GUL WETSUITS | BILLABONG WETSUITS | BODY GLOVE WETSUITS | QUIKSILVER WETSUITS | SWARM WETSUITS
WETSUIT SIZING AND BUYERS GUIDE
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 wetsuit one-piece
* Summer 3mm shorty wetsuit
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 wetsuit 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. Hence the terms 5mm wetsuit , or 5/3 wetsuit.
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 wetsuit 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 wetsuit 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 wetsuit or one piece (often called a Summer Steamer or Summer Full Suit). Usually this wetsuit 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 wetsuits and the best summer wetsuits.They help minimise the transfer of cold sea water with the warmer water inside the wetsuit.
Glued and Blindstitched Seams (GBS) in summer wetsuits: 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 wetsuit warmer.It is fitted in the best wetsuits.
Neoprene Flexibilty – The most flexible material is used in the best wetsuits 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 WetSuits / 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 Wetsuits and Ladies Wetsuits:
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.
GUL SIZE CHARTS | Back To Top
MENS
LADIES
JUNIOR
ACCESSORIES
BILLABONG SIZE CHARTS | Back To Top
Billabong Size Chart (2011)
BODY GLOVE SIZE CHARTS | Back To Top
QUIKSILVER SIZE CHARTS | Back To Top
SWARM SIZE CHARTS | Back To Top
DISCLAIMER:
The above information regarding ‘Choosing the correct style of wetsuit‘ is a guide only and therefore ocean24seven cannot be held liable for the incorrect choice of suit for an individual.
