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How to Buy a Wetsuit
Lauren Belt January 27th, 2016 Posted In: How-To Tags: Kayak, SCUBA, SUP, Surfing, Triathlon
How to Buy a Wetsuit for Your Sport of Choice
How to Buy a Wetsuit
Want to know how to buy a wetsuit? We’ve put together a wetsuit guide in order to make wetsuit buying a little less overwhelming!
First off, you’ll see a thickness at the beginning of a product (i.e. 3/2mm or 5/4/3mm). Wetsuit thickness is described in millimeters (mm) and the number is the thickness of the wetsuit material called neoprene.
The thicker the wetsuit, the more insulation it provides. However as the thickness increases, the heavier and more restrictive the wetsuit becomes. Hence, a 3/2mm wetsuit will give you much more range and flexibility compared to a 5/4/3mm wetsuit.
Every wetsuit also features a seam construction. This includes: Flatlock, Sealed, Sealed & Taped, and even Stitchless.
Flatlock:
Flatlock seams are great for warm water temps (65°F & up) as they do allow a thin layer of water to enter the wetsuit. The interior and exterior seams look like railroad tracks, but the interior is flat and comfortable against the skin.
Sealed (Glued & Blindstitched):
Sealed seams are great for cold water temps (55°F & up)! The exterior seam looks similar to flatlock but is narrower in width and the interior seam often has a glue line along the seam. Very little water will seep through these seams.
Sealed & Liquid Taped (Glued Blindstitched & Taped):
Sealed & Taped seams are great for very cold water temps (55°F & below). These seams have the same construction as sealed seams but there’s taping along either the interior seam or exterior seam (or sometimes on both sides.) This taping reinforces seams and prevents water from seeping through.
Stitchless:
Stitchless seams are featured in some super high-end wetsuits. The panels of neoprene are fused and glued together instead of the neoprene panels being pierced. This creates a lighter, flexible, and more durable seam.
With all of this in mind, here’s handy wetsuit guide to ease the guessing of what wetsuit you need:
Switch to Celsius
| 40°+ | 48°+ | 52°+ | 58°+ | 60°+ | 65°+ | 72°+ | 80°+ | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Watersports (Surf, Wake, Kite, Etc.) | 6/5/4mm Sealed | 5/4/3mm Sealed | 4/3mm Sealed & Taped | 4/3mm Sealed | 3/2mm Sealed | 3/2mm Flatlock |
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| SCUBA |
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| Triathlon & Lap Swimming | 5/3mm Full | 5/3mm John | Neoprene Vest | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kayak & Paddle | 5/4/3mm Sealed | 4/3mm Sealed | 3/2mm Sealed | 3/2mm Flatlock | Neoprene Top | Neoprene Vest | Rash Guard | |||||||||||||||
| General Watersports (Surf, Wake, Kite, Etc.) | SCUBA | Triathlon & Lap Swimming | Kayak & Paddle | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40°+ | 6/5/4mm Sealed |
| 5/3mm Full | 5/4/3mm Sealed | ||||
| 48°+ | 5/4/3mm Sealed | 4/3mm Sealed | ||||||
| 52°+ | 4/3mm Sealed & Taped |
| 3/2mm Sealed | |||||
| 58°+ | 4/3mm Sealed |
| 5/3mm John | 3/2mm Flatlock | ||||
| 60°+ | 3/2mm Sealed |
| Neoprene Top | |||||
| 65°+ | 3/2mm Flatlock |
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| 72°+ |
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| Neoprene Vest | |||||
| 80°+ |
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| Neoprene Vest | Rash Guard |
Neoprene Types:
The grade (or type) of neoprene used for a wetsuit also affects the feel and performance. Most suits today are made of super stretch neoprene for a better fit and flexibility. Neoprene types can be broken down into Standard, Good, Great, and Superior.
Standard is your least stretchy type of neoprene but is still durable and affordable. These suits are great for general water and rental use as well as industrial applications.
Good has more flexibility than standard and the super stretch neoprene is in flex areas like the shoulders and underarms. These suits are great for entry-level performance water sports and for wetsuit users who don’t want to break the bank!
Great has super stretch neoprene throughout the entire suit thus creating a better fit and performance. You can wear these suits a couple of times a week or more!
Superior suits are made of the highest grade of super-stretch neoprene throughout the entire suit and have a higher price range. Great for serious water sport enthusiasts and pros!
Then there’s the inner lining of a wetsuit. This can increase the insulation as well as the cost of a wetsuit. Most wetsuits now use poly fleece as the lining. The poly fleece is a microfiber that helps wick water away from your skin and effectively keeps you drier faster.
Still unsure or feel overwhelmed on how to buy a wetsuit? We get it and that’s why we’re here for you! Call us at 866-906-7848, email us at service@wetsuitwearhouse.com, or hit us up on live chat!
Lauren Belt
Merchandiser at Wetsuit Wearhouse
Lauren (LoLo) has been picking out the latest and greatest wetsuits and being the social media queen for Wetsuit Wearhouse since 2014. She learned to surf for the first time ever in Costa Rica but she gravitates more towards SUP. When she's not scouring the web for travel deals, you can find her either hiking, running, practicing yoga, studying holistic nutrition or reading a good book outside on a beautiful day.
Latest posts by Lauren Belt (see all)
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- Sustainable Tips for the Ocean - September 3, 2019
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I snorkel in water as low as 60 degrees but not below. A Henderson shorty (medium) I have fits well except for hips and thighs where it is loose. I’m 5’11+ and 137 lbs. No butt and toothpick legs. Any suggestions for 60 degrees?
Hey John,
We think you would be a great candidate for a custom wetsuit! It will be made exactly to your measurements and certainly give you the best wetsuit fit you’ve ever had: https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/custom-wetsuits.html. If you do want to try something off the rack, you will likely have the most success with something that is made of high-end stretch material for the best possible fit. Take a look at some options here and filter for the size MT: https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/mens-springsuit-wetsuits.html. That would likely be the best size for you for an off-the-rack suit.
Hope that helps and feel free to reach out to our team either via live chat, email (service@wetsuitwearhouse.com) or call 866-906-7848.
Thanks!
My daughter is looking for an ocean wetsuit, cold water. She bought one at the local surf shop. Unfortunately, her behind and thighs are larger than the top part. So she has floppy suit parts on the top but the legs are snug. Any ideas?
Hey Janet,
The two most important measurements to first go off of when finding the right wetsuit size are the chest and height. Have your daughter measure her chest (not go off of her bra size) first, then her height. Also, she should look into getting a 100% stretch neoprene wetsuit, as it will help with her lower body. Let us know if we can do anything else to help because we are happy to. Thank you!
Hi Luaren,
I’m looking for a wetsuit for surfing off the Cali coast north of San Fran. Water temps about ~52°f water temp. Any suggestions to which wetsuit I should buy?
Hey Matt,
Based off of those water temps, you should definitely look into getting a 4/3mm GBS fullsuit! We have a great selection of styles/brands/colors here: https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/mens-fullsuits-43.html. If your hands or feet get chilly too (which they probably will in those water temps), you might want to consider gloves, a hood and/or booties: https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/boots-gloves-hoods.html. If you need help making a decision on sizing or accessories, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team either via live chat, email (service@wetsuitwearhouse.com) or call 866-906-7848 Monday to Friday 9AM – 5PM EST. Thank you!
Hi Lauren,
I sail a small inflatable catamaran (Minicat 410) on the Potomac River in Washington DC. Though the boat is open and low down, I hardly get wet, but there is always the risk of capsizing, and so I usually wait until the water temp is at least 65F. I’m thinking of getting a wetsuit so that I can start sailing earlier in the season, when the water is still around 50F. I’d like something that won’t be constricting as I sail, and will protect me from cold shock if I capsize (in which case I’ll be in the water for a few minutes until I right the boat), but which also doesn’t take long to put on and take off (because the boat itself takes quite a bit of time to assemble). What would you suggest?
Thanks!
Hey Andrew,
Sounds like you can just get away with a general full wetsuit. I’d say to do layering pieces but those water temps are chilly, so a fullsuit is your best bet for protection and warmth. For 50 degrees F and up waters, check out our 4/3mm fullsuit selection: https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/mens-fullsuits-43.html. And when the waters get above 65 degrees F, try a 3/2mm fullsuit. See our selection here: https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/mens-fullsuits-32.html. If you need additional help, please feel free to contact our customer service team either via live chat, email (service@wetsuitwearhouse.com) or call 866-906-7848. Thanks!