If you already have it, here we leave you some recommendations on how to care for your suit neoprene, but if not, we'll start from the beginning.
What is a wetsuit?
This is the first step to know what we are referring to. It is an invention that began to be marketed back in the '60s made of a synthetic rubber formed by infinite bubbles of nitrogen, a gas that allows high buoyancy and serves as an excellent insulator.
Thanks to this suit you can stay in the water for several hours even when the water temperatures are not at all pleasant. Many people tend to believe that water doesn't get in with a suit, but this is not true. What happens is that depending on its quality, its seams or zippers may enter more or less (with the latest advances almost nothing enters), but that water is heated almost immediately thanks to body heat strong> and it remains that way for as long as we are in the water.
Remember that the neoprene suit has to be completely tight to your body but, yes, it must allow you correct mobility. It is very important that it does not put too much pressure on your neck, arms and chest.
Types of wetsuits
Fundamentally they are classified depending on the temperature of the water. What facilitated its creation is that you can practice any type of water sport such as surfing, diving, windsurfing or kiteboarding at any time of the year, thus avoiding the seasonality that characterizes these sports.
You can find long suits, short suits, long-leg and short-sleeved suits or vice versa, with knee reinforcements, with reflectors in case the activity is carried out at night, with a hood... And above all, with different thicknesses.
Choose the thickness of the wetsuit
The thicker it is, the more it will protect you from the cold but yes, the less mobility you will have, since it loses elasticity. For example, a 3 mm thick neoprene usually has it on the chest, back and legs and is 2 mm on the arms so that you can paddle more agilely (what is commonly known as a 3/2).
The thickness of the suits goes from 2 mm to 7 mm in this order and following the previous explanation of body and legs first and arms second: 2 mm, 3/2 mm, 4/3 mm, 5/4 mm, 6/5 mm and 7 mm.
Depending on the temperature of the water and how cold you are, you can follow this indicative list:
- Polar waters: dry suit
- 5ºC or less: 6/5 mm with booties and neoprene cap. Some people use gloves too.
- 6ºC to 8ºC: 5/4 mm with booties and neoprene cap. You can opt for gloves.
- 8ºC to 10ªC: 4/3 mm and booties
- 11ºC to 14ºC: 3/2 mm with booties
- 15ºC to 17ªC: 3/2 mm
- 18ºC to 21ºC: 2 mm short suit
- 21ºC to 23ºC: approximately 1 mm neoprene bib overalls and swimsuit
- 23ºC or more: lycra t-shirt and swimsuit
Type of seams and zippers of the wetsuit
Great issue to take into account, since it will depend on whether more or less water can sneak into the suit. The ideal is that it does not have zippers, the kind that you have to put on through the opening at the top (neck), but it is somewhat more uncomfortable than those that have a zipper up to the middle of the back or the entire back.
It is essential that all seams are well sealed to prevent water from entering the neoprene.
How to choose the size of the wetsuit
Above all and the fundamental thing is that you feel comfortable with it, that it allows you mobility, that it is easy for you to put it on and take it off... and that it is like your second skin. It needs to be completely tight and without any type of wrinkle or fold. Therefore, do not despair if the first or second one you try on does not suit you. Keep in mind that in the water you will need to feel comfortable and that you will spend many hours fighting with the waves.
We must control the height and shape of the body, since each of us is different. Each brand has its established measurements, but in both sexes you have to measure the chest, waist and pelvis.
Neoprene accessories
Depending on how cold you are, you will need them to a greater or lesser extent. You have socks for your feet, gloves for your hands, a hat and overalls for your body. For many, booties make them lose sensations on the board, but they are an excellent ally against corals, rocks or scorpion fish.
Flickr and Billabong Photographs
