how to buy a wetsuit for surfing

Sunrise surfing at summer Photo Credit :... Hi there! Be realistic. We look at the main benefits a wetsuit provides and help you understand This is not anything to do with fashion, rather because wetsuits are an essential piece of kit that you will need and that will help you to stay out in the surf for longer and in greater comfort. To help you choose the right wetsuit for you we have created a number of tools within the site. This reality check could be the difference between buying two mediocre wetsuits to be able to surf all year round and buying one excellent wetsuit that might only cover you for 9-10 months of the year but that you know will be top quality. Every brand has … Most UK surfers use 3/2 for summertime surfing. Measure your height, chest and waist, and also check your weight; these are then given in sizing guides by wetsuit companies. Starting surfing needs gear, and once you get into it a bit more, will come time to get a surfboard to learn to surf on. Coronavirus Covid-19 Update The surf school will be opening again on Monday 29th of March for 'Click and Collect' surf hire as well as small group surfing lessons. Testing the Wetsuit Fit Check your height and weight on the brand’s sizing chart. Gwithian Academy of Surfing, 1, Godrevy Towans, Gwithian, Hayle, Cornwall. Although these wetsuits are a little more tricky to do up when surfing alone, they are superior to back-zip wetsuits in a number of ways.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'surflearner_com-box-4','ezslot_12',106,'0','0'])); The first is in comfort. These wetsuits will also last longer since the liquid tape adds another type of bond to help keep the seams together. These bog-standard stitched wetsuit seams are therefore another weak point in wetsuit design and make for a less pleasant surfing experience. Swimming around in your own wee is bad enough but someone else’s second had urine? Although we all want to think that we could head out to surf in all weathers, the reality is that many of us will simply be put off by the frigid waters in the coldest months of the year. This is where chest zips have yet another advantage over back zips in that they are so much shorter in length, meaning that they a smaller surface area for this weak spot in wetsuit design. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, and other Amazon sites around the world. The fourth instalment of Red Bull’s all-encompassing guide to surfing, from how to read the waves to what boards to ride, what wetsuit to buy and much more. One further point to note when trying to get the right size suit is that you don’t want to get a wetsuit that is too tight; this will make it difficult for you to breathe and move when you are out in the surf, which really won’t be nice or help with your surfing. By looking around you and paying attention to what they are wearing and what is going on, you will be able to see just how many are wearing a certain brand. Wetsuit Accessories. They also tend to be a little pricier as more construction has gone into the design. As mentioned above, a chest-zip option is the best for reasons of warmth, comfort and design. Choose a suit that has glued and blind-stitched seams for a watertight seal and a back zip style is easiest put on and take off. With that in mind, I’d also recommend that you choose a surf wetsuit made by a well-known surf brand; the reasons for which we’ll look at next. No, you can’t. Buying surf wetsuits can be complicated process however our aim is to make your experience as simple as possible. Take a look around and buy online here. If you’re in one of the colder parts of the surfing planet, then the chances are that you will want to max out with a wetsuit thickness of 5mm in your first few years of surfing. TR27 5ED. Our surf and yoga package could be just the ticket. Split Toe Wetsuit Boots. Quiksilver and Roxy have excellent 3/2mm wetsuits. From my own experience, I’d also suggest that you might not want to go surfing in the coldest months of the year in the first year or two of surfing as it is hard and comes with its own challenges, so if you are at all unsure, then go for one premium wetsuit for the warmer months of the year. I say this because a wetsuit has a very specific fit and, depending on the other parts of your body, you may find that either going up or down a size benefits you. You should be able to get an idea of what is too tight just from trying a wetsuit on in a store or at home before you take it out in the surf. While a back zip will flush and let in lots of water with just about every duck dive, a chest-zip wetsuit is much less prone to flushing. Both are pretty good. For sizes and prices click here. However, there is a way around that, as will be explained in the next section of this article. The last is by design; zippers let in water, as does the fabric around the zipper mechanism to attach it to a wetsuit. The most popular 4mm wetsuits are either chest zip … Buying new is a good investment. You might want to pay extra special attention to the surfers who are there most often as they will be looking for the best gear to keep them in the water longest, be they the ones who spend hours in the water or those who are simply very good surfers.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'surflearner_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',111,'0','0'])); The only time the above might not apply is if a local surfer is sponsored since companies like Quiksilver have a reputation for making wetsuits that are simply not that durable, yet they sponsor many professional surfers around the world. You really want a wetsuit that works for you in as many months of the year in your chosen surf spots. It’s a good choice for summer surfing in the UK or Europe and will keep you warm from April to November in British surf. There are loads of good quality well-priced wetsuits out there to fit all sizes, shapes and wallets, probably for not much more than you’d pay for a second-hand suit either. So, next up we’ll look at getting the finer points of sizing your wetsuit and getting it right. Back zip wetsuits are easier to climb in and out of so if you’re a little over your fighting weight then I would recommend those. Back zips are also the budget offering in terms of wetsuits, likely because they are easier to make than their chest zip counterpart.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'surflearner_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',105,'0','0'])); However, they are not the best choice if you are going to be surfing in cold water since their design means that they let in a lot of cold water and tend to ‘flush’ when you go under the water, giving you a horrible ‘ice bucket challenge’ sensation each time. The higher the figure the thicker the wetsuit and the warmer it will be. New wetsuit designs have increased flexibility and therefore chest zip suits are easier than they used to be to climb in and out of. If you’re not well-versed in the wetsuit game, buying a new one can be incredibly intimidating. So, the main surfing wetsuit brands to look out for are as follows: There are lots of different wetsuits to choose from the brands above but, using the temperature guide provided here and the equivalent guides on their websites should help you to pick out one for you. Check that you are in the middle of the ranges they give. However, on better quality wetsuits you will notice the addition of liquid-taped seams. This is because a chest zip is under your tucked head and chin, making it less exposed to the rush on an oncoming wave when compared to a back zip. Added to that, a 6mm wetsuit is incredibly thick, cumbersome and hard to surf in. You can also go for a thermal rash guard with a hood as these help to reduce cold water getting into your suit from flushing and also to avoid exposing skin around your neck to the cold water when wearing the hood. Beginner Surfboard Guide: Must Read BEFORE Buying! Hey there! In addition, at the nape of the neck, a back-zip becomes a weak point, again on duck dives, since the zip closure means that it is slightly loose and therefore lets in more cold water. With thicker 4mm of neoprene around the middle body to keep warmth locked in and 3mm neoprene on the arms and legs for greater flexibility. The longer you stay in the water, the more waves you will get. A 3/2 wetsuit is one where the thickness is 3mm on the core body parts (back, chest, stomach, kidneys) for warmth and 2mm on the arms and legs for flexibility for paddling and crucially for popping up easily. However, if you look at a sizing chart for a surf wetsuit and you are in between different sizes, it’s recommended that you don’t buy your first proper surf wetsuit online: much better would be to go to a local shop and try one on first. June 5, 2017 by Lisa Woodruff Leave a Comment. HERE’S How Long it Takes to Learn to Surf: Beginner to Advanced. View all Wetsuits. If you are not sure exactly what you should be wearing, check out this dedicated post on what to wear under your wetsuit for both men and women in all temperatures. OK, so I might have been exaggerating on the last bit but back zip wetsuits do flush much more than chest zip equivalents, and are less comfortable, as will be explained below. So a 4/3mm wetsuit will serve you for surfing cold water throughout the autumn and winter months in the UK, November to April. From choosing between bouyancy level, materials, and cuts, to performance profiles in the water, there is much to consider when choosing a wetsuit. Daunting even. A thermal rash guard and shorts are a great start as they add lots of extra warmth and do not cost that much. Remember that surf wetsuits are not cheap but that is because they are highly engineered to try and keep you warm in the sea for several hours at a time, which in itself is pretty incredible! Filed Under: News Tagged With: buy wetsuit, buying a wetsuit, surfing uk, wetsuit, wetsuit buying guide, wetsuit surfing uk, wetsuits for surfing. We can offer superb self catering accommodation just a short walk from the surf school and beach. For details fo this and all our winter suits, sizes and prices click here. The most obvious design differences between the two types of wetsuit will likely be around the arms and in the zipper. 3/2mm or 2mm wetsuit with short arms or legs, 5/4mm full wetsuit with boots, gloves and a hood, 6/5mm full wetsuit with boots, gloves, hood and thermals. 3- Thickness The thicker the wetsuit the warmer it will be. The chest zip, on the other hand, has only tight neoprene in this location making the water run over it more freely and with its zip again being less exposed to the force of rushing water. I'm Steve and run Surf Learner, sharing all the tips I've gained from my 20+ years of surfing to help you learn that much faster. Although I would usually suggest going for the smaller wetsuit, buying online would still be a bit of a risk so only do it if you have no local surf shops or if you are confident that the online retailer has a good enough returns policy. This means trying to get one suit that will keep you warm for as long as possible to save you buying more than one. link to What Temperature to Surf in Boardshorts, Surfer Starter Pack: EVERYTHING You Need! Surf wetsuits seem simple at first but, once you start looking into them in a bit more detail, you will quickly find that there are many different designs, brands and features available, which can make picking the right first wetsuit a bit daunting. At our surf school, we need a wetsuit that will take plenty of punishment, keep the customers warm and fits a wide variety of people. Since chest-zip wetsuits let in less cold water and do not flush with cold water in the same way that back-zip wetsuits do, spending the extra amount on them is highly recommended if you plan to surf in an area with colder water and are looking at buying a winter wetsuit. CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON. SEAMS. Never put your wetsuit in a washing machine, try to iron it or treat it with any strong chemicals. If you are an in-between size, go to a store to buy to be sure of a good fit. Although the main surf brands for wetsuits are outlined above, you can also take some inspiration and assurance from what the local wear at your nearest surf spots. The main sizes you’ll need to know for sizing a surf wetsuit are: Please note that the measurements above are given in the format most commonly used by surf wetsuit manufacturers. They feature a rounded end, are easy to manufacture and are therefore usually inexpensive to buy. The Quiksilver Syncro Base fits the bill for us with an impressive spec at an incredible price. You might get away with one warmer-than-average-day in summer which allows for a suitless surf. 4mm surfing wetsuits are most commonly used in water temperatures between 10°C and 14°C (50°F – 57°F). This is where going into a physical store really does come into its own since you can ask the people in the store for their opinion on a wetsuit and for any tips on sizing, which is obviously something that almost impossible to get online. AND that someone has probably peed in, even if they say they haven’t? To help you, below is a table containing water temperatures for each surf wetsuit type and thickness: To use this information properly, be sure to check the water temperature year-round for where you plan to surf as it will help you to get an idea of the type of wetsuit and thickness that you should be looking to buy.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'surflearner_com-banner-1','ezslot_13',107,'0','0'])); It also should be used along with the information provided in the following section of this article. The zip runs down the middle of the back of the wetsuit and can be pulled up and down using the long cord/lanyard that comes with it. As we all surf we can give you the best on what to buy. Each of the big three wetsuit brands (Rip Curl, Quiksilver, O’Neill) make about a dozen different suits, based on warmth, stretch, and fancy rubber-lining gizmos and gimmicks that mostly just drive up the price. This is a special liquidized rubber that is applied over the seams as part of the manufacturing process. If you are surfing in cold water, then you need a good wetsuit, and you should be prepared to pay for it. I’m Steve and this is my site, Surf Learner. Mainly wetsuit boots are used to keep your feet warm in extremely cold water. So, you’ve had a surf lesson, maybe even a few and now you’re hooked. So, the premium option in surf wetsuits is the chest-zip option, which is a big step up in when compared to back-zip wetsuits. The next thing to consider is your chosen surfing location. The 5mm wetsuit option will be usable for probably 10 months of the year in the UK so it represents the most sensible option. A good pair of wetsuit boots is essential if you plan to participate in a water sport which involves cold water. June 5, 2017 by Lisa Woodruff Leave a Comment. However, having fabric stitches to join different pieces of the material allows for more water to rush into the suit. O’Neill’s top-selling silhouette culls from the best … This is noteworthy since some older, heavily used wetsuits start to stretch and come apart at the seams with heavy use. If you're just getting into triathlon and open water swimming, or looking to upgrade your existing wetsuit, this guide will help you make an informed decision. Quiksilver Highline Plus 3/2mm Chest Zip. These thermals are also a great way to add extra warmth without having to go for the ultra-thick 6mm wetsuit option, so look carefully at the recommended temperature range for your location and desired wetsuits and see if you can factor these in. Most people keep a wetsuit for a number of seasons, so it makes sense to get a good one that will last you a while. Copyright ©2021 Gwithian Academy of Surfing, Splash Lesson (A two hour Surfing Lesson), 10 reasons why Autumn is the best surfing season in Cornwall, Surfboards for Beginners to Intermediates. To keep surfing all-year round in many parts of the world need a wetsuit. The zipper runs across the chest horizontally, just below the collarbone. no wetsuit needed! There are two main types of zips on surfing wetsuits: These are the standard offering when it comes to wetsuits and the most common; you will see them everywhere from surf schools to many surfers wearing them. Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimeters (ex: 3/2mm or 1mm) and it impacts the warmth of the wetsuit. HQ: 01736 755493. Get in the sea with one of these high-performance men’s wetsuits Refer to the Rip Curl Sizing Chart. In the meantime you can book lessons and surf hire through our website or you can call us on 07864 815011. Once you do, you can then stick with that brand. Prosper House Camping is a friendly, family run and authentic campsite in the beautiful village of Gwithian. Opt for a mid range wetsuit when you are first buying a wetsuit- around the €150-200 mark. Tel: Surf School/Shop 01736 757579. It also something that wetsuit manufacturers have started to use more and more in the last few years since its benefits are numerous. I wanted to share everything that I’ve learned in the 20+ years that I’ve been surfing and answer as many questions as I can about the process of learning to surf and progressing. If you intend to keep surfing as much as possible in the UK you’re going to need a wetsuit because even on the hottest days, the water is cold. Boardshorts and possibly wetsuit top; i.e. I know it took me a really long time so I wanted to share as many insights and tips as possible to help you through the stages a lot quicker than it took me! The second is in warmth, as touched on above. Although this is purely an observation, I have to say I would agree so far from my own experiences with the different wetsuit brands, so something extra there to think about. Average water time around 20 minutes before your entire body goes into hypothermic shutdown and your dangly bits, well, hasta la vista! As with most watersports, wetsuit thickness and water temperatures are key when it comes to finding the right wetsuit. The round toe wetsuit boot is the most popular boot that you can buy. As such, remember that a surf wetsuit should be tight around your body, but not too tight around your neck or extremities. Surfing & wetsuits - the blissful relationship spanning almost 7 decades now - isn't it beautiful. This means it can be like learning to surf all over again to use one of these wetsuits and that they are not best suited to new or less experienced surfers. Although water will usually run out of your wetsuit and stop it ballooning up massively, this still creates an unpleasant sensation, that of ‘flushing’, as mentioned in an earlier section of this article. Well, believe it or not there are a three solid reasons why wetsuits are … There are lots of second-hand wetsuits out there on eBay, Gumtree or those sorts of sites, but do you really want a suit that’s past its use-by date, has holes in the seams letting in that ‘oh so cold’ water? Wetsuit Buying Guide for UK Surfing. The colder the water, the better the suit. They are generally the easiest to fit as well. This style of wetsuit boot is very popular with more serious surfers. You can always get another one later on!eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'surflearner_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',108,'0','0'])); Now hopefully you’ve already seen and taken in the points above about being realistic before reading this (if not, skip back up and read that first!). Ultimately, it’s about personal choice. For example if the water is very cold and under 10c then a 5mm winter suit will be the best choice as the thickness is intended to keep you warm for up to 3 hours. Surf wetsuits are designed to allow dynamic movement in different directions, while scuba wetsuits are not. If buying a winter wetsuit consider a 5,4,3mm, which means the body of the suit will be 5mm thick, the legs 4mm and the arms 3mm. From Monday 12th of April we will be open fully from 10am to 6pm daily. So, once you have made a good assessment of the amount of time you expect to be in the surf in your chosen wetsuit, you can then look into getting just one premium wetsuit that will cover you for most months of the year. Quiksilver Wetsuits. Read on to find out what to look for when in order to buy a wetsuit for SUP and kayaking. Or just pop in if you’re in Cornwall, we’re open from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week. As an extra design tip when choosing your surf wetsuit, especially if you will be surfing in water colder than 60°F, is to get a wetsuit with liquid taped seams. Surf wax is tricky to remove and can damage the wetsuit neoprene, so is best left where it is. This is because a scuba wetsuit is made for a completely different purpose with different movements. It's great to have you! 4mm Wetsuits. Why Should I use a Wetsuit? 4/3mm | Autumn & Winter: Quiksilver … Remember also that you should find one brand that suits your body shape well, but that is something that really comes down to trial and error. Can you use a scuba wetsuit for surfing? eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'surflearner_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',110,'0','0'])); As an extra tip, a friend once noted the following: the best surf wetsuit companies usually originate in cold water areas (O’Neill and Xcel from Santa Cruz, California, with Rip Curl from Victoria, Australia). Some of the best sellers have been the O'Neill Epic wetsuit due to it's amazing price and good stretch and warmth. Buying a new wetsuit can be quite an investment and the right choice is going to make all the difference when you’re in and on the water. Furthermore, if you are planning to surf in slightly warmer waters with in-between temperature ranges for a 4/3mm and a 5/4mm wetsuit then I would again recommend going for the thinner 4/3mm wetsuit and topping up with thermal layers under your suit. Don’t bother buying a short suit unless you’re less than 5 years old or planning to surf in the tropics for most of the year. Since many of these are from the USA or Australia, imperial measurements are the norm, although you may find some wetsuit companies that provide metric equivalents in their sizing guides. So, to help you, here are 10 tips for how to choose a wetsuit for surfing:eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'surflearner_com-box-3','ezslot_0',103,'0','0'])); OK,  so to help you get a clearer idea about each of the points above, let’s go into each one in more detail below to make sure that you get the right wetsuit for your surfing needs. If you intend to keep surfing as much as possible in the UK you’re going to need a wetsuit because even on the hottest days, the water is cold. O’Neill Psycho Freak Zen Surfing Wetsuit 4/3mm. The big toe is separated from the rest of the toes … Local Buys Best men’s wetsuits UK 2021: great suits for surfing and open water swimming, from RipCurl, Finnisterre, and Zone3. Our extensive range is the largest in the UK and Europe all stock for summer and winter seasons in all shapes and sizes. Wetsuits come in a variety of options and thicknesses for a variety of water sports activities from just standing knee deep watching the youngsters splash about in the surf, trying a bit of bodyboarding and surfing, to the more serious surfer, competitive triathlete, scuba diver or sailor. Looking for a holiday that combines fun and fitness with relaxation? Although we all want to think that we could head out to surf in all weathers, the reality is … If you’re not quite ready to buy we also hire all new Roxy, Quiksilver and Gul 3/2 wetsuits. To give you the best chance of getting the right wetsuit for you, you should measure up all the relevant parts of your body, much in the same way that you would for a tailor or a dressmaker. No embarrassing cries of;“I’m stuck in my wetsuit. At Wetsuit Centre are passion has always been to stay in the water as long as possible and making that happen by choosing the very best wetsuits for you to buy.

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