone and the legs just above the ankle bone, and there should be no gaps, pockets, or rolls of neoprene.
Do wetsuits shrink when wet?
Only when thrown into hot water, the wetsuit might shrink. Common ocean or pool water on the other hand does not impact the size of the wetsuit significantly. It’s only exposure to hot water, such as that from a hot tub or overly hot wash, that can cause shrinkage. Yes, wetsuits do stretch a little over time. The neoprene material naturally adjusts to your body shape with repeated use.Age and Wear: Do wetsuits shrink with age? Yes, as wetsuits age and undergo regular wear and tear, the neoprene material may lose elasticity, making it more prone to shrinkage.Yes, neoprene can stretch over time, but with the right precautions and the right wetsuit, you can enjoy exceptional performance and comfort for many seasons to come.Just like with most things in life, wetsuits naturally lose warmth over time due to factors like neoprene degradation, frequent use, exposure to UV rays, and improper care.As you go deeper underwater, the air compresses. This means that it takes up less space. The neoprene of the wetsuit will therefore compress during the way down. The thickness of the neoprene of your wetsuit will decrease and you will have a thinner protection between your skin and the cold water.
How to soften a wetsuit?
One effective method to soften a wetsuit is to soak it in a tub filled with lukewarm water for about 30 minutes to an hour. This allows the neoprene to absorb moisture and become more supple. After soaking, gently massage the wetsuit to help distribute the moisture evenly throughout the material. 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.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.A 7mm wetsuit is highly recommended with the addition of the proper accessories such as a hooded vest.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.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.