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Wetsuits |
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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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Picking The Right Wetsuit |
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| There has never been a better time to buy a wetsuit. New manufacturing technologies and materials have caused comfort levels to soar and prices to plummet. If you choose carefully, a modern wetsuit will genuinely behave like a second skin. |
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 Picking the right suit may take time, however. Wetsuit manufacturers like nothing better than to blind consumers with science and specialisation is rampant. There are now not only different wetsuits for different sports, but different wetsuits for sports within sports!
Nevertheless, all wetsuits work in the same way to keep you warm: a thin layer of water is trapped between the neoprene suit and your skin, which is then warmed by your body heat. It’s a delicate process in which the single most important variable is the suit’s fit. |
Taut Not Tight |
When trying the suit on, it should be taut around all parts of your body without constraining you. If it’s too loose or if there are air pockets, the suit will “flush” with cold water every so often. If it’s too tight it will become uncomfortable and repetitive movements – paddling, kicking etc – will become difficult.
Don't expect any wetsuit to be easy to slip on or feel immediately natural, however. The suit will loosen in the water and after a few fits, it will start to take your individual shape.
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Thickness v Flex |
 The warmth of a wetsuit is largely determined by its thickness. But the thicker a suit gets the more likely it is to restrict your movement.
Manufactures rate the thickness of wetsuits in millimeters, giving the maximum and minimum measurements for each. So a suit on which the thickest panels are 4mm and the thinnest are 3mm, is described as a “4/3”, for example.
Most manufacturers make suites with panels ranging from 2mm to 10mm or more. For divers, 8mm to 10mm suits are the norm in colder waters. For more active surface sports like surfing, however, a 5/4 is enough to keep most people warm through the winter.
Because thicker suits tend to restrict movement, with these products it’s worth paying a bit more for the very latest flexible materials.
Think also about wind-chill. Wetsuits which come with wind-proof panels on the chest and back, can increase warmth dramatically. The same is true of suits that incorporate a thin layer of titanium in their makeup. An integrated hood is also a good idea if its a true winter setup you're after. |
Look, No Stitches |
 Watertight seams are every bit as important as the neoprene itself in keeping you warm. In marked contrast to the early days of the overlock stitch which came with guaranteed chaffing, the more advanced wetsuits now boast “liquid seams” or “fluid welds”.
These stitchless seams are totally watertight and are well worth looking out for. Look out too for suites where the manufacturers have tried to re-position the seams away from joints such as the shoulders and knees so as to increase flexibility and cut chaffing. |
Collar and Zip |
Another key area to check out is the zip and the way the wetsuit closes round the neck. To combat zip and collar flush, a variety of flap closure and short zip entrance systems have been developed.
The trick here is to go for a simple design that fits you well. Over-complicated entry systems tend to wear out quicker and can eat up a lot of time adjusting and mucking about with.
Finally, if you are going for a spring or summer suit, think about something with short legs and sleeves. After all, there's nothing like the feel of the ocean on your skin! |
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