Should I buy a 3/2 or 4:3 wetsuit?
If you surf much during winter or early mornings you can get the warmer 4/3mm thickness for just a bit more than the 3/2. Wetsuits are typically made with thicker (3 or 4mm) panels at the legs and trunk, and thinner panels around the arms where more flexibility is needed. 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.Do Wetsuits Work In Very Cold Water? A lot of people will tell you that wetsuits don’t work in very cold water. That’s incorrect. Long before we had drysuits, safety-conscious paddlers wore wetsuits – even when paddling on freezing cold water.wetsuit thickness for water temp 50°f to 60°f (10°c to 15. C): a 5mm or thicker wetsuit is necessary to provide enough thermal insulation in these cold waters. F to 70°f (15. C to 21°c): a 3mm wetsuit is ideal for this temperature range, offering warmth and mobility.THE SCIENCE BEHIND WETSUIT THICKNESS 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.Moderate Water (20-24°C/68-75°F): A 5-7mm wetsuit may be appropriate for water with moderate temperatures.
What temperature is a 3mm wetsuit good for?
Reading the temperature guide Generally, you’ll find yourself using wetsuits that fall in the middle of the spectrum. For instance, a 3mm shortie or steamer is perfect for water temperatures between 18° and 24°C (65° – 75°F) and serves as an ideal high summer suit for the UK and other parts of Europe. 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.Wetsuits help solve this problem in three key ways: Increased Buoyancy – Neoprene lifts your body higher in the water, especially your legs, reducing drag. Improved Streamline – With better body alignment and buoyancy, you hold speed with less effort using less oxygen and energy at the same or faster paces.Cold-water 7mm – 1/4-inch two-piece wet suit with hood and boots, add 10% of your body weight, plus 1. Neoprene drysuits, add 10% of your body weight, plus 3 – 5 kg/7 – 10 lb. Shell-style dry suits, add 10% of your body weight, plus 1.Wetsuits keep you warm by holding a thin layer of water between your skin and the suit. That thin layer of water is heated by your body and insulated from the outside by the suit. They help you float because wetsuits are made of neoprene…….
What is the difference between a swimming wetsuit and a surfing wetsuit?
Surfing wetsuits regularly have one thickness for the body and legs and a different thickness for the arms. Swimming wetsuits usually have a wider range of thicknesses, including thinner shoulders for movement and thicker legs for buoyancy. If you’re primarily in warmer waters, a 3mm suit should be sufficient, if you’re primarily in waters where temperatures hover around the mid-teens, a 4mm suit should be more than enough. But if you plan to tackle cold waters or winter waves, a 5mm wetsuit will keep you toasty and ready for anything.You should always consider personal comfort and the sizing guidelines, but if you’re between sizes, it’s usually recommended to go with the smaller size. This helps ensure a snug fit and comfort underwater. Just remember, it’s essential that the wetsuit is not too tight.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.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.For beginners, we recommend either a shorty or a full-length wetsuit, as both provide the right balance of insulation and comfort. A wetsuit with a neoprene thickness of 1/2mm or 3/2mm offers more than enough warmth while ensuring flexibility and breathability.
Is a 5mm wetsuit too thick for swimming?
Can you swim in a 5mm wetsuit? Yes, you can swim in a 5mm neoprene thickness, but it depends on the activity and conditions: Pros: A 5mm wetsuit provides excellent insulation, making it ideal for cold water swimming. 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 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.Fit is everything, and to ensure you don’t feel any nasty shocks of cold water, you need to get the size right. A wetsuit should fit like a second skin. The wetsuit needs to heat a thin layer of water evenly around your body to regulate your body heat. So, it needs to be tight to your body.Wearing your wetsuit in water helps it adapt more quickly to your shape. Take a short swim or soak it before your first full session.Swimwear is a practical choice to wear under a wetsuit – a bikini or swimming costume for women and swim trunks or swim shorts for men. Swimwear is designed to fit seamlessly against your body, and can also prevent chafing on those more ‘delicate’ areas, shall we say. It’s quick-drying, hygienic and comfortable.
Is it better for a wetsuit to be tight or loose?
You’ll feel cold, weighed down, and sad. 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. The last thing you want to do is to leave your wetsuit hanging in direct sunlight to dry. Neoprene takes a beating from UV radiation, and will begin to break it down quickly. Coupled with heat, you can take a brand new wetsuit to completely destroyed in a matter of weeks.Avoid Vaseline You probably know this already but just to repeat, don’t use Vaseline or other petroleum-based lubricants with your wetsuit. Most wetsuit manufacturers will tell you that doing so voids the suit’s warranty because it’s proven to degrade neoprene.The right blend makes the difference – with modern material mixes, you can find very comfortable and elastic materials that are still very durable – although this comes at a cost. Typically, a good quality wetsuit should last at least two years, but generally around five years or more, even with heavy use.Hang your wetsuit in a shady place, ideally with a breeze. Avoid direct sunlight as UV rays break down neoprene. After a few hours – or when the outer side feels dry – flip your suit right side out and continue the drying process in the shade.What are the disadvantages of a wetsuit? The main disadvantage of wetsuits is that they can still be quite cold in colder water temperatures, as they allow water to enter and then warm up against the body. They also require more frequent replacement than drysuits, as the neoprene material can degrade over time.
Is it okay to wear nothing under a wetsuit?
Yes, it is. Many people choose to wear nothing under their wetsuit. Wetsuits are designed to fit snugly against your body, and the fewer layers underneath, the better the insulating effect. For some, this is the most comfortable option, especially during short sessions or in warm conditions. If your swim shorts don’t have any lining, in most circumstances, it would probably be better to wear boxers or briefs rather than going commando. Females can wear panties with board shorts for additional comfort.If you’re surfing in colder climates, a wetsuit is essential for staying warm. Wetsuits hug your skin with a thin layer of water that your body heats to create a toasty insulation. For cold water surfing, you’ll need a full-length wetsuit, often called a “steamer,” made from thick neoprene.Swimwear is a practical choice to wear under a wetsuit – a bikini or swimming costume for women and swim trunks or swim shorts for men. Swimwear is designed to fit seamlessly against your body, and can also prevent chafing on those more ‘delicate’ areas, shall we say. It’s quick-drying, hygienic and comfortable.Men can wear swim shorts, briefs or jammers under a wetsuit. We wouldn’t recommend boardshorts as your wetsuit is meant to be really tight and boardshorts are usually not. They tend to bunch up and could cause chafing and generally lead to discomfort.Some people do choose to wear nothing or “go commando” underneath their wetsuit – especially surfers. To some, the idea of a barrier between wetsuit and flesh is as distasteful and absurd as that of underwear to a kilt-wearing Highlands soldier. Pleasure and pain, however, are never far apart.
Can you wear a wetsuit in a pool?
Saltwater pools, chlorinated pools, gene pools, we don’t care where you choose to stick your wetsuit. You can absolutely use your wetsuit in a pool. Just be sure to go for good quality wetsuits that will last, and for crying out loud… take good care of it! Shorty wetsuits are suitable for warmer waters where overheating might be a concern, as they provide sufficient core insulation while allowing for better ventilation of the limbs. In contrast, full wetsuits are designed for colder waters, offering comprehensive insulation to maintain body warmth.It’s not just the sleekness of the neoprene that can be different in swimming and surfing wetsuits. Many swimming wetsuits are also built with slightly thicker, buoyant neoprenes around the core and legs that provide extra lift in the water.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. If your wetsuit is too loose, cold water will enter the suit freely or “flush through”.Wetsuits of 7mm or thicker should be worn when water temperatures are between 45 and 60 degrees F. A 7mm SCUBA diving wetsuit is designed with thicker neoprene to provide essential insulation and warmth in colder waters, without sacrificing mobility.A 5mm neoprene thickness is ideal for water temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, offering warmth and a fair amount of flexibility for activities like surfing or diving. In warmer waters above 15°C, it may feel too warm, and a thinner wetsuit (3mm or 2mm) is a better choice.