A wetsuit is as essential piece of kit for any water sports enthusiast, helping to keep you warm, comfortable and protected from the elements while you’re enjoying your chosen activity, whether that’s surfing, sailing, paddleboarding or wild swimming. And, depending on where you are in the world and/or what time of the year it is, your wetsuit can also extend the time you can spend on, in or under the water.
Wetsuits are designed on the principal that your body is the best source of heat. They’re made from closed cell foam material, like neoprene, which is filled with thousands of tiny gas bubbles trapped within the structure.
As layers of clothing work by trapping air against your skin and between the layers, a wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the suit. This veneer of water is then heated by your body temperature as heat flows from hotter objects to colder ones – this is a basic rule of physics, as the universe loves equilibrium!
It’s important that a wetsuit should fit quite snuggly (but not too tightly) to prevent water ‘flushing’ through the suit as this will carry heat away rather than keeping it trapped, increasing heat loss from your body and you feeling the cold sooner than you should.
There are many different wetsuits on the market, to suit all budgets and activities, but it’s the suitability for the activity you’re doing that should be the key deciding factor in your purchase decision.
Let’s take dinghy sailing as an example. You’re constantly moving when tacking, gybing or hauling up the spinnaker so you need a suit that allows for manoeuvrability and flexibility as well as warmth and protection from the elements. Ideally, if you’re wearing a wetsuit for sailing, a little reinforcement in areas prone to wear and tear, such as the knees and seat, is also advisable.
Watersports are fun, but getting cold is not, so our advice is always to go for the best wetsuit you can afford, for the activity you’re doing and make sure it fits properly!