How To Choose The Right Size Wetsuit

From beginner to avid water sport enthusiast, a quality wetsuit is a must! That goes for shorty wetsuits and full wetsuits. The effectiveness of a wetsuit largely comes down to how well it fits. However, figuring out what size you need can be quite difficult. The main purpose of a wetsuit is to ensure warmth and comfort when in the water, so it really is important to choose the right size.

In the hopes of making your wetsuit shopping that little bit easier, we have detailed below the key points to note when looking for the perfect fitting wetsuit.

1. How Do Wetsuits Work?

To get technical, neoprene wetsuits are designed to trap water between your skin and the inside layer of the fabric. Naturally, body heat warms up the trapped layer of water keeping you at a comfortable temperature. If a wetsuit is too tight, the layer of water will not be able to enter the wetsuit, equally if the wetsuit is too big water will be flowing in and out of the wetsuit unable to get warm. Wetsuits are particularly essential for activities such as open water swimming during the winter months!

2. How Should A Wetsuit Fit And Feel?

Generally requiring a bit of effort to get into and essentially feeling like a second skin, a wetsuit should be tight yet comfortable. Due to the tight-fitting nature of a wetsuit, it can take a while to put on but that tends to mean that it is fitting properly. However, if it feels uncomfortable once it is on, then it is possibly too tight. On the other hand, your wetsuit may be too big if you notice bubbles, folding or if it fills with too much water. Getting the balance right can be tricky!

From swimming wetsuits to paddleboard and surfing, as a guideline a wetsuit should not prevent your range of movement. Equally, avoiding slack areas around the neck, ankles and wrists will prevent the thin layer of water from being replaced by new, colder water.

3. Wetsuits For Men

Furthermore, wetsuits tend to be cut differently between genders due to the differences in body shapes. In other words, men’s wetsuits are designed with slightly more room around the shoulders and generally sized as Small, Medium, Large etc. However, it is helpful to follow the approximate measurements provided on the brand size charts.

4. Wetsuits For Women

In contrast, women’s wetsuits tend to be slightly wider at the hips and chest. As a matter of fact, women’s wetsuit sizing tends to mirror women’s dress sizes, keeping in mind that sizing often varies between brands so it is important to compare your measurements to the size charts for each brand. For instance, Zone3 wetsuits offer an easy to follow size guide.

To sum up, choosing the right size and fitting wetsuit is no easy task. But finding the right one will only enhance your water sport experience! Make use of the size guides provided by brands and remember, tight enough to lock in that thin layer of water but not too tight so that it is uncomfortable.