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Tech Junior |
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Wet suits are warmer, cheaper and more comfortable than ever. BBC on-line reporter and cold water surfer, Steven Shukor, picks five of the best Click to view Top 5 Wetsuits.
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Best Kids' Suit (Tiki TECH Junior, £30) |
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 Perfect for fast growing kids. The Tiki TECH junior range offers incredible value for money, offering as it does many of the same high-specification features of the company's highly-rated adult suits. These are tried and tested designs which don't cost too much. They combine performance with great durability. |
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In order to insulate, a neoprene suit must fit closely to the body - a snug fit that does not restrict movement is what you are looking for. If you can grab a handful of extra material around your child's torso, then the suit is too loose and won't keep the little sprog warm.
Of course, if you want your child to wear it willingly, it must also be comfortable. This means it must be long enough in the torso - a suit that is too short will pull at the shoulders and crotch, restricting movement. |
Adult Quality |
 Devon-based Tiki have been making wetsuits for British surfers since 1972 and are still owned by their founders Tim Heyland and Dave Smith. Their middle-end performance surfing wetsuit, the Tech, uses many top end features and top quality materials used in Tiki's highly-rated adult suits.
Principally a spring and summer wetsuit, the Tech is available as a full suit, a shorty and a long-john. The superstretch neoprene offers a lighter suit ensuring greater freedom of movement which results in less fatigue.
The neoprene is glued and blindstitched, which means the needle does not pass all the way through the neoprene, reducing the chance of water penetration - providing your child with additional warmth. |
Great Value |
 The suit's superflex pattern features seam-free zones, maximum stretch areas and a close fit - which is vital to reduce cold water flushing. The double overlocking collar also ensures minimal water flush. Any water that is able to pass through the zip is quickly drained.
The chest area is fitted with duramesh, neoprene with a tough rubberised outer lining - ensuring durability and wind-chill protection. The suit comes with extra strong kneepads and protective printing for added durability. Tiki says: "The TECH continues to set the industry benchmark for performance and price".
If you buy the correct size, most children will get 6-12 months of use out of a wetsuit before outgrowing it. Don't buy "up a size" unless the water is reasonably warm - neoprene must fit closely in order to insulate properly.
You can always cut off the arms and legs to turn the full suit into a shorty to get a bit more use out of it but obviously there will be more flushing. |
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Pros:
- V Cheap
- Great Quality
- Good Range
Cons:
- Won't stop them growing! |
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