Choosing a wetsuit that fit your sports needs is essential.  The wrong suit can cause discomfort and tax you physically.  Different sports and climates require different wetsuits, and proper fit is key. Wetsuit manufacturers have greatly increased their understanding of materials and comfort; modern neoprene is now supple and stretchy and made to perfectly fit the curves of your body. Where wetsuits used to fit like Glad Garbage bags, today’s wetsuits fit like gloves.

The Fit
The single most important factor when buying a wetsuit is FIT. Before even considering any other factor, make sure the suit that you wish to buy fits. If it doesn’t fit, it will allow cold water to enter the suit, thus rendering it ineffective. It really doesn’t matter how much you spend; a $300 superstretch suit will be pointless unless its fits well.

The fit is crucial for a number of reasons: A wetsuit works by allowing a small amount of water to enter the suit, which is then warmed by your body heat and insulated by the neoprene. If the wetsuit doesn’t fit and you have water flushing through the suit, or gaps where water collects, then you will be cold.  Key areas to check are the wrist and ankle seals, the neck (for flushing) and the base of the spine. When a wetsuit fits well it moves with you. As you stretch the neoprene also stretches, thus preventing the neoprene rubbing against you and causing rashing. If there are gaps then you will find your skin moves freely within the suit and when combined with saltwater and sand will it rub. While rash vests offer an interim solution, there is no substitute for a well fitting suit. Check under the arms particularly, and around the neck.

Wetsuits are designed around four key areas … Performance, Warmth, Durability and Comfort. They are all inter-related, so finding the correct balance, is what you’re after.

A wetsuit is a thermal layer between you and the water. The last thing that you want is really cold water rushing into all the openings like a waterfall. Water has to circulate in a wetsuit, yes, but not so much that the thermal properties become secondary and you’re always cold.

Wetsuit thickness:
Wetsuits come in a variety of thicknesses from 5mm – 0.5mm. They also come in a variety of thicknesses for parts of the body (i.e. 5mm on torso, 4mm on legs and arms, 3mm on the rest). A wetsuit is necessary in the climate that we live in. The water may be warm, but the wind has a cooling effect on the body and could result in you not lasting on the water as long as you could.

In the beginning stages of your windsurfing adventure, it is suggested that you either purchase a 3mm or a 4mm long wetsuit (with long sleeves and long legs). This measurement refers to the thickness of the neoprene that touches your body as well as the length. You will want as much thermal protection as you can get; don’t forget you’ll be in the water for long periods of time.

Women vs. Men ( The battle of the sexes rages on ! )
Okay people, here is where we have to get serious once again. No, a woman won’t fit in to your buddy’s 20 year old cracked, dry, neoprene wetsuit no matter how thin your buddy was 20 years ago. If you don’t know the difference between men and women yet, then perhaps it would be a good idea to:
a) Go back to school and take some remedial anatomy courses, or
b) Look at your wife or girlfriend a little more closely … .

Yeah your girl may be muscular…flat chested (but you’ll never say that to her) … have a wide shoulder span…a small butt (don’t we all?)…name the excuses and we have heard them … and NO this wetsuit doesn’t make your butt look big…

But for those of you who still don’t know what we mean, here it is in a nutshell.
Women have: Breasts, smaller shoulders span, hips
Men have: Wide shoulders, no hips

Most women will likely experience the following sensation in a man’s wetsuit … They are in no particular order.

a) The suit will float in the shoulder area.
b) The suit will flatten her chest into something that resembles 2 flattened peas on a dinner plate.
c) There is not enough room in the hips.
d) The waist most likely will also be too big.

With all of this said, please ladies just get a wetsuit of your own. You’ll thank us for it later. Here ends the sarcasm … .

Tags: For Beginners, Gear Advice, Wetsuits, Windsurfing //