How Does A Wetsuit Work & What Is Difference Between Winter & Summer.

Wetsuits For All Seasons

How Does A Wetsuit Work?

A wetsuit is a very clever invention designed to keep you warm even in the coldest of waters. The very first wetsuit was invent was by Jack O’Neill a surfer from California that wanted to surf in the winter months when the water got colder. His passion for the water led to the very first two-piece wetsuits, which he stitched together from pieces of neoprene.  From that day the evolution of the wetsuit began and today the technology that goes into these wetsuits is unbelievable with every brand trying to make the warmest and lightest wetsuits possible.

Wetsuits works by trapping the water between the neoprene and your body and warming that water to your body temperature. That trapped water then remains at that constant temperature for up to 4 hours depending on the water temp. Some features have enhanced the warmth by having very high quality neoprene that is so flexible that it moulds to you body shape and the better it fits the warmer you will be as there is no room for water to enter and sit making you cold. Even to the point where some wetsuits have air neoprene, which is small bubbles of air in the wetsuit and as air is a better conductor of heat it keeps you warmer for longer. Another addition is the smooth skin chest panel ,which basically stops cold winds from blowing through the wetsuit. This is great for sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. So recent additions have also included thermal lining on the chest and kidney areas. This acts in a very similar way to thermal underwear but inside the wetsuit. It again traps warm body heat and reflects that back onto the crucial areas such as the chest and kidneys. Some designs have taken the wetsuit to a whole new level including the invention from Rip Curl in the Flash Dry lining. This is a combed back thermal layering that is featured throughout the Flash Bomb wetsuit and keeps your entire body as warm as possible. It also boasts that it dry’s in 15 minutes but that really depends on the outside air temp that you are drying the wetsuit in.

Back Zip or Chest Zip Wetsuits

A revolution has taken place over the last few years where by chest zip entry system wetsuits are becoming more popular than the traditional back zip versions. This is due to the wetsuit then becoming far more flexible without the restriction on the back zip. The only problem with a chest zip is they are far more difficult to get on and off but after you have done this a few times you learn the way best to get in and out.

Winter or Summer Wetsuit?

Summer

When it comes to getting a wetsuit for use in your water sport the first thing you need to consider is what time of year you will be using the suit?

As if you are thinking of using it in the summer months in either the UK or Europe then a 3/2 full is going to be the most cost effective way to purchase. As you will get far more use from a 3mm full in the months from April till December. The wetsuit is 3mm of neoprene in the body and 2mm on the arms, which is enough to keep you warm from about 15c up to 23c. Over that temperature you should buy a shortie 2mm wetsuit, this has short arms and legs so you have complete freedom of movement but stay warm if there is a slight chill. Even if the water gets warmer than that such as 24c plus then a neoprene vest and a pair of shorts is really all you need even on the cooler of days.

Winter

Winter is where your wetsuit really does need to be good, and it is worth spending the extra money to stay as warm as possible. Most winter wetsuits are 5mm or in the harshest of conditions 6mm on the body and 3mm on the arms. Things like thermal lining become a real benefit when the water is a cold 5c and below.  It’s not only a wetsuit you need when in these cold waters as you will also need wetsuit boots, gloves and hood. A good idea is to have 5mm boots, 3mm gloves and a 3mm hood. Having all these additions will make sure that your feet and hands stay warm as there is nothing worse than freezing cold hands and feet. The hood is vital as well as most of your body heat is lost through your head region so keeping this warm will keep you in the water for longer. A lot of people don’t like wearing hoods as it can make you feel restricted but if you can bear it then it will make the world of difference. Some really good brands to check out for winter is O’Neill for entry level at £130 to Psycho and Pyrotech at the £250 to £300 mark. Rip Curl offer the Omega at £99 to the Flash bomb at £300 mark. Where the technology has come on so much you really can stay warm in cold water and have so much fun. No need for you to hide in the winter anymore so get out there and have some fun.

Hope this article has been helpful to you and for any further advice please feel free to contact us.

To Buy A Winter or Summer Wetsuit

Choosing a winter or summer wetsuit to buy?

When it comes to making the choice between buying a winter or summer wetsuit the first thing you should consider is how cold is the water temperature you intend to use the wetsuit in and how long into that season you are likely to be using it?

Summer wetsuits come in two types, which are either shortie or full. If you are intending to use a shortie then the water really needs to be above the 19c temperature. These wetsuits are great for surfing, wakeboarding, sailing, kite surfing and jet skiing. They are generally a 2mm thickness in the neoprene and constructed with short arms and legs. Meaning you get maximum flexibility and just body warmth. Best brands to consider are O’Neill, Billabong and Rip Curl which are usually around the £50 mark. You can get cheap wetsuits like the TWF ones and Tescos but these are very inflexible and the neoprene is an abrasive material that is less durable then the better quality brands.  The cheaper brands are better for casual beach goer’s use that is pretty much discarded at the end of the summer.

Full suits are the preferred choice for the UK and Europe as you get far more use out of these wetsuits due to the short summers and less warm waters. A full wetsuit for the summer is a 3mm on the body and 2mm on the arms. Great for pretty much all water sports and in terms of spend it means the more you spend the more flexible and more features the wetsuits has. You can get some really high performance summer suits and these are in the price bracket of £200 plus.  The temperature that a full suit can be used is in the region of 13c plus as anything less is more of a 5mm winter wetsuit. All the 3/2 are multi purpose wetsuits which can be used for pretty much all water sports. Good brands to consider are O’Neill, Rip Curl, Billabong, C Skins and Xcel. The same applies for the cheap wetsuits in brands such as TWF and the same applies for the abrasive and non-stretch neoprene.

If you are looking for a wetsuit to last you the entire year in the UK then a 5/3 is the only option to keep you warm in the winter months. These wetsuits range from £100 to £400 with the warmest being the most expensive. However in Europe a 4/3 should be perfect as the sea doesn’t get as cold through the winter months. A winter wetsuit is used in water temperatures of below 13c for sports such as surfing, kite surfing, sailing and winsurfing. The wetsuits are 5mm of neoprene on the body and 3mm of neoprene on the arms. All winter wetsuits are glued and blind stitched on the seams for maximum protection against water penetration. Good brands to consider are O’Neill, Rip Curl, C Skins, Billabong & Xcel. The best selling entry wetsuit is the O’Neill Epic, which is priced at £129. If the temperatures are below 5c then you should consider a hooded wetsuit for maximum warmth. To be honest it’s always worth spending a bit more in the winter as you will be a lot warm and that is always worth the extra spending.

How does a Wetsuit work and keep you warm?

So in answer to the question how does a wetsuit keep you warm we should start with the basics of how a wetsuit works. Wetsuits keep you warm by catching a thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene. Your body heats up this water and keeps you warm. It’s important to get a wetsuit that fits properly, otherwise cold water will constantly flush the warm water out. The neoprene in the wetsuit also acts as insulation against environment, so the thicker the neoprene (and wetsuit) the better the insulation will be. The neoprene contains loads of small air bubbles that provide the insulation.

As technology has advanced in the world of wetsuits and neoprene is of such high quality so does the warmth and flexibility. So where-by the basics of how a wetsuit works is important to warmth its not the most important factor anymore. Let's take a look at some of the key features that uses new technology to make the wetsuit warmer.

                                                               Glued & Blindstiched

In terms of construction GBS is where in construction of the wetsuit they join the material together by gluing then stitching to form a bond that reduces water penetration. The less water that enters the wetsuit the warmer your body will remain. GBS seams are in all winter wetsuits (5mm Wetsuits) as not having any water enter the wetsuit is crucial in cold water. Where-by some entry level summer wetsuits (3mm Wetsuits) will have a flatlock construction which is where the material is overlapped and  double stitched, this form of construction can let some water through the seams but is used in water that is generally warmer so having less impact.


          Thermal Lining

As you can see from the photo the red material is the thermal material which is designed to wick water away from your body and act in the same way as thermal underwear. To the touch the thermal material is soft with slight bobbles. This is generally placed on the chest and kidney area of the wetsuit. The reason for this is to keep the blood flow warm in these key areas thus warm blood is pumped around the body keeping you warmer. Thermal ling is far less flexible than neoprene so does reduce flexibility in the areas to where it is added.


                                                              Liquid Seams

Technology has played a large part in the advent of liquid seams in wetsuits. Liquid seams are designed the minimize even further the possibility of water entering the wetsuit. The process is to GBS the seams first then add this taping to either or both sides of the seam thus making a seal that cant be penetrated. Even as i write this article technology has meant that these seams are reducing in thickness and width to enable increased flexibility. As the more flexible a wetsuit is the better it will feel and the better it will fit, keeping you warmer. So you should consider this when buying a wetsuit. I personally prefer wetsuits without the liquid sealing as i like the flex you get and feeling of not having any restrictions. The seams on wetsuits nowadays is so good that less and less water is getting through the seams.

Hope that has helped explain a couple of the features of what makes a wetsuit warm. Please feel free to ask us to review any products or answer questions by contacting www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk

Winter Wetsuits or Summer Wetsuits

When looking for a Wetsuit you should consider what time of year you are wanting to use it. For example if your looking at using it in the months of November to April in UK waters then the temprature will range from 15c down as low as 5c. You will then need a Winter Wetsuit which will be a 5/4/3 in thickness, and what this actually means is the body is 5mm then a panel from the body to the arms of 4mm and arms of 3mm. All winter Wetsuits will be glued and blindstitched which means on every seam they have been stitched then the two pieces of material glued together to form a bond which wont allow water to penetrate the seam. You should consider your budget as generally the more you spend the more features you will get on the Wetsuits making it warmer such as thermal lining and air neoprene. The wetsuit will also be far more flexible and again the more you spend the more flexible it becomes making it fit better to your body which will keep you warmer. Good makes to consider are O'Neill Wetsuits, Rip Curl Wetsuits, Billabong Wetsuits, Xcel Wetsuits to name a few.

If you are looking at a summer / spring wetsuit which are generally used from May to October then these are 3/2 wetsuits. Meaning 3mm on the body and 2mm on the arms. Same applies in terms of cost the more you spend the more flexiblethe wetsuit is and the warmer.

Hope this helps and for the best range check out www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk