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Wetsuits

If you want to surf year round and live where it gets cold you’re going to need a wetsuit. Ones made by O’Neill, Rip Curl, Billabong, Xcel, and Body Glove are specifically made for surfing and offer the best value, comfort and warmth.

You can’t effectively use a suit designed for diving as it isn’t really flexible enough for surfing. But before you buy a wetsuit, it’s important to understand the relationship between thickness and water temperature. This measurement, designated in millimeters, equates to how thick certain panels, or sections, of the suit are. For example a 3/2 full suit is 3mm thick in the body and 2mm in the extremities (arms and legs). This type is the best choice for water temperatures above 60 degrees F. For water colder that that you should opt for a suit of at least 4mm with an attached hood. Keep in mind that thickness equates to warmth and it’s always better to be warmer than colder so lean to the thick side when choosing a wetsuit.

The most significant consideration when buying a wetsuit for a cold water climate is “does it have sealed seams?” Although this is less important in thinner suits designed for warmer water; it's a must for any suit of 3/2mm or thicker. When it gets cold you want to retain as much body heat as possible and unsealed seams allow water to flow in and out freely which robs you of it. To verify the suit has sealed seems look at it on the inside and verify that there is rubber, neoprene or both covering the areas where panels meet.

The fit of the suit is especially important when considering comfort and functionality, and this is why a divers suit won't really work for surfing. They aren't designed to closely fit the contour of the body like suits made specifically for surfing. Nothing is worse than having one that is too lose because it allows the material to bunch up in areas that you don't want. Your suit should have a snug fit, but not so tight that it constricts your movement or breathing. It's a real hassle to try on a suit, but it's always a good idea to ensure it fits right before making a purchase. Just remember, if it's a little snug it's cool, because all suits get slightly bigger when they take on water. If your trying one on and it feels a bit snug, but not tight, it should be fine once you get it in the water.

Wetsuits range in price from about $50 to almost of $500. What determines the price is thickness more than anything, but neoprene technology is still developing, so each year the prices go up a little for new styles and materials. To save a few bucks, look to last year’s model. It will work fine and you can save yourself some coin.