The complete wetsuits buying guide

I want to start from the beginning here, so anyone can use this guide. So I will start with the most basic question I can think of :) - 

What is a wetsuit?

Wetsuit is a insultaion suit that is made out of neoprene and is used in water sports. It keeps you warm and it offers some protecton. Wetuits were invented about 50 years ago by a few people at about the same time. Jack O'Neill is mostly credited to be the first one to produce a wetsuit. Those old wetsuits were of course nowhere near the wetsuits that we have today (but we still have O'Neill wetsuits :)!). Next you want to know what kind of wetsuits are there?

WETSUIT MODELS
There are many different wetsuit models. They are divided by the thickenss of the neoprene and by how much of your body do they cover. Lets list them: 

- rashguard - this is more like a t-shirt for protection against sun. It's not made out of neoprene so I can not really call it a wetsuit...
- wetsuit top - it is made out of neoprene and it looks the same as rashguar, this one is for summer surfing
- shorty wetsuit is also mean for summer. It is called shorty because it has short legs and arms.
- spring wetsuit is a bit thicker than a shorty and has either long arms or long legs. And then you have a full range of
- full suits or full wetsuits. These will covers your whole body and can be found in many different thicknesses. You will find numbers like 3/2, 4/3, 5/4/3 etc.. on them. 

What do 3/2, 4/3 etc... numbes on wetsuits mean?
For instance 4/3 means 4 millimeters and 3 millimeters. This means that this wetsuit is amde out of two neoprene sheets of different thickness. Logically - thicker is warmer. Once you surf in really cold water you will also need wetsuit boots, wetsuit gloves and wetsuit hood.

How does a wetsuit keep you warm?
Wetsuit catches a thin layer of water between your body and the neoprene. This water becomes warm since your body radiates heat and you feel warm. Wetsuit is also an insulation against the cold. The neoprene used in wetsuits has lots of small bubbles that act as great insulators. Beter neoprene has more bubbles and is therefore warmer. Also as I said - thicker neoprene more insulation warmer wetsuit. If you want to know what kind of wetsuit do you need for certain water temperature then you should read this water temperature and wetsuit thickness guide and chart. While you are at it also check their wetsuit guide. I think it is the most detailed wetsuit guide that you can find online.

What makes a good wetsuit?
When you are buying a wetsuit you need to consider the following things. Ask the salesperson:
- how good is the neoprene, how warm it is and how stretcy?
- what about the seams, are they waterproof?
- is there some aditional insulation inside the wetsuits?

other things are really not that important.

So, to keep warm you need that thin warm layer of water in your wetsuit. But you do not want new cold water constantly flushing the inside of your wetsuit. The first thing here is - make sure that your wetsuit fits - that you have the right wetsuit size. If it is to big, the water will get in easier. But even if it's the right size water can come into the wetsuit through
- stitches,
- zipper.


Wetsuit zipper is not watertight. There are a few solutions here - shorter zippers and specially shaped teeth in the zipper. Then there is also a thin neoprene membrane under the zipper called bat wing (other names also exist...) that stops stops the water that comes through the zipper. Every wetsuit brand also has a zipperless wetsuit model (or models). These are actually better but they don't last that long since they get stretched out faster.

Wetsuit stitches
From worst to best:

Over lock stitch
Flat lock stitch 
Blind stitch (needle never penetrates the neoprene - no holes)

Liquid taped stitches - these are the best, usually you begin with blidstitch and then seal it with liquid rubber This makes the seams 100% waterproof. 

Other wetsuits features and expressions that you need to know are:
- single lined/double lined neoprene - neoprene is lined with nylon. Single lined only on one side, double lined on both. A lined neoprene is more durable, neprene without lining is smoother and it better repels water and wind. Windsurfers use it a lot. Single lined neoprene also has names like mesh skin, smooth skin etc.

- titanium - if wetsuit is lined with titanium (between neoprene and nylon lining) it will reflect your body heat back into the wetsuit.

- aditional insultaing fabric, fibers - todays modern fabrics can be made out of hollow fibres that have great insulation capabilities. Some winter neoprenes have this on the inside. This is called aero core, fire skin etc.

- stretchy neoprene - if neoprene is more flexible, it will put less strain on your muscles, it will be much more comfortable etc. This is a really cool thing. Wetsuits are getting stretchier every year! 

- reinforced knees, key pocket... - here just choose what suits you, it's not that important.


I think that I covered most of the things that you need to know before you buy a new wetsuit. If you still have some questions you can ask in the comments. Cheers!