Surf Wetsuits

Surfing in cold water is not fun, especially when your lips are blue and your teeth are chattering while everyone else ride the tubes. When this happens, you know it’s time to look at some surf wetsuits.

Of course, you know better than to get a windsurfing wetsuit because you will be in the water longer and you need more movement in the arm and shoulder area. You will need the durability of the nylon lining, not the sleek but fragile outer coating of pressed rubber. You would probably also prefer one without sleeves so you wouldn’t get wetsuit rash under the armpits.

So what else would you need to know about surf wetsuits? In order to help you make up your mind – or just in case you miss something while you’re buying your wetsuit – here are few suggestions on what to look for when buying surf wetsuits.

First of all, a surfer will surf almost anywhere, so if you’re the type who surfs anywhere and in any weather, you must be careful in finding a specific type of wetsuit that would be ideal for you.

A full wetsuit would be nice for cold weather, but it will probably be too warm for sitting on the water under the hot summer sun. Then again, a shortie would probably be just a little better than your board shorts at keeping you warm.

What you need is a wetsuit that is versatile enough to keep you warm in the cold water and still be comfortable under a hot sun. This limits your choices to only 2 types: the springsuit and the long john.

Personally, the preferred type would be the long john because of its cut-off arms, but you just might find a good springsuit that would offer you the right amount of flexibility around the shoulders and arms. That suit could offer better UV protection than the long john, but it’s just a matter of preference. However, with either one, you can simply put on a rash vest or wet suit jacket if it gets too cold. On not so cold days, you can leave the vest or jacket in the beach while you go surfing in your new suit.

Remember to get one with reinforced knees (and elbows if your wetsuit has sleeves) if you want it to last. That’s where surf wetsuits wear out from rubbing on your surfboard. A good buy would be the type with Kevlar reinforced knees.

While zippers are great for getting in and out of your suit, be sure that your suit has no zippers in front, because wax will get in there and ruin the zipper. It can also get very uncomfortable lying on your surfboard with a huge zipper digging into your chest.
Having bat flaps or drain holes for the zipper is a great idea. They keep cold water from seeping in through the zipper and stealing precious warmth from your body.

Good surf wetsuits have to have double polyester or nylon lining for added durability. You don’t need to swim fast, so you wouldn’t need the added hydrodynamics. You will however need the added strength when you bump and scrape against your board.

Liquid tape sealant seals up the stitching holes and joints to keep water out. You will find that water will seep through the stitches otherwise.

If you can’t afford the type with liquid tape, get one with blind stitching so the holes are only on one side of the material.

And last of all, find one that fits your size and with the right thickness. If you get one that’s too tight, the wetsuit could restrict your movement and give you wetsuit rash. If it’s too loose, water will get in through the neck and flush out the warm water that keeps you warm. You probably wouldn’t need a 5/3 wintersuit, while a 4/3 long john’s lack of sleeves would just defeat the purpose of the thick neoprene. Just stick with the 3/2 so you don’t have to shell out the extra bucks for something you don’t really need unless you’re planning to do some surfing in the winter.

So there you have it – 8 things to remember when you’re going to buy a surf wetsuit. Whether you’re buying it for yourself or several surf wetsuits for your kids, try to remember these things and you won’t go wrong much.