What is a 3/2 wetsuit for?
A 3/2mm wetsuit (pronounced three-two) is a popular choice for surface sports like surfing, SUP, wakeboarding or windsports. A mens 3/2 wetsuit is great for your mid-season activity and offers protection in water temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you particularly feel the cold, you may choose to opt for this thickness instead.If the wetsuit is too thin, you may get cold; you may get overheated if it’s too thick. It is always best to err on the side of caution and go with a thicker wetsuit if you are unsure.C) – 3mm thick wetsuits are perfect for average water temperatures in the UK between July and October. Gloves, boots and hood are not required in these temperatures. The O’Neill Hyperfreak Chest Zip 3/2mm wetsuit is one of our bestselling 3mm wetsuits; made from super lightweight TechnoButter 3 neoprene.During the cooler months in San Diego, water temperatures can dip into the low 60s°F (around 15-17°C), requiring a wetsuit with increased insulation. A 3/2mm to 4/3mm wetsuit offers more warmth and protection against colder waters while still allowing for mobility during surf lessons or sessions.Standard Conditions: deboer wetsuits are permitted in water temperatures up to and including 24. C (76. F). Cold Water Mandate: Our wetsuits become mandatory when temperatures drop below 16°C (60. F).
What is a 3/2 wetsuit good for?
MM THICK WETSUITS A 3/2mm thick wetsuit will keep your core warm and allow you to stay in the water for longer. With a thinner suit you will also have more maneuverability in the water with increased stretch as the neoprene is thinner and therefore more malleable. A safe open water wetsuit should be a 3:3 thickness for women and a 3:5 thickness for men. This means 3mm of neoprene around the chest and legs for women, and 3mm of neoprene around the chest for men and 5mm of neoprene around the legs for men.As a general rule, the colder the water, the thicker the wetsuit you’ll need. For water temperatures 15 degrees celcius and above, a 3/2mm wetsuit is usually sufficient. For water temperatures in the mid 10s, a 4/3mm wetsuit is a good choice.MM WETSUIT: WATER TEMPERATURES AROUND 12~15°C A 4/3 mm wetsuit thickness is ideal for most surfers in western Europe that want to surf from spring all the way to the beginning of winter.How does a wetsuits thickness affect warmth? It’s fairly simple: the thicker the wetsuit, the warmer you will be. A 5/4/3 wetsuit will be much warmer than a 3/2 wetsuit.
Is 3/2 a summer wetsuit?
MM WETSUIT: WATER TEMPERATURES AROUND 15~20°C A 3/2 mm, also called a 3. The main neoprene thicknesses used in individual panels in a 3/2 are 3mm and 2mm. For example, a winter wetsuit typically has 5mm neoprene in the arms and legs, while a summer wetsuit only has 2 or 3mm. However, a 3/2 wetsuit has 3mm neoprene in the body and 2mm in the arms and legs, making it a good option for transitional seasons.A wetsuit with a thickness of 3/2 for example, has a 3 millimetre core and 2 millimetre arms and legs. The core is usually thicker, because it plays a key role in keeping your body warm. The arms and legs are thinner, in order to give you more freedom to move.It should fit like a second skin, tightly wrapped around your body. After all, a wetsuit only works when the fit is right. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be too restrictive or tight, and want to avoid excess material in areas like your armpits, lower back and behind your knees.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.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 you wear a 3/2 wetsuit in 50 degree water?
If you want to keep surfing even as temperatures drop from 63° F to 52° F, a 3/2 mm or 4/3 mm winter suit will be comfortable. And if you continue to surf in near-freezing waters, consider a 5/4 mm or even a 6/5 mm hooded winter suit. Wetsuit accessories like booties and gloves will also keep you warm. The biggest problem with swimming in a wetsuit is getting the fit right – which can be very challenging. Your wetsuit should be snug but not constrictive. Different brands fit different shapes, which may be why your most recent purchase is even worse than the previous.To determine your wetsuit size, firstly measure your height from the bottom of your heels to the top of your head. Secondly, fill in your body weight. Generally this is a good indicator to estimate your chest and waist width. For instance, if you’re 180cm tall and weight 82kg, you’ll most likely fit a size Large.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.O’Neill and Rip Curl seem to have the more reliable sizing for wetsuits. If you wear an LS in O’Neill, then order an LS, their tolerances are insanely accurate. For most companies, the accuracy of sizes is so much better now than in the past.Ensure You’re 100% Dry: We don’t recommend putting on your wetsuit while you’re wet. It will take forever! Give yourself time to air dry or liberally towel off before suiting up. Use a Bag and a Chair: A plastic grocery bag can be a huge help for getting the suit over your feet and hands.
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. A good-fitting wetsuit is easier to put on A wetsuit that is too big, on the other hand, might result in accumulations of excess neoprene that can fill up with cold water.The buoyant force depends on various factors, including the thickness of the neoprene, your body size, and the type of wetsuit. On average, a wetsuit can add anywhere from two to three pounds (or more) of buoyancy. That’s like having your own personal floatation device.Coaching-wise, I was kept super warm and it was comfy enough to wear in all my lessons through the summer. I’ve been really impressed with the wetsuit, just as I have been with every other C Skins wetsuit that I’ve had. How has it performed both in the water and out? The performance has been great!If you’re diving in temperate waters, go for a 4-5 mm wetsuit to avoid overheating. In colder waters, a 5-7 mm wetsuit is essential to prevent hypothermia.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.
Do wetsuits help you float?
Yes, wetsuits are naturally buoyant. The buoyancy comes from the neoprene material they are made of, which contains small gas bubbles that displace water, helping you float more easily. The thickness of the wetsuit also plays a role—the thicker the neoprene, the more buoyant the wetsuit will be. Different water temperatures require different neoprene thicknesses to ensure optimal warmth and comfort. Thicker neoprene provides better thermal insulation, making it suitable for colder conditions. Wetsuit thicknesses typically range from 2mm for summer suits to 7mm for extreme winter conditions.A 1mm wetsuit can only be used in water that is very hot, like the water in the tropics. With a 1mm wetsuit, you can stay warm in water as cold as 25°C.You are correct in that the elasticity of a wetsuit will change. A suit that is used daily will stretch out over time, whereas in contrast, a suit that is never used will begin to harden and seem to have “shrunk” when put on.Additionally, wearing your wetsuit regularly and moving around in it will naturally help to break it in and soften the material over time. As you use your wetsuit more frequently, the neoprene will gradually mold to your body shape, providing a more custom fit and greater comfort.Wetsuits are not meant to keep you dry. Despite being composed of waterproof neoprene foam, they allow a tiny layer of water to enter via the zippers, wrists, neck, legs, and ankles. The water quickly condenses into a thin layer of liquid and gets trapped between your skin and the neoprene.
How cold for a 3/2 wetsuit?
For water temperatures between 14 and 20°C (70-75°F), a 3/2mm wetsuit is ideal. For water temperatures between 20 and 24 °C a 2mm shorty will be sufficient. Expect a slight restriction in movement, especially if it’s new, as most wetsuits stretch slightly over time. Check the fit around critical areas: the neck, wrists, and ankles should be snug to prevent water from flushing in, but not so tight that they feel painful.When the water temperature measures between 50 and 65 degrees, wetsuits are strongly encouraged, and some races may require their use. Between 65 and 78 degrees, it’s typically the athlete’s choice of whether to wear a 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.While wetsuits are fantastic for staying warm in the water, they aren’t designed for all-day wear. Since wetsuits fit snugly to your body, wearing one for extended periods can lead to skin irritation, particularly around areas of friction.A wetsuit should fit as tightly as you can comfortably get into. What you need to avoid are slack areas where water can pool, or loose seals around the ankles, wrists, and neck.