How to Choose the Perfect Wetsuit: A Surfer’s Guide to Buying a Wetsuit
There are tons of surfing wetsuit guides out there but we’re going to break it down for you simply and quickly, Q&A style. Do I Need a Wetsuit to Surf?
Do I Need a Wetsuit to Surf?
Unless you’ve achieved your dreams of moving to the tropics and surfing pristine, bath-water temperature reef-breaks, the answer is likely, yes. Here in Los Angeles, ocean temperatures range from the high 50s in winter, to the high 60s in summer/fall. While that may not sound bone-chilling, factors like wind, clouds, and the duration of time spent in the water further affect your body temperature, and consequently, your ability to stay out in the water. Need a hand imagining what that feels like? Throw on some board shorts, turn your shower on cold, set a fan blowing full-speed on your bathroom counter, and see how long you can stand it. Had enough? Let’s take a quick look at how wetsuits work and why they’re important for surfing.
What Are Wetsuits Made of and How Do They Work?
Most wetsuits for surfing are made from closed-cell neoprene. Closed-cell neoprene is part of the synthetic rubber family, and is known for its flexibility, durability, insulation, and buoyancy. Those properties make neoprene the ideal material for surfing wetsuits. Closed-cell, while not as porous as open-cell neoprene, does not repel water, but rather absorbs it, trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the suit, which is then warmed by your body-heat. Wetsuit technology is constantly improving and evolving, and many suits now offer a combination of materials to provide the most warmth and greatest flexibility. UV protection, flexibility, and buoyancy are crucial components of a wetsuit as surfing is a high-mobility outdoor water sport.
What is the Best Wetsuit for Surfing?
Like clothing, there is no single garment that is objectively suited to all occasions. The same goes for wetsuits! Also like clothing, wetsuits vary in size, shape, cut, thickness, function, and quality. The type of wetsuit you wear while surfing will depend on the following conditions: water temperature, air temperature, and where you are surfing. Generally, wetsuits can be separated into two categories: full suits and spring suits. There are many variations of these suits like short-sleeve or sleeveless full-suits, jackets, bottoms, etc. Like the name implies, a full suit covers the entirety of your body (excluding your feet), and usually ranges in thickness from 3mm to 5+mm. Some full suits for cold-water surfing also include a built-in hood. Spring suits are intended for warmer water use, and often range from 0.5mm to 2mm in thickness. Apart from warmth, spring suits provide great protection from wax rashes, bikini-slips, sharp reefs, and of course, the sun! For extremely warm water, you can get away with wearing a pair or board shorts or a bikini bottom with a wetsuit top.
What Wetsuit Thickness Do I Need for Surfing?
As previously mentioned, wetsuits vary in thickness—a metric which directly correlates to warmth. The thicker a wetsuit, the warmer it will be. In the past, a thicker wetsuit meant sacrificing mobility. Nowadays, thanks to technological advancements in wetsuit development, we can have it all—warmth and movement! Companies like Rip Curl and O’Neill are spearheading the wetsuit revolution, offering suits that incorporate their patented materials like E5 neoprene and Technobutter neoprene, respectively. A wetsuit’s thickness is commonly displayed in the following format: X/Y. X refers to the thickness (in millimeters) of the suit’s core (back and chest), while Y refers to the thickness (in millimeters) of the suit’s extremities (arms and legs). So, a suit labeled 3/2 would be 3 mm thick in the chest and back, and 2mm thick in the arms and legs.
Here in Los Angeles, 3/2 full suits are the perfect thickness for most surfers year-round. For those who tend to get a bit colder in the water, a 4/3 full suit is a great option for the winter months. For those who run even colder, accessories like wetsuit boots, gloves, and hoods can be worn in addition to a full suit. Cold water wetsuits also can be found in 5/4mm and even 6/5mm for frigid temperature surfing. While thicker wetsuits are warmer, help with the wind chill factor, and are optimal for cold water surfing, they can also be restrictive of mobility and add a significant amount of weight to your body when wet. If you’re someone who surfs in a 5/4 or thicker wetsuit you may want to consider surfing a board with higher volume to compensate for the added wetsuit weight.
What is a Wetsuit Entry System and Which One is Best?
As you may have guessed, a wetsuit entry system refers to a wetsuit’s point of entry. The 3 most common types of wetsuit entry systems are: back-zip, front-zip, and zip-free. Entry systems play a major role in a wetsuit’s flexibility and insulation properties; strong zippers, good stitching, and drainage holes are essential elements of a great wetsuit. Below we’ll go through each entry system option, and their pros and cons.
Back-Zip
Favored by older surfers and newbies alike, back-zip wetsuits feature a long zipper that runs from the lower back of a suit to its neck, and is often secured by a Velcro collar. This entry system is the widest, and is often considered to be the easiest type of wetsuit to comfortably enter and exit. However, ease comes at a cost. These suits’ zippered spines are often thought to compromise insulation, and have been accused of letting in more water than a chest zip or zip-free suit.
Chest Zip
Chest zip entry systems feature a straight, or slanted short zipper that run across a suit’s chest. These suits offer a much smaller entry space than their back-zip counterparts and are considered slightly more challenging to get on and take off. The upside to these suits is that the short zipper allows less water to enter the suit which helps to prevent flushing, providing a snug and insulated fit.
Zip-Free
Zip-free or zipperless wetsuits suits are the most recent addition to surfing’s ever-expanding wetsuit industry. A favorite among competitive surfers. This entry system is nearly identical to the chest-zip entry system but do not feature a zipper. Zipper-less wetsuits offer more comfort when laying prone on a board (as opposed to a chest-zip), and are often made of ultra-pliant and stretchy, high quality neoprene. These suits offer lighter, high-performance mobility without any clunky hardware. Suits like the O’Neill Hyperfreak and the Rip Curl Flashbomb Plus are at the forefront of this budding trend.
How Do I Put on a Wetsuit and should I Wear Anything Underneath it?
So, you’ve found a wetsuit, now what? No matter how nice or stretchy your wetsuit, putting it on will be a workout. Before putting on your wetsuit, consider the type of suit you have. What type of entry-system does your suit feature? If you bought a back-zip wetsuit, you guessed it…the zipper runs up your back. The opposite goes for chest-zip suits. Another way to tell if your wetsuit is on correctly is to check your knees. Most wetsuits have knee pads, which should go…over your knees. Too often we see people wearing their suits backwards; this not only looks goofy but also impairs the mobility and function of your wetsuit. Your suit isn’t designed to be worn backwards! Now, what should you wear under your suit? Nothing! Neoprene is an insulating material that uses body heat to warm the trapped layer of water between the suit and your body; wearing cotton boxers or t-shirts prevents your skin from coming into contact with the suit, and adds a cold, soggy layer of unnecessary weight. That said, there are thin wetsuit tops and shorts that are specifically designed to be worn under a wetsuit to prevent rashes and offer additional warmth.
How Do I Know My Wetsuit Size and How Should My Wetsuit Fit?
An incorrectly sized wetsuit can be counterproductive to its intended function and can actually make you colder rather than warmer. A wetsuit that is too large will get flushed with water, creating water-filled pockets that add extra weight and prevent your body from generating and retaining warmth. A wetsuit that is too small will severely restrict mobility, making everything from paddling to popping up a much greater challenge. The two most important dimensions when assessing your wetsuit size is your height and weight. Both Rip Curl and O’Neill offer size charts to help you determine your correct size. In general, a wetsuit should fit like a second skin, snug but not so tight that it restricts mobility. If you feel like you’re between sizes, smaller is generally better. Wetsuits are not meant to feel comfortable on land and often stretch out slightly in the water. When trying on a suit, there should not be extra space or bunched up neoprene in the suit’s chest or waist, or under your armpits and behind your knees. The suit’s sleeves and legs should not be rolled and should end at your wrist and ankle bones, respectively. Neoprene has memory, after a few sessions in the water, your suit will slightly conform and mold to your body.
What is Wetsuit Care? How Can I Prolong the Life of My Wetsuit?
As you may know, wetsuits are form-fitting, comfortable if sized correctly, and insulating. Without taking proper care of your wetsuit, your suit can very quickly stretch out, rip/tear, and stop providing the warmth it once did. When you choose your wetsuit it’s essential to also grab a bottle or two of wetsuit cleaner. Not all wetsuit cleaners are the same. Block Surf’s Wetsuit & Drysuit Shampoo is a neoprene cleaner and conditioner that keeps your suit clean, soft, pliant, and helps retain its color. That said, it doesn’t always get rid of the notorious wetsuit scent that comes from ocean bacteria and mildew. After washing your suit, it’s worth soaking it in Piss Off, Ripcurl’s eloquently named wetsuit odor remover. After washing and rinsing your suit, make sure to fold your suit in half and hang it by its middle like you would a pair of jeans. DO NOT hang your suit by its shoulders like a dress shirt. Neoprene has memory and the only thing you want it to remember is the shape of your body, not your hanger. Improper wetsuit care like hanging a wet wetsuit by its shoulders will stretch out your suit, compromising your its ability to provide proper insulation and warmth.
Feel informed? Ready to grab a new wetsuit? Have any other questions or tips about how to choose the right surfing wetsuit? Leave a comment below and let us know!