Wetsuits
In many parts of the world the water temperature is such that without a wetsuit you just aren’t going to be able to get in the water or if you do you wont be able to stay in comfortably for any length of time. So unless you are one of the lucky ones surfing every day in warm tropical waters a wetsuit is a must.
Wetsuit technology has advanced dramatically over the past few years with new innovations happening all the time so a decent wetsuit, appropriate for your local conditions should allow you to stay in the water for as long as you like, even in mid winter.
Construction – Wetsuits are made of a flexible material called neoprene, a type of rubber which is stitched together in panels for each part of the body. A wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of water between the rubber and your skin which your body then heats which in turn insulates you. Wetsuits are measured for the conditions by their thickness, basically the colder the water the thicker the neoprene required. A single wetsuit can have varying thicknesses of neoprene to allow more flexibility and the panels can be vary in type i.e a chest panel is often a slick rubber which helps reduce windchill. The stitching of wetsuit panels also varies between flatlocked, blind, taped, and glued stitching. A winter suit will need to be blind stitched/taped to provide a seal, whereas a cheap wetsuit or summer suit may be flatlocked which will allow water to pass through the seams. Wetsuits come in a range of thicknesses from 6mm through to 2mm.
Living in Central California, I opted for a 4/3 O’Neill and I absolutely love it. It fits like a glove, which well it should and my range of motion is pretty good.
| Types – There are a few types of wetsuits: a full wetsuit or “steamer” with full length arms and legs- standard thicknesses are 6/4 or 5/3mm for winter or 3/2 for summer. A Convertible- which has full length arms and legs but the arms are detachable if the suns starts to shine!- usually a 3/2. A Shortie which is for spring/summer and has short arms/legs and can be 3/2 or 2/1mm. |
Wetsuit sizes – When buying a wetsuit you need to ensure a good fit. The wetsuit will need to be a snugg fit but not tight. Also if its too loose it will be prone to flushing which is where the water floods in through the neck or arms which can be a chilly experience!
Rash Vest – A must have item, which is made of a soft neoprene and nylon mix, worn under a wetsuit to protect the skin from irritation especially under the arms when paddling. A Rash vest can also add an extra layer of insulation in cold water and can be bought with a thermal lining for extra warmth. On the other end of the scale a rash vest can also be worn in semi/tropical regions where the water is warm enough to forget about a wetsuit. Its advisable to wear a rash vest in the tropics to help protect from the sun as the vest will have a high UV protection rating.
Boots, Gloves, Hood – If your local breaks fall into areas of high Northern or low Southern latitudes or is influenced by cold ocean currents and you want to surf year round chances are your going to need these.
Boots – Similar to wetsuits, boots come in different thicknesses. Essential as the cold sets in and to protect feet.
| Gloves – These gloves lessen the whole surfing experience but your fingers will thank you! |
