Wetsuits - What are the options?

Why would you need a wet suit? Wetsuits will not keep you completely dry hence the name "wet" suit. The purpose is to allow a small amount of water inside the suit, your body heat will take care of the rest. But a well fitting and well constructed suit will either enable you to surf year round or at least extend the season.

What are the 3 most important aspects of choosing a wetsuit?

1. Wetsuit Thickness:

Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimeters and affects the amount of warmth you will gain. As a guideline the thickness will increase warmth and decrease flexibility. However, you won't notice much of a difference in flexibility increasing the thickness by just 1mm - but you will notice the added warmth!

2. Material Type:

The kind of neoprene that is used will affect flexibility. There are 3 types of neoprene available for surfing wetsuits. Standard, Super Stretch, and Super Stretch Water Repellant Neoprene. For surfing it is recommended to have at least 30% Super Stretch Neoprene in your suit. Experienced surfers prefer wetsuits with 60% or 100% Super Stretch Neoprene as this affords the greatest level of flexibility.

30% equals the back, shoulders, and arms which is exactly where you need flexibility for paddling. The other 70% of the suit is made of Standard Neoprene and is the most affordable.

60% extends down to the knees and covers all major flex points. These wetsuits are lighter and tend to fit better - but they cost more.

100% stretch wetsuits are the most expensive. These wetsuits provide the ultimate combination of fit and flexibility while decreasing bulk.

3. Seam Construction

Seam construction can greatly affect warmth and comfort. Surfers in areas with water temps below 65 degrees fahrenheit should have sealed seams to keep the warm water in and the cold water out.

There are 3 types of seams available on surfing wetsuits:

Flatlock Stitching: Recommended for warm water above 65F. You can recognize this seam from the outside. It looks like railroad tracks. The interior and exterior seams look about the same. The interior seam construction is flat and comfortable against the body. Some water may seep in through these seams.

Sealed (Glued and Blindstitched): Recommended for cold water 55F to 65F. This construction is best for cold water because the seams are glued, then stitched. It looks similar to Flatlock stitching, but is narrower in width. Very little water will seep through these seams.

Sealed & Taped (Glued Blindstitched & 100% Taped): Recommended for very cold water 55F and below. Same construction as above plus interior seam taping. The tape reinforces seams for added durability, and prevents any water from seeping through.

These are the basic things you need to take into consideration when purchasing a wetsuit but there are extras that are also offered that can improve the performance even further and increase the comfort factor. When you begin shopping for your suit it may seem a little overwhelming with all of the options however if you list the most important factors to take along with you it should make your choice a little easier and give you the right information to help you make an informed decision.

Browse our selection of Full Suits, Springs, Rashguards and Neoprene Tops in our Girls Surf Shop.