Women’s Wetsuits: Stay Dry Yet Enjoy the Water

0
597
Women’s Wetsuits: Stay Dry Yet Enjoy the Water
Photo by Dmitriy Ganin on Pexels.com

Incredibly useful for surfers, divers, and anybody else who wants to stay warm in chilly water, wetsuits are an incredible innovation. Meanwhile, women’s wetsuits design had progressed tremendously since its inception in the 1950s when it was essentially a second skin that trapped a warm layer of water close to your body. With such a diverse range of forms, designs, and technologies to choose from, finding the right wetsuit for you may be difficult, which is why this guide is here to help.

The Several Types of Wetsuits

Wetsuits are available in various styles and sizes, ranging from ultra-warm complete suits for chilly water to thin and elastic reef shorts for the tropics. So, the first step in selecting a wetsuit is determining the appropriate kind for the water temperature you will be surfing or swimming in. It doesn’t matter which kind you pick; the basic rule of thumb is that a full suit is optimal for chilly to cold water. And for warmer water, a spring or summer suit gives the optimum balance between warmth and flexibility of movement. Meanwhile, ladies’ wetsuits are divided into four broad types, which will be discussed in this section.

Dress to the Nines

This traditional wetsuit, also known as a Steamer, covers the whole body from the wrists and ankles up and is available in every thickness variant imaginable, ranging from 2mm to 12mm. Except for tropical climates, this is the first style you should acquire.

Shorty or a Spring Suit

Long or short sleeves, short legs, and long or short sleeves are features of this spring suit/shorty style. Spring suits are built of thinner neoprene (1-2mm) to provide optimal comfort and flexibility in warmer water.

How to Get the Best Fit for Your Wetsuit

For women’s wetsuits, the fit is critical, so make sure you choose the appropriate one. In addition to being challenging to get into and out of, a too tiny suit may limit your paddling force and restrict your freedom of movement. And if you wear your suit too loosely, you’ll have to deal with cold water gushing through it and pockets of water sloshing about in all the wrong places while you swim. So the first step is to take measurements of your chest, hips, waist, and inner leg, and then reference a fitting guide to get the most appropriate size and body type for your measurements.

  • Keep an eye out for extra space in the lower back, crotch, shoulders, or knees when trying on a wetsuit, as this can result in frigid pockets of water. Also, make sure there is no bunching around the ankles and wrists.
  • Do check your range of motion with a few stretches and paddling motions to ensure the suit isn’t too restricted for you. And once you get it home and try it on, it should feel like a second skin.

What Is the Ideal Thickness for Your Wetsuit?

The majority of wetsuits are constructed using a combination of heavier panels where warmth is required and thinner panels where flexibility is required. And when it comes to warmth, the thicker the wetsuit is, the warmer it becomes. So, if you’re looking for winter waves in Norway, Iceland, or Canada, you’ll need a board in the 5-6mm size range. You should be alright with a board in the 1-3mm range if you’re surfing throughout the summer in temperate areas. Consider the wind chill, your sensitivity to cold, and whether or not you’re wearing boots or a hood when making your calculations. And when it comes to stretch and warmth, bear in mind that keeping your core temperature warm means having more enjoyment in the pool or lake.