What is a wetsuit?
A wetsuit is a suit that protects your body from the cold and retains its own heat. By wearing such a suit, you prevent hypothermia when you are in cold water for an extended period of time. It is therefore especially important to use a good wetsuit when doing water sports.
Wetsuits are made of neoprene, a material that absorbs little water and is very flexible. The suits fit closely to your body, allowing only a thin layer of water to sit between your skin and the neoprene. This thin layer is warmed by your body heat. As a result, the water stays around your body like a warm layer. Thus, a good wetsuit fits closely to the skin and has an insulating effect.
Types of wetsuits
There are several types of wetsuits to choose from. Which one fits you best? Below are the different models listed, sorted from coldest temperatures to warmest temperatures.
A drysuit is suitable for the coldest temperatures because it provides thermal insulation. Water does not enter the suit, while heat is retained very well. It is even possible to wear dry clothing under the drysuit for extra warmth.
The steamer is another model that is also suitable for colder temperatures. The seams of steamers are taped or glued shut, so a lot less water enters the suit. This makes the model warmer than the next 4 models.
The most common model is a full body wetsuit. This model covers the whole body and is made of a thinner material than the steamer. For average temperatures, this model provides adequate warmth and comfort.
Another option for average temperatures is an overknee model, where the legs are up to just over the knee in the suit. This model does cover the whole arms. They are especially popular among water sports such as wakeboarding and kitesurfing, where you wear boots under your wet suit.
The opposite of the overknee model is the shortarm: this suit has long legs that cover all of your legs, yet short sleeves that allow your arms plenty of freedom of movement.
In warm temperatures, the shorty is a good option. This model covers the legs to just past the knee and the arms to the elbows. Thus, it is the wetsuit that covers the smallest area of your body.
So buying a wetsuit means choosing between these different types. In our wetsuit store you can find all kinds of high quality wetsuits. Take a look at our offer for the best models!
What is the best thickness to choose?
In addition to the type of wetsuit you choose, the thickness of the suit is also important. This is because in low temperatures you want to retain more heat than in high temperatures. Therefore, match the thickness of your wetsuit to the temperature of the water in which you plan to use it the most.
We sell the suits in neoprene from 1 mm to 6 mm thickness. The thicknesses of water suits are indicated in the following way: 3/2.
The first number is about the thickness at your core (abdomen and back). This is usually a bit thicker and also the most important thing to keep properly warm. The second number is the thickness of the neoprene at your arms and legs. This is usually a bit thinner so you still have enough freedom of movement.
Fit
The fit of your wetsuit is also important, as this should suit your needs. Consider the following items, among others:
Do you want a front zipper or back zipper? The location of the zipper affects how easy it is to put on and take off the suit. Surfers often choose a front zipper for the extra freedom of movement and ease of donning and doffing. However, suits with front zippers are more difficult to put on if you are taller in stature.
You have even more zipper choices: you can choose between a full zipper and a half zipper. The full zipper is longer and runs all the way down your spine. It is a very practical solution, but offers the least flexibility. A half zipper gives you more flexibility because only half of your spine is covered by a zipper. Not a fan of a zipper at all? There is a solution for that too: a zipperless model. These are more difficult to put on and take off, but offer you the most freedom of movement.
Make sure the suit fits tightly to your body. This is important for maintaining your body temperature. Make sure you choose the right size; buying a wetsuit that is too big means you will be colder than you need to be by being slightly less protected from the cold. At the same time, buying a wetsuit that is too tight means you have less freedom of movement.
Would you like flushing? These are small holes, usually near your legs, where water can easily flow out of the suit. This is popular among various sports, such as kitesurfing.
You can also opt for lining. This is an extra lining on the inside that provides even more insulation. Lining is often present in more expensive wetsuits, sometimes all over the body and sometimes only at the chest.
Check out our wetsuit store for the best ones the features that fit your situation. The choice is yours!
Material: neoprene
Wetsuits are made of neoprene, which is a type of rubber fabric ideal for use in the water. There can be quality differences in neoprene: you have stretch neoprene and super stretch neoprene.
Nowadays, most models are 30%, 60% or 100% made of super stretch neoprene. Two types of wetsuits with neoprene can be distinguished, depending on the lining. The lining is layer of fabric that sits over the neoprene. The two different types are as follows:
Single-lined neoprene: here the lining is on the inside of your suit, on the outside is the rubber layer of neoprene. The advantage of single-lined neoprene is that the structure is dense and therefore the suit is warmer. However, the suit is somewhat weaker and therefore vulnerable. Wakeboarders, sailors and water skiers therefore often choose the following option:
Double-lined neoprene: here there is an extra layer of fabric on both the inside, and the outside over the neoprene. So the advantage of this kind is that it is stronger and less fragile.
Additional tips for a good purchase
Of course, you want to buy the best wetsuit for your situation. Therefore, we have listed some additional tips for you to make it easier for you to make a good choice.
When purchasing, pay attention to the seams of the suit. Ideally, choose a suit with smooth seams that fall flat against the skin. Seams with dots or sharp edges can cause abrasions and often do not last as long. It is difficult to repair a seam on a wet suit, which is why the seams of the best models are often extra reinforced. So when purchasing, choose a wet suit with good quality seams.
Also check the quality of the zipper. The position of the zipper (front or back) obviously plays a role, but the quality of the zipper is also important. A good zipper is heavy and should be easy to move up and down. At the same time, the seams around the zipper are also important, so it doesn't hurt to check that the seams here are also strong and smooth.
Do you want long or short sleeves in your wetsuit? There are advantages to both options. When your arms are also covered, you stay afloat a little better than when you wear a suit without sleeves. Also, long sleeves are naturally a little warmer than short sleeves. The short sleeve can still be a good choice because of the freedom of movement it gives you.
Style is also important, of course. You prefer to look your best in your wetsuit. That comes in handy! We have a wide range of wetsuits in all kinds of models and colors. This makes it easy to find a suit that fits you perfectly.
What do you wear under a wetsuit?
There are many different garments you can wear under a wet suit. The most important thing about undergarments is that they fit well to your skin, so you don't cause unnecessary friction between your body and the suit. We list the most common choices for undergarments for you:
Swimwear is ideal for ladies to wear under the suit. This is because swimwear provides some support, but also covers only a small part of your body, minimizing friction. Not surprisingly, many female water sports enthusiasts choose this.
Boardies are also a good choice for garments under the suit. These boardies come in short and long styles, we recommend short styles for more comfort. Board shorts are a good option for both men and women, you do see them more often on men than women. Just make sure you choose the right size, only then will the shorts be comfortable under the suit. Pants that are too large or a long model have more fabric and can therefore be more likely to cause friction between you and the suit. And pants that are too small are not comfortable either!
The tight swimsuit is the alternative to a boardie. These swim trunks are also very suitable as undergarments because they are tight and feel like a second skin. This means little or no friction occurs. It also keeps chafing on your legs very limited.
Surf shirts are T-shirts made of special material that makes them very suitable for water sports. At the same time, these shirts are also designed to be worn under a suit. If the water or the day is really warm, you can also choose to wear a surf shirt in combination with a swimsuit instead of a wetsuit. A surf shirt is also called a rashguard, and is available with both long and short sleeves.
You can also choose normal underwear as undergarments. Pay attention to the material here: it should be suitable for water sports and also provide some strength. Cotton underwear is a very bad idea: this can tear apart.
So, as you can see, there are many options for undergarments. Choose undergarments made of sturdy material so you won't have any surprises.
Wetsuit accessories
Did you know that you can also buy accessories to make your wetsuit even more complete? Read some examples below or check out all accessories directly in our wetsuit store.
Hood
An example of an accessory is a hood. This is a type of headgear that also keeps your head warm when exercising in water. Wetsuits never cover the head, while an uncovered head quickly causes the entire body to cool down. So a hood can be a solution to retain even more heat.
Gloves
Your hands are never covered by a wetsuit. Still, this can sometimes come in handy, especially in freezing cold temperatures. After all, it is one more way to retain as much heat as possible.
Rashguard
We mentioned it briefly above, the rashguard is a surf T-shirt that you can wear as a substitute for a wetsuit. This can come in handy on extremely hot days, as it protects your upper body from sunburn. The rashguard can also be worn under your wetsuit as an undergarment.
Boots or boots
Did you know that you can buy special boots to wear under your wetsuit? This gives you two advantages: the first advantage is of course again about warmth, covered feet stay warmer than bare feet.
The second benefit is about protecting your soles. This way, rocky or prickly ground does not get a chance to destroy your foot. Very nice, in other words! If you choose boots, we recommend choosing boots with grip if you want to use them for surfing, for example.
What is a wetsuit test?
A wetsuit test is usually a study where different wetsuits are compared. This is often done by professional aquatic athletes, giving you reliable results.
Keep in mind that each sport may have different requirements for a wetsuit. So when looking up a wetsuit test, it is smart to read one that deals with your specific water sport.
Buying the best wetsuit at watersports4fun
Buying the best wetsuit, of course you do that in our wetsuit store. In our wide selection you will find all kinds of models and types, so you can choose a suit that fits you exactly. We offer some benefits to our customers, for example, all orders are free above €100 and you can think about your purchase for up to 30 days with a money back guarantee.
Still unsure about the choice or have other questions? Then contact our customer service, our enthusiastic team is ready to help you.
