I never wore a wetsuit and I want to buy one. Now what? Read this first! Then we will build on that.

Some wetsuit info for beginners

The first question that comes to my mind is why would I even wear a wetsuit. Duh, wetsuits single handedly changed the face of many water sports allowing them to spread to the far and cold corners of the world. Anything else?

WHY A WETSUIT?

1. With a wetsuit, we can stay in water much longer and do what we came to do instead of shivering from cold,

2. Wetsuits protect us from water and wind if our sport is just above the water surface,

3. Wetsuit gives us some protection from the equipment, rocks etc.,

4. Wetsuit increases our buoyancy (but is not in any way a replacement for a life jacket, you do have to know how to swim !).

MY FIRST WETSUIT

If you never wore a wetsuit then read this. When you put on your first wetsuit, it often feels like it is to small and totally uncomfortable. Partly because it is probably dry (a wet wetsuit is a little more loose) but mainly because people are used to everyday clothes that only touch their skin here and there. But a wetsuit must touch you everywhere:). So there is no room left for cold water (what would you rather spend your energy on – water sport or heating the cold water?).

The material under our armpits can also by annoying, but it helps us move our arms when surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing etc… Tight collar is also not a mistake – it keeps cold water out. Oh, and one more thing, that first time wetsuit buyers sometimes do – the zipper on the wetsuit goes on the back not in front. That long cord that hangs from the zipper is used to zip up over your shoulder. So avoid chuckles from the seller and do it right!

Read this if you want to know How to Put on Your Wetsuit.

CHEAP WETSUITS

With the rising popularity of water sports there is also bigger number of cheap wetsuits that are made from neoprene which contains a lot of rubber. Because rubber does not contain any air bubbles that kind of neoprene has really bad isolation capabilities. Stay clear of really cheap tourist wetsuits.

Related posts:

1. HOW TO PUT ON A WETSUIT
2. WETSUIT CARE – 13 TIPS