Should you size up in wetsuits for women’s?
Tips for women’s wetsuit sizing start with your dress size. Make sure to check the measurements on the sizing guide of the wetsuit brand. If you have a different size top and bottom, it is recommended to go with the larger of the two sizes. Also, a suit that is too tight will put a lot of stress on the wetsuit, causing the neoprene to thin out and the seams to leak and break down faster. If the suit is too big, it might be easy to get into, but in the water, it’s not going to function properly.Quick answer? If you are between two wetsuit sizes on the size chart below, decide if warmth or ease-of-entry is more important to you. For warmth go with the smaller size. To make it easy to get into, go with the larger size.Soaking the wetsuit in warm water before wearing it can temporarily increase its elasticity, making it easier to put on and adjust. Wearing the wetsuit in a warm shower can also help the neoprene expand slightly for a more comfortable fit.When you try on a new wetsuit, especially a winter suit, it can feel tight and hard to get on, this is to be expected and is not necessarily anything to worry about. The key factor here is that the wetsuit should feel comfortable and not overtight so that it restricts movement.While a woman can technically wear a men’s wetsuit, the fit might not be ideal. Women’s wetsuits are specifically designed to support and accommodate the female form. A men’s wetsuit might not fit snugly in the right areas, which can allow cold water to circulate and reduce the suit’s ability to keep the wearer warm.
Is it better to size up or down for wetsuits?
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. Obviously, it is also possible to have a wetsuit that’s too tight. If it constricts your breathing, if moving your arms up and down feels like you’re lifting deadweights, if you need to call the fire brigade to get it on or off, there is a chance your wetsuit is too small for you.Check the Fit: Your wetsuit should feel snug but not uncomfortable. Make sure the neck, wrists, and ankles are sealed to prevent water from rushing in. Position It Right: Pull the suit up evenly and ensure it fits smoothly against your body. Adjust the seams around your shoulders and torso for a clean fit.A suit that’s too small could cause a feeling of tightness, making it difficult to breathe and preventing you from moving your body in a way that’s comfortable for you. On the other hand, a suit that’s too big will let water in, which will negatively affect your buoyancy and body temperature.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.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.
How do I size myself for a wetsuit?
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. Contrary to everyday clothes, most wetsuits come in many different sizes. In addition, they cater to people with different body types. Wetsuit sizes are built up by combining body height and chest and waist width. You can verify this by measuring your height, weight, chest and waist sizes.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!Just like above, we’d highly recommend that if you want to wet a wetsuit before putting it on, then make sure you’re wet too. If you’re wet and the suit is dry, that could lead to tears or damage to the suit because you’re trying to finagle your way in something that’s just not working.Cotton underwear, for example, is not a good idea: it absorbs water, dries slowly, and can cause chafing as you move. Loose-fitting clothing is also not recommended, as it can bunch up and fold under your wetsuit, which not only feels uncomfortable but also affects the fit of the suit.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.
Should you size up or down in triathlon wetsuits?
Try one size under. If the arms bind and the chest feels compressed, go one size up. Good triathlon wetsuit fit also relates to arm circumference. The neoprene should be nice and snug around the arms. 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.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.A well-fitting swimsuit is a great choice for women looking to wear a full-coverage piece under a wetsuit. Benefits include ensuring comfort, preventing skin irritation and providing additional warmth.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.
How to fit a women’s wetsuit?
Your wetsuit should feel snug all over without pinching or cutting into your skin. There should be no baggy areas, as these can trap excess water. However, it shouldn’t feel so tight that it’s hard to move or breathe. Test the fit: Raise your arms, bend your knees, and twist your torso to ensure full range of motion. 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.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.To Sum It Up But we hope that by the time you’ve finished reading this post, you’ll know that in order to save yourself time and grief, it’s simply easier to get into a wetsuit when you’re wet and to get into a dry wetsuit when you’re dry. Opposites just don’t attract in this case, so don’t force it.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.
Do wetsuits get tighter or looser in water?
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. 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.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 If you want to put on your wetsuit easily and fully enjoy your time in the water, finding a proper-fitting wetsuit is key. A wetsuit that is too small is harder to put on and won’t be as comfortable during your activity in the water.How right fitting should a wetsuit be? In general, a wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin but not so tight that your range of motion is limited. The sleeves (if full-length) 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.Key Fit Areas To Check A tight fit around the neck helps prevent cold water from entering the suit, which is essential for maintaining warmth. The Chest – The wetsuit should fit comfortably around your chest without restricting movement.