Alright, so you’ve figured out what surfboard to use and have an understanding of how to stay safe in the water, if not go back and read the first 2 articles. In this article I’m going to help you finalize your last piece of gear (if needed), the all important wetsuit.
So if you are anything like me, you’ve probably started to research wetsuits and quickly realized there are soooo many options! It can be extremely overwhelming to know what to choose, so I’m going to spend a few minutes just breaking down what the wetsuit is and what you should be looking for.
The most important feature of a wetsuit is the neoprene thickness, which will relate to the temperature range that the wetsuit is really rated for. The thickness is measured in millimeters and is usually two numbers such as a 3/2 or a 4/3
The first number refers to the thickness in the torso area.
The second number refers to the thickness in the arms/legs.
So the first and most important step is to figure out what thickness you need for most of the year. The thickness of wetsuit is going to 100% depend on where you live and what the water temperature is like for the given season. So do a quick google search and figure out what the water temperature is like around you in both the summer and winter seasons. Once you have an idea on the average temperature for winter and summer, find a temperature guide online for wetsuits and line up with what your local water temperature is.
So for example, I’m going to look up San Diego and I’m going to use the Xcel wetsuit temperature guide as an example.
So the water is 60 degrees(ish) in the winter and high 60s in the summer so that puts me at about a 3/2 fullsuit in the winter and springsuit in the summer. And that’s actually what I use. I have a new Rip Curl No Zip 3/2 full suit that I wear when it’s low 60’s, when it’s a bit warmer I wear an older 3/2 suit that I have (wetsuits lose some of their warmness as they get older) In the summer I wear a springsuit. I personally like the springsuit more than boardshorts and a rashguard, but everyone is different.
After you figure out the thickness, the rest is going to be all personal preference. Before you start hitting up surf shops to pick out a suit, pick a price range you are comfortable with and use that as a guide as for shopping. Your first wetsuit doesn’t need to be amazing, you don’t want to drop $500 if you don’t know for sure that you’re going to stick with it. You can find an entry level 3/2 fullsuit for $100 – $125 and this will be absolutely good enough for starting out. You could definitely go the used route, but I prefer to buy new because you don’t know how well the wetsuit was taken care of (or how many times somebody pee’d in it)
So you’ve got your thickness and price point. Now it’s time to go try on some suits.
Wetsuits have sizes just like clothes, and most of the wetsuit manufacturers have size charts. So let’s use Xcel’s size guide as an example. It goes by height and weight, so for me I’m about 5’10”, 150 pounds which puts me at either a Medium Short or a Medium.
For women and kids, the sizes are numerical. So figure out your size based on a few different charts, and then from there you can size up or down once you get a feel for the suit.
Pro Tip – bring a plastic bag with you so that it’s easier for you to slide your feet into the suit. If you haven’t put on a wetsuit before, it can be a bit challenging – so don’t be afraid to ask for help or check out my video where I demonstrate how to put on a wetsuit.
You want it to be snug so that you stay warm, but it should still allow for movement in the arms and legs. The wetsuit works by actually holding a really thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene. Your body heats this water up and keeps your warm. If the suit is too loose, this will be constantly flushed and you’ll get cold. So make sure it’s tight but not so tight that you feel like you can’t move or breathe.
There are several different types – back zip, chest zip, no zip, full suits, short sleeves, short legs, etc. Again, this is all personal preference, but will mostly depend on your price point and also the water temperature around you. Just go try some on, figure out what type of suit you like and what suit is easiest to get on and off. Try different brands – I can’t stress this enough, not all brands are equal in terms of fit, so try a few different brands and see which one fits your body type the best.
If you can’t decide on a brand, do a little research on the company and what types of warranty they offer on a new wetsuit. I personally stick with Rip Curl. I like the way the suits fit me, they have a great warranty on new suits, and I have local shops around me that will send my suit in for repair if I need it.
If you need suggestions, I’ve linked a few of my favorite entry/mid level suits below. Don’t stress out too much about this decision, whatever you pick will be great for your first suit. If you have any questions or comments about choosing a wetsuit, feel free to leave a comment on my YouTube video or shoot me an email. In the next article, we’ll get started with one of the key fundamentals in surfing – paddling!
Men’s Fullsuits
Men’s Rip Curl Dawn Patrol Chest Zip 3/2 Full Wetsuit
Men’s Rip Curl Dawn Patrol Back Zip 3/2 Full Wetsuit
Men’s Quiksilver Syncro Series Back Zip 3/2 Full Wetsuit
Men’s Billabong Furnace Absolute Comp Series Back Zip 3/2 Full Wetsuit
Men’s Springsuits
Men’s Rip Curl Aggro Long Sleeve 2mm Chest Zip Springsuit
Men’s Rip Curl Aggrolite Short Sleeve Back Zip Springsuit
Men’s Billabong Foil Short Sleeve 2mm Back Zip Springsuit
Women’s Fullsuits
Women’s Rip Curl Dawn Patrol Back Zip 3/2 Full Wetsuit
Women’s Billabong Furnace Synergy Back Zip 3/2 Full Wetsuit
Women’s Roxy Syncro Back Zip 3/2 Full Wetsuit
Women’s Springsuits
Women’s Rip Curl G Bomb Sleeveless Bikini Springsuit
Women’s Roxy Syncro Series Back Zip 2/2 Springsuit