Water Temperature Chart And Required Wetsuit Thickness
NOTE: If you are looking for wetsuit thickness/water temperature chart for scuba diving check this article.
What wetsuit, what thickness of neoprene to choose for certain water temperature? It depends on a couple of factors and water temperature is just one of them. When choosing the right wetsuit for a certain water temperature and conditions, the main factors to consider are water temperature, air temperature, wind, cold sensitivity and activity. Lets take a quick look at what each of them means:
Water temperature
This one is the main factor and the most obvious one. The colder the water the thicker wetsuit you need. An interesting fact when it comes to water is that it pulls heat out of the body at a rate which is about 25 faster than air!
Air temperature
Air temperature is a lot of times connected with water temperature. Warmer air & water in summer, colder in winter time. Obviously! But there are a lot of places where ocean currents influence water temperature so much, that it can be way off from what you would expect. So there are times when air and water temperature are “out of sync”. This is usually a problem if you expect warm water in hot weather. If its vice versa and you are surprised by warm water in cold winter you can just do a fist pump :).
Wind
Wind cools the surface of your body and increases the feeling of cold. So if you use your wetsuit in wind you need a thicker one. Wind is a serious factor and has quite a big influence on the feeling of cold. Check out this chart to get the feeling what kind of wind chill certain wind strengths bring:
How wind strengths affect the feeling of cold.
Cold sensitivity
Just how quickly do you get cold? Everyone has a bit different personal aversion to cold. Usually also men are more “immune” to cold than women.
Activity
What are you doing in the water, how active are you? For instance, you can surf so hard smoke comes from your ears or you can sit on your surfboard thinking, meditating and contemplating whatever. You can be in the water most of the time or above the water or even under the surface.
The Chart
The wetsuit thickness chart below is just for your orientation and is a bit on the safe side, so you can stay in the water longer. Or lets put it this way – it takes into the account that there is some wind present. Every waterman knows for himself how sustainable to cold he is and how quickly he gets cold. At some point, when the water temperature gets to low you also have to wear booties and when it gets even colder also gloves and a hood. Thicker wetsuit also means you get tired sooner because the movement is more restricted. Also completely new and fitting wetsuit is warmer that an older one that is already a little loose and stretched. And at lastly – quality of the wetsuit definitely counts (this is why good winter suits for low temperatures aren’t cheap).
Before we get to the temperature chart I can see some hardcore surfers complaining that they can surf in a shorty wetsuit in 59F (15 C) degree water, but why would you want to be cold if you don’t have to be? Just to be HC? When blood slowly starts coming back to your fingers that are so numb you can’t get out of your wetsuit for half an hour and every heartbeat feels like someone is smashing your fingers with a hammer? When your feet feel like they belong to some rubber dummy when you are slipping and skipping over rocks on your way out of water? It is a part of why we love what we do but I am sure I can live without that :)
In recent times, you can find some funny wetsuit – water temperature charts done by major wetsuit companies, that are in my opinion not very realistic. I guess they also use them for promoting the quality of their wetsuits. Like: “You only need a 3/2 XY wettie in 54F (12C) water. Yeah, its so advanced you can sleep in a freezer.” If they are not talking about the new battery heated wetsuit, then they are probably full of shit. Also, check out this article as well.
WATER TEMPERATURE WETSUIT CHART
WATER TEMPERATURE |
WETSUIT THICKNESS |
WHAT TO WEAR |
|
| > 77 F > 25 C |
You don’t need a wetsuit, unless you usually wear a wetsuit to jacuzzi, sauna, to the beach… |  |
|
| 72F–77F 22C-25C |
Shorty when it gets colder outside, like in the morning, evening and if it is windy. If the weather is warm, you still don’t need a wetsuit. |   |
|
| 68F–72F 20C–22C | This is the comfortable bottom limit for surfing in shorty. Spring suit or 3/2 full suit is better when it gets cold and windy. |  |
|
| 64F–68F 18C–20C |
Spring suit or full suit 3/2. If you only have one wetsuit and it is 4/3 you no worries, you can also use it. | |
|
| 59F–64F 15C–18C |
A good 3/2 full suit is still OK, if you get cold, wear booties. Otherwise wear a 4/3 wetsuit and you will be comfortable in any weather. |  |
|
| 54F–59F 12C–15C |
At this water temperature booties become necessary, at least if you like to feel you feet. 4/3 wetsuit is OK, but if you will do a lot of surfing in water at the bottom of this temperature range, you should probably get a 5/3. |  |
|
| 48F-54F 9C-12C |
5/3 or 5/4/3 wetsuit with booties and gloves. Hood depends on other conditions like wind etc. |  |
|
| < 48 F < 9 C |
5/3 can work, 6/5/4 is better, depends on how extreme do you want to get. Often it is not the thickness of the wetsuit, but bad booties, gloves etc that are the source of cold. So not only the wetsuit, also the booties, gloves and hood must be thick (5mm). |  |
With good equipment, there is no limit for cold water surfing. The bigger problem is getting out of your wet wetsuit in the freezing parking lot.
To sum up this chart in one sentence: “In our experience: if you only get one wetsuit – get a 4/3!” It is the most versatile and useful in widest range of temperatures.
TWO ADVANCED COLD AND WET WETSUIT TECHNIQUES
Since we finished the chart with some really cold water, here are also two useful tips for putting on a cold wet wetsuit. Wet wetsuit is harder to put on than dry, not just because of the great and enjoyable wet and cold feeling but also because it sticks to your skin and it won’t go on. So to do it faster you can try this:
- It helps to put a PVC bag on you leg or arm before you push it through your wetsuit. Your arms/legs will slide through the sleeves like a hot knife through butter.
- The other trick is to have a dry rash guard in store. Put it on before you get into a wet wetsuit and you won’t feel the cold neoprene on your body. But really, just get it over with as quickly as possible and get into the water.
I recently started surfing, mostly east coast of canada. As you can imagine lots of cold water. Turns out I am allergic to neoprene, as all the good suits are made of neoprene I have no idea what to do. Tried fleece layering no good. I found the surfing drysuit possible solution, but I still need hood, boots and gloves as the best times are when really cold. If you have any help at all that would be great.
Thanks
hey man you should try the new rip curl flash bomb wet suit.. its made of a completely different kind of material. might save ya. far as booties and gloves no idea. unless ya look for something with a different backing on it. or go hardcore and dont wear any..
Jeff, try also the new geoprene neoprene. its made out of limestone, maybe it will work.
move south my blue friend but if not drysuit and wear a wool beanie under your squid lid
Dude this was totally helpful. I always wondered why a froze my ass off in Cali even in the summer. ;D I had some bullshit Play it Again Sports oldie suit that fit like dogbladder.
Cheers for this, the guide is fab and just what I need as I am soon to be training for my first open water 1 mile swim, needed some wetsuit info and now I have it! marvellous, thanks dudes
;D
yes the stormtrooper 6/5/4 bodyglove is awesome i trace carlos live in alaska and its my year round wet suit i kite surf and if you no what a slerpy is that what its like in the winter time in the ocean very cold but im farm in my wet suit good boots and warm gloves are key and hood ,,,
good guide i reckon, worth investing in a thermal rash vest too. with that i am warm down to 6 degrees with gloves boots and 2mm hood.(kitesurfing) Also means you can get your summer suit on sooner and have more freedom to move
If you need to wear a 3/2 fullsuit in 72 degree water, please go see a doctor immediately for a full physical.
I guess this guide is basically a good starting point for someone who has never stepped foot into water. You guys are playing it on the overly safe side a bit don’t you think?
I agree with what YeahRight stated. I’ve been in waters 68~ish° with boardshorts on. Round 66° was when the shorty came out. I guess take it with a grain of salt
i think you guys went a little overboard i pull out a shorty in about 65, 3/2 wet suit u can use when its 58 or higher
I grew up in Manhattan Beach, Ca and water temps in the summer are between 65-68 and EVERYONE swims and boards in bikinis and shorts. Every once in a while you’d see people in half suits… but they’re wussies!!! :)
I have been surfing for a few years now. i would say this is deffinitly a great guide for a beginner. just a few flaws:
if the water is above 70 you don’t need anything. maybe a 1 or 2mm jacket but not a spring.
spring=65-70
3/2=58-65
4/3=50-62(most versitile)
5/4=40-50
any colder then 40f then wtf are you doing out there?!?! but if you must get a 6/5
p.s. the bootie and glove suggestions are on the point, but the rest of the guide is playing it very safe. YOU WILL NOT BE COLD IN 70F WATER!!!!
it is safe :) also, as said, wind also a factor here.
Snorkeling regularly from spring time through fall, in depths usually no more than 20 feet, for the past five or so years off the cool coastal waters off Cape Cod shores, my friends and I typically use 3/2 full suits with rash suits, booties, gloves and hats of varying types to offset the numbing chill of the water quite well. We start the year as the water temp approaches 53 degrees F and go as long as Mid to late October to take in a full season of getting catching lobsters by hand. It’s a real hoot to outwit and capture these delectable creatures then have over for dinner the next couple of nights.
Do you know how many you are allowed to catch per day?
is it just me or is 68-72 beyond a trunking it situation?
Don’t know but it is looking strange to me
;D just went out in 40 f water and almost died…….p.s. i was bareback…cant feel my head
I’m a wakeboarder and I’ve ridden in 42 degree weather with a full body wetsuit and it’s not bad. I don’t wear a wetsuit when it’s 60+ It’s not that bad!
the temps posted are for sull submersion under the water– not surface boarding or snorkling! for the wussy coment you trying staying at 64 degree water 60 ft under for an hour and see if you don’t get cold
yeah..it seems like the temps are a bit on the safe side, but remember that is YOUR comfort in the water that matters. To all the chillers out there, my 5/4/3 keeps me warm in 34 degree water. :)
Looking back on 25 years surfing I think the guide is pretty good. It gives you a range for water temps in the context of topside conditions, which are critical to choosing the right suit on the day. Your personal cold resistance is going to depend on how much fat you carry, how active you are in the water and how well rested and fed you are on the day. If you want the most out of your time in the water, go for the slightly warmer option without unduely restricting your freedom of movement. I always take two with me and choose after I’ve scoped out the conditions. Keep ripping…
Honestly, the warmer you are the better you surf. If you follow this guide, you’ll never be cold and you’ll never be constricted by too much neoprene. If you wanna show off by showing people how cold of water you can stand then go for it, but it’s better to let your surfing do the talking.
That is the best comment I have seen on here! While I’m waiting for the next wave it’s nice not to feel cold.
Agree W/Ben and with the original comment, of course.
I was a bit cold surfing in morocco, I was in rashie and shorts, I dont need a full suit and hate surfing in them so I was going to get a long sleeved thermal rashie or a neoprene one, which is warmer does anyone know?
The chart is on the safe side, but it is a lot better to be safe than sorry. Nothing worse than your feet going numb after an hour and the waves are going off.
And I dont care how cold you can handle it. I am not trying to prove anything when I go out in 50 degree water. I am going out because the surf is good, and if the surf is good I want to be warm (not anywhere close to cold).
If the air temperature is 55 degrees and it’s windy and cloudy then 72 degree water will make you feel cold, and you’ll likely want a 3/2 suit (especially if you’re in the water awhile). This can be typical in the northeast U.S. particularly early morning in the summer.
Air temp in NY was in the low 80s yesterday, but with overcast skies, my teeth were chattering after an hour. Woulda gladly been called a wussy, but warm. :)
awesome awesome awesome!!! Where would farmer johns fit in??
Bobby, long john is about the same as springsuit
I work as a beach life guard in England east coast current water temp is 4 degrees c. During peak summer season it peeks at 9 to 12. We always wear a 3/2 shorty during this period, there is no need for a hood, gloves, boots and full thickness wetsuit you get exhausted after 5 mins of being in. I’ve always found rip curl wetsuits to be the best as well as I have used many different ones during my time working the beach and surfing.
A 3/2 shorty in 9C water??? :D :D :D
I had just bought a 2/3 full suit and was anxious to see just how well it worked so I filled the bathtub up and got the water down to about 45 degrees, I lasted about 6 min. Just incase anyone was retarded enough to try it. Thats the results your going to get lol.
I do have a realistic question and it might be a stupid one to some, but I just bought a very nice 12’6 paddle board and really wanting to take it out, problem is I live in Denver and the water temp is 50 degrees? Outside Temp is 50 degrees as well. So heres my question, would it be warmer to just put the 2/3 wet suit on with gloves and booties and get right on the board without getting anything wet, or soak for a couple minutes to get the suit wet then climb on the board? didnt know if getting the water in the suit would keep me warmer with my body then just letting the suit stay dry??? dont laugh to hard
thx
im assuming keep it dry
Joel, stay dry for sure!!! :) Neoprene insulation properties are not connected to the material being dry or wet, it’s just that wetsuits are never 100% waterproof (you have drysuits for that) and you always get some water inside the wetsuit. This water then gets heated by the body and you stay warm…but this is more of a consequence…not a conditions. Water pulls heat out of the body about 25 times faster than air so you are always warmer being dry than wet.
Here’s a trick you probably didn’t know about but works incredibly well.
I live in the south west of France and when the water gets really cold in jan/feb (11°C – 51°F) before putting on my 4/3 e-bomb I rub on some Bengay/Icy Hot on my arms, chest and legs. (+booties and gloves)
You can surf for over 2 hours and you won’t be cold. And it doesn’t leave a bad smell on your wetsuit. Just be careful not to touch your balls or your eyes when you put the cream on cos it’ll burn..
Great chart. Had to do some F/C conversion but not bad otherwise.
Question: if I have a 3/2 full, and its 11c air, 18c water with 15knot wind, will it be enough? I’ve got a 15 min walk to/from the beach and don’t want to get sick on the way back
3/2 will be enough