How does a wetsuit  work?

...by trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the wetsuit: This layer warms using your body heat. The temperature it reaches and how long this is maintained will be higher and longer with a thicker suit that has Glued and Blindstitched seams which are also Liquid Sealed, and with a zip Back-up System.

Choosing the correct style of wetsuit:

If you plan to go into UK waters throughout the year, ideally you need three suits.

• Winter one-piece
• Summer 3mm one-piece
• Summer 3mm shorty

Why have more than one wetsuit?
The priority is to remain warm,flexible and safe: You need to wear a suit of the appropriate thickness and style for the prevailing sea and air temperatures and conditions...A thinner suit will be far more flexible and you will therefore use less energy 'fighting' the thickness of the material, but it won't keep you as warm as a thicker suit.

 

Why buy a more expensive wetsuit?
The more you pay for a suit the greater the warmth and flexibility that suit will provide. This will  allow you to stay in the water longer and use less energy.

 

 

 

Winter Wetsuit/One Piece Wetsuit (often called a Winter Steamer or Winter Full Suit). This style of suit always has long arms and legs. Typically it is made with a 5 mm thick body/torso with 4mm and 3mm arms and legs to boost flexibility.

 

The warmth of a suit can be increased with the use of a hooded or non hooded Thermal Vest. You'll need this style of suit when water temperatures are below about 12 deg c, however, low day/night air temperatures and wind chill may force you to use this suit on  days when the sea temperature is higher than 12deg c.

 

In some parts of Northern Europe and The UK - such as Northern Ireland, Scotland, Northern Wales and Northern England many people use a Winter Suit even in the summer due to the lower water temperatures. Equally if you can only afford one suit to use all year, then you'll have to buy a winter suit first.

Winter wetsuits are also much more flexible than they used to be. You'll need gloves or mitts, boots and hood / hooded vest for the winter too.

 

 

Summer Wetsuit/One Piece Wetsuit - 3/2 mm one piece (often called a Summer Steamer or Summer Full Suit). Usually this suit will have 2mm arms and legs. This suit has long arms and legs.There are two versions:

 

a)Standard model with flatlock seams.

b)Warmest version with blindstitched seams and/or liquidseam seals.

 

Summer Shorty Wetsuit - Usually 3/2mm or 2/1mm thick. It has short arms and legs and is used on the warmest UK summer days when the water temperature is at least 18c.

 

 

 

Seams :

 

Flatlock Seams: The standard type of seams used in summer suits.They are not waterproof and therefore suits using this type of seam are less warm than GBS seam suits.

 

Glued and Blindstitched (GBS): Seams are used in all winter suits and the best summer suits.They help minimise the  transfer of cold sea water with the warmer water inside the suit.

 

Glued and Blindstitched Seams (GBS) in summer suits: This substantially increases the warmth of these suits ,typically increasing the  range of use of the suit by about 2 months. In the South Of The UK they may be used from about May to the end of October inclusive.Whereas a standard Flatlock seam suit would be typically worn from June to September inclusive. This could mean that you might just need one suit rather than two for all your watersports requirements if you don't go out in the winter.

 

Liquidseam Seals: These provide additional waterproofing on top of the glued and blindstitched
seams to ensure that those seams are 100% waterproof.The top of the range winter and summer suits have  Liquid Seams and are therefore warmer.

 

 

Other important features:

 

Back-Up Systems: These are fitted behind the zip to eliminate 'water flush' and therefore keep the suit warmer.It is fitted in the best suits.

 

Neoprene Flexibilty - The most flexible material is used in the best suits to extend your sport time and maximise your performance.

 

 

 

 

 Accessories:

 

Gloves: Essential for winter use to stop your hands becoming numb: Measure from bottom edge of palm to the tip of your middle (longest) finger.

Gloves (Junior)

Gloves (Adult)

Small - 171mm

Medium - 182mm

Large - 192mm

Extra Large - 204mm

 

 

Wetsuit Boots & Slippers:

 

Boots also are essential for the winter, and boots or slippers are recommended for summer use too: Not only do they provide warmth, but also protect from sharp objects and give improved grip. Go for your shoe size!

 

Rashguards and Thermal Vests:

Rashguards/Lycra Vests don't provide extra warmth, but do help prevent a suit from rubbing on the neck and underarms.

Thermal Vests do the same job as a Rashguard, but also keep you warmer and can be either hooded or not. They can be used  beneath summer or winter suits, and are usually made of neoprene (synthetic rubber) or polypropylene.

 

Thickness of Suits/Accessories

The thicker the material, the warmer is the suit/accessory. The down side is that thicker material is more expensive and has reduced flexibility.

 

 

 

Wetsuit Sizing:

 

- You MUST get someone else to measure you accurately

- Re-measure again to be sure

- Use a flexible tailors style tape measure and not a metal version

 

 

 

Mens and Ladies Wetsuit 

Chest - With your hands on your hips measure the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape measure parallel with the floor.

Waist -Without breathing in, pass the tape measure around your natural waistline.

Hips -Measure the fullest part of your hips ,keeping the tape measure parallel with the floor.

 

If you measure inaccurately you might end up with the wrong size suit, so BE ACCURATE. Check your measurements against the manufacturer's size chart below to arrive at the size of their suit you need.

 

 WETSUIT SIZING

RASH AND THERMAL VEST / GUARD SIZING