When it comes to knowing how to choose a wetsuit for surfing, we must take into account various factors such as water and outside temperature, the brand of the product or how many times we are going to use it. In Surfintrip we will ride the waves of this topic and tell you the key factors of choosing your next wetsuit.
How to choose a wetsuit for surfing:
- Size: This part is essential. If it’s too small for you, it will be difficult to put it on and at the same time it will make it difficult for you to move in the water. Conversely, if it is too large, water will enter in and contact chafing may occur. All the brands provide size chart that will help you understand how to choose the right wetsuit for your height and weight.
- Try on: This advice may seem like the most obvious in the world, but it’s very important when you’re buying a wetsuit. Each brand is different and each of these has its own fit, so you need to find the one that suits you best.
- Comfort: When you’re choosing your wetsuit, keep in mind that you might spend all day with it. You may even like it aesthetically fine when you try it on, but if it’s not comfortable, don’t buy it. When it comes to getting into the water, it can become a nightmare.
- Wetsuit thickness: it is measured in millimeters and usually represented by two numbers separated by a slash (for example 3/2 mm). The former refers to the thickness in the torso area and the latter to the thickness in the legs area. When it comes to knowing how to choose a wetsuit for surfing, you have to take into account that the thicker it is, the less flexible it will be. The choice of the thickness of the wetsuit depends on the water and air temperature of the place where you’re going to surf.
- Price: the cost of wetsuits varies according to the materials, thickness and model of the product. All brands offer at least three lines of wetsuits, from the cheapest to the most performing (and therefore more expensive). Our advice is to opt for the mid-range line as it represents the best compromise in terms of product quality and durability.
How to choose a wetsuit for surfing: short, long or hooded?
The answer depends on the place where we practice our favourite sport. Let’s talk about the 5 most known types:
- Short or “Shorty”: it is a short-sleeved short-leg wetsuit ideal for warm waters. From the Surfintrip team we recommend them for hot places when the temperature fluctuates between 21° and 24°, as it provides a minimum amount of heat, but at the same time works very well in order to protect you from the sun.
- Long-sleeved shorts or “Spring suit”: it is a wetsuit with long-sleeves and short-legs and normally has a thickness of 2 mm. It is recommended when the water temperature is higher than the air temperature, for example during the early autumn in Spain.
- Long with short sleeves or “Spring suit”: it is a long suit with short sleeves that offers freedom of movement when paddling. It can be used when the outside temperature starts to rise and the water is still cold, for example in spring. The most common model has a thickness of 2 mm.
- Full Coverage or “Full Suit”: This is the most common wetsuit for surfing. It provides more warmth (always depending on thickness) and offers us a total sun protection. The most used models have a thickness of 3/2 mm or 4/3 mm.
- Hooded full wetsuit: Recommended for very cold waters where, depending on how much cold is the water and air, it is also necessary to use boots and gloves.
Wetsuit production
The wetsuit is a synthetic rubber (rubber) invented in the 1930s and known for its versatility. The great advantages of this material are its lightness, flexibility and resistance to bad weather.
Wetsuits have been produced in different ways throughout history, from petroleum to natural rubber, through processes with limestone.
The future of wetsuits is linked to the reduction of the use of petroleum-derived products. Some brands have already tried to make equipment from recycled tire remains to reduce their carbon footprint, which certainly seems like a sensational idea to us.
When it comes to choosing a wetsuit for surfing we have to take into account all these variables, do you already know what yours should be like? If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us and if you haven’t already done it, book a surf course in Fuerteventura with surfintrip.com to improve your surfing or start from scratch. We’re waiting for you!
