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 £200 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.
Do not be afraid to try on any number of suits in a shop. It may seem like a hassle in a small changing room, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Once you have established what suit fits, you can look at the other factors.
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.
Performance
This is simply the amount of stretch that a suit offers, or to put it another way, the less resistance it offers. When paddling or surfing you want the least resistance possible, both to execute the most radical maneuvers and for ease of paddling.
However, performance comes at a price.
Durability
The durability of a suit depends on the type of materials used. Superstretch materials used in high performance suits are less durable than cheaper neoprene materials. Ironically the more expensive a suit, the less durable it will be. This is the price of performance. The knees are a particular area where suits wear out.
WarmthFinding the correct balance between warmth and performance is a matter of personal choice. On a basic level, the thicker the neoprene the warmer the suit will be; winter suits use a combination of 3, 4 and 5mm neoprene (sometimes 6mm), while summer suits use 2 and 3mm neoprenes.
Different linings can improve the insulation properties of neoprenes. (Hollow Fibre and Polyplush are examples of these) while Single lined, mesh or coated neoprenes can be used to reduce wind chill. However, all of these will reduce the flexibility of the neoprene, hence the balance between performance and warmth is a fine one.
Comfort
This aspect embodies all of the other factors. Most important is fit, as described above. Performance is related as a stretchy suit will feel nicer against the skin and be less restrictive. Durability is linked to this as the more durable a suit the tougher and less stretchy (less comfortable) it will be and warmth is clearly a defining factor to your surfing comfort.
Once you have assessed all of the above factors, only then should you look at the features.
Every manufacturer employs certain features to both improve the performance of their suits, and try to make them stand out in the market. Most are very good innovations, some are gimmicks. Each manufacturer uses a different name for their features, although on closer inspection you will find the differences either small or non-existent.
Below is a summary of most features found in current suits.
Neoprenes.
A closed cell rubber foam, lined on one or two sides with a jersey fabric. It is the lining that dictates the stretch within the suit. There are many names for the variations of superstretch fabric, but far less differences between them, each offering a similar level of stretch. However, bear in mind, the more stretch, the less durability. More durable neoprenes should be used in the knees and in some circumstances in the seat panel, where the need for durability out weighs the requirement for stretch.
Seams.
To make a suit fit well it must be made of a number of panels, hence the need for seams. More panels will make a better fit, but will reduce the flexibility of a suit (seams are inherently less flexible than sheet neoprene). Less panels, therefore less seams, mean more flexibility, but a poorer fit.
Where these seams run is crucial. They should never be allowed to infringe on paddle areas (under the arms or across the shoulders) and should be kept away from areas susceptible to rubbing around the neck and behind the knees.
Stitching.
There are two common types of stitching; Flatlocked and Blindstitched.
Flatlocked stitching is very strong and flexible, but allows water to seep through the needle holes. This makes it suitable for inexpensive summer suits, but would be inadequate for winter suits.
Blindstitched is a process where the needle does not pass through both sides of the neoprene. This creates a much more water tight seam. The seams are glued before stitching, so this method is commonly known as Glued and Blindstitched, or GBS. As it is a more intensive process it is normally found on the more expensive suits.
Liquid Sealed Seams. By coating the seams with a flexible rubber compound, you can keep a suit warmer by preventing water penetration through submerged seams. This does reduce the flexibility of the seam so should only be used in crucial areas.
Neoprene coatings.
Currently there are 2 main types of coating. WRC or Water Repellent Coating is an aquaphobic chemical used to coat the top half of the wetsuit. By doing so, less water is retained by the neoprene, making the suit lighter and warmer. This feature is commonly used but goes by a number of names..
The 2nd type is PU printing. Used appropriately this increases the durability of the neoprene as it will resist abrasion.
Zip systems.
There is much debate about what zip system works best. Some are designed for warmth, some for stretch, some just to create a unique selling point. The best system is a matter of personal opinion. When assessing each system consider the ease of entry and exit of the suit and the durability of the system. Recently zips with off-set teeth have been introduced to minimize water entry.
‘Batwings’
These go by a number of names and can be found on almost all top end wetsuits featuring back zips. Essentially the ‘batwing’ is a thin neoprene panel attached inside the zip. This prevents any cold water that enters the suit through the zip from coming in contact with your skin.
Neck Seals.
These are important from two aspects;
- the seal must be very good, not too tight as it would be hard to breathe, but tight enough to prevent flushing when duck-diving.
- This can be a major source of rubbing. Less seams, soft neoprenes and good a fit are things to look out for.
Wrist and ankle Seals. Essential to keeping your suit warm. There are a number of solutions to the problem, but ultimately it is about the seal being tight. By rolling the seal or using liquid seal bands, you can reduce the stretch around the seal, ensuring more effectiveness.
And finally price.
A suit with superstretch materials, blindstitching and numerous features will cost you more, but these are expensive materials and processes that do enhance the performance of the product.
If you are going to spend a lot of time in the water it is worth spending as much as you can afford on your suit. It is the one piece of surfing equipment that can really affect whether you enjoy your session or not (even more than your surfboard). It is well worth being shrewd in this regard. Carefully assess exactly what materials and features the suit has to offer, then look at the price.
However, as mentioned earlier, the more expensive suits are less durable. Fortunately most manufacturers offer a range of suits with varying levels of performance and durability. It is simply a case of weighing up your priorities, checking out the product and trying it on for size.
Submitted By
Ryan - Magicseaweed.com on the 15th May 2007.
This article has been viewed 6102 times.
