All About Wetsuits
WHY USE A WETSUIT?
Wetsuits help you swim faster by reducing drag and improving buoyancy. They also help maintain body temperature in cold water (which we have plenty of in Irish seas) while allowing for movement and flexibility.
These features only work if the suit fits you properly - so it is important to get it right.
WHEN USE A WETSUIT?
- Surfing: They keep surfers warm in cold water and provide some protection from sun and surf injuries.
- Diving: Wetsuits are used in scuba and snorkeling to insulate against cold water and protect from stings or scrapes.
- Swimming: Open-water swimmers often wear wetsuits for insulation and buoyancy in colder conditions.
- Kayaking and Canoeing: Wetsuits provide warmth and protection from splashes and spills in chilly waters.
- Kitesurfing and Windsurfing: These activities often involve cold water exposure, making wetsuits essential for comfort.
- Triathlons: Many triathletes wear wetsuits during the swimming portion to improve buoyancy and maintain warmth.
- Wakeboarding and Waterskiing: Wetsuits can help keep you warm while being towed behind a boat, especially in cooler waters.
Basically, any activity involving cold water or extended exposure to it can benefit from wearing a wetsuit!
HOW DO WETSUITS FUNCTION?
- Insulation: The wetsuit is made from neoprene, which is a type of synthetic rubber. This material provides insulation by slowing down the heat transfer between your body and the cold water.
- Warm Water Layer: When you first put on the wetsuit, some water enters the suit. Your body heats this water, creating a thin layer of warm water that helps keep you comfortable.
- Prevention of Heat Loss: The wetsuit fits snugly against your skin, minimizing the amount of water that can flow in and out. This reduces heat loss, allowing you to stay warm for longer periods in cold water.
- Flexibility: Wetsuits come in various thicknesses and styles, allowing for a range of flexibility and warmth. Thinner suits are more flexible and better for warmer waters, while thicker suits provide more insulation for colder conditions.
- Buoyancy: Neoprene also provides some buoyancy, which can help keep you afloat and make swimming easier.
For these functions to work, your suit needs to fit as snugly as possible. A wetsuit should fit like a second skin, practically vacuum-sealed.
TYPES OF WETSUITS
Steamer
Summer - 2mm-5mm neoprene thickness depending on how cold you can get.
Winter - 5mm+
Shorty
Short sleeves and legs allowing for greater mobility and breathability.
Ideal for activities like surfing, snorkeling, or kayaking in milder temperatures.
Usually thinner neoprene: 2-3mm.
Springsuit
Ideal for activities like surfing, snorkeling, or kayaking in very mild temperatures.
Much thinner neoprene: 1-2mm.
Swimming Wetsuit
These wetsuits can have a different style of neoprene to help you glide seamlessly through the water.
This neoprene can be particularly delicate so extra care needs to be taken. Gloves are often provided to try them on so as not to mark or pierce the neoprene.
Long John/Jane
These cover the entire body from the neck down to the ankles, but leave the arms exposed.
Great for watersports where you use your arms e.g. kayaking or SUPing.
Can be worn alone or layered.
ZIPS
Back zip
Pros - Easiest to get in and out of. Good for broad people as it completely opens across the back/shoulders.
Cons - Can inhibit stretch across your back/shoulders. Can make a suit prone to flushing (letting water in) due to the long length.
Chest zip
Pros - More flexibility across the back/shoulders. Less flushing due to shorter zip.
Cons - A little trickier to get into.
Zip-Free
Normally in high-performance suits.
Pros - Maximum flexibility and minimal flushing.
Cons - A little trickier to get into, like suits with a chest zip. Requires more stretching of the suit when getting into so this can reduce the durability.
TRYING ON A WETSUIT
- Prep - It's easiest to sit down to begin putting the wetsuit on. Be careful to not to sit on rough surfaces that can damage the wetsuit. Your body should be dry and remove any watches or jewelry to prevent damage.
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Feet - While sitting, slip one leg in. Don't force your foot through yet and make sure the suit is the correct way around i.e. the zipper is lined up to be on your back.
Grab the suit on either side of your leg and point your toes, then push your foot through. Try to do this in one movement, as it puts less stress on the seams. Repeat these steps with your other foot.
Strange though it may seem, plastic bags on your feet and hands will make this task seem effortless!
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Legs - Stand up and pull up the waist. The wetsuit will tend to stick to itself and your skin, so gently pull up the places that are stuck.
You want to pull the legs of the wetsuit up the body as high as you can without straining.
Ensure there are no folds, no air pockets and no creases behind the back of the leg as this will cause chafing when kicking in the swim.
The wetsuit should be 5-14cm above the anklebone for easier removal. Neoprene around the ankle inhibits flexibility when kicking.
The suit will not be tight against your crotch yet, that comes in a later step.
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Arms - With the legs on, you should now be able to put your arms in the sleeves and pull the wetsuit over your shoulders.
To pull the wetsuit over your arm, close your hand or clench your fist and put one hand in at a time so as not to damage the inside of the suit with your nails or accidentally pull a finger back.
Work the material up your arms until the suit covers both shoulders. Pulling the suit over your shoulders should make it easier to get the wetsuit tightly against your crotch.
At this point you should swing your arms so the suit will evenly disperse over your whole body before you zip it up.
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Zip - While it is easier to have someone help you zip up the suit, it is recommended that you learn to do it yourself.
It may take some practice, but it will be worth it when you are in a situation where no one is around to help.
To make the zipper slide more easily, push your shoulder blades together, this will bring the material on your back closer together.
Do not put excessive force on the zipper.
Make sure you always pull in the same line as the zip runs, while holding the base of the zipper with your spare hand.
