At their core, wetsuits are simply items of clothing designed to keep the water out and the heat in. Unlike the air, being in water can cause heat to leave the body 25 times faster than simply walking around outside in colder weather can. Wetsuits work by trapping a thin layer of water against the skin which is easier for the body to warm up than the surrounding water.

This is done by using a thick, spongy material which aims to limit the amount of water that enters the suit. Water actually does enter the wetsuit, as it is designed to do, though there is little mixing between the water outside and inside the wetsuit. Due to this, most wetsuits have something called a “closed cell” construction which means that water cannot enter through anywhere on the suit other than through the zipper and leg and arm openings.

Although wetsuits can vary in cost, the most expensive one is not necessarily the right choice. When purchasing a wetsuit there are only three things to look for:

1) the right thickness for the wetsuit;

2) the ability of the wetsuit to provide the correct amount of coverage for the body; and

3) the right fit between the wetsuit and the person who plans on wearing it.

There are many different types of activities that wetsuits can be used for and, because of this, there are many different types of wetsuits. After all, using a wetsuit designed for cold water in warm water would not provide the same amount of protection as it would if it were used in the proper water temperature.

Wetsuit tops, also known as rash guards, are basically long sleeve shirts made out of wetsuit material. They’re designed for regular movement during warm water activities like surfing or wake boarding. They don’t offer much insulation or coverage but they can still protect against the sun, chafing, and the ever present jellyfish threat.

Spring suits, also known as shorties, are a one piece wetsuit that combines a short-sleeve top with bottoms attached. Generally, they aren’t particularly thick but they do provide better insulation than the rash vest does.

There are several other types of wetsuits better suited for cold water activities such as the summer and winter wetsuits.

When choosing a wetsuit, it is important to understand the idea of thickness. The thickness of a wetsuit would operate much the way the thickness of a coat would and deciding how thick a wetsuit would be required is similar to deciding which coat to wear depending on the temperature and activities that are planned for the day.

Wetsuits are designed for waters from 45 to 85 degrees, anything colder generally requires a dry suit. Wetsuit thicknesses are usually referred to “3/2 mm” where the “3” would refer to the neoprene thickness on the torso and the “2” would be around the arms and legs.

Much like any other item of clothing, wetsuits come with accessories to help with more specific types of water activities.

Hoods will prevent the much needed 30% body heat that escapes from the head from escaping. Gloves don’t just keep the hands from becoming cold and useless, they also protect from injuries and abrasions. Booties aren’t just for divers who use scuba fins to protect their feet, they are also nice to keep the feet insulated against the cold. Vests, which are worn for extra cover only, can be used as either another layer underneath a wetsuit or as another way to protect against the sun.

Author Bio: Looking for the latest Wetsuit ? The Wetsuit Centre is the leading UK supplier of wetsuits. All sizes in stock from the leading brands including O’Neill, Rip Curl, Billabong, C-Skins and Xcel.

Category: Sports
Keywords: wetsuits, summer wetsuits, winter wetsuits, surfing, o\’neill wetsuits, rip curl wetsuits, billabong