Should I size up or down for wetsuits?
Always go smaller than you think. You do not want it to sit loosely and allow water transfer. L might be comfortable on land but you’ll get colder quicker in the water. In general, a wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin but not so tight that your range of motion is limited.
Do wetsuits shrink? Yes, wetsuits do shrink.
If the suit is too big, it might be easy to get into, but in the water, it’s not going to function properly.
Do wetsuits get bigger when wet?
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.Note that the wetsuit will stretch out slightly after wearing it, just like a pair of jeans. Your waist should fit right, but it’s okay if it’s slightly tight or loose, there is no chance of water coming into your suit at the waist area. However, a snug fit is best.Yes, a wetsuit should be snug around the neck, wrists, and ankles to prevent water from entering. However, it should never feel uncomfortable or cause pinching.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.Step 2: Should you size up or down in a wetsuit? In this case, we’d recommend selecting the next largest size. While we don’t want excess material, mobility is important when surfing and we don’t want the size of your wetsuit to limit your motion.
What is a 5 4 3 mm wetsuit?
The 5/4/3 is a fullsuit/steamer wetsuit with 5mm neoprene around the torso, 4mm neoprene around the legs and 3mm neoprene around the arms. This is a popular choice for winter surfing in cool climates and is usually paired with a 5mm hood, glove and booties for optimum insulation and reasonable levels of flexibility. Your wetsuit should feel close-fitting but not uncomfortable or overly-restrictive and you should be able to move in it. Wetsuits do feel slightly looser once you get in the water and water is allowed into them, too.The fit needs to be snug, the wetsuit should mirror the curve of your back into the hip area. This area is important because heat loss form the kidney are will accelerate if the fit is not good, and that means less water time.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.When a good quality wetsuit fits you well, it will trap a thin layer of water around you. Your body heat will be able to warm up that layer of water and the less water is in the wetsuit, the easier it is to do that.
How do I know my wetsuit size?
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. Attention! Additionally, wetsuits may stretch slightly over time with repeated use, but this is usually minimal and does not result in significant shrinkage. Only when thrown into hot water, the wetsuit might shrink.If the suit is too big, it might be easy to get into, but in the water, it’s not going to function properly. All the gaps and extra material will hold more water and allow more water into the suit, making your body work much harder to stay warm.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.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.
Is it OK if a wetsuit is a little big?
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. WETSUIT FIT A wetsuit should feel snug and slightly tight the first time you try it on. This is normal. Of course, you should be able to move freely and breathe normally, but neoprene is flexible and will stretch slightly with use, just like a new pair of jeans.When you first put on a wetsuit, it may feel extremely tight. While wetsuits are designed to be quite snug, you should not feel excessively uncomfortable or claustrophobic while wearing it.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”.wetsuit sizing runs completely differently from clothing sizing! Some wetsuit brands start at size “2” and work up from there, whereas other brands start at size “4”.