Wetsuit Size – How To Choose The Right One

There is a new extended and updated wetsuit size guide artice on 360guide.info, I suggest you you read that one.

If you never wore a wetsuit and you are wondering how to choose the right size wetsuit for you then read this. BTW – first you should read our little How to put on your wetsuit post.

Choosing Wetsuit Size

Wetsuit should feel snug and tight all over, but it should not force you to bend over. If it does, than the body part of the wetsuit is to small and you should get a size bigger wetsuit or maybe a tall version of the same size. Tall version? Yes, many times there is a T for TALL model of the small and especially medium size wetsuits. Like MS, M and MT. This means that if you are skinny and tall you should maybe get a medium tall wetsuit and not a Large one because large wetsuit will be loose and you will be constantly flushed with cold water.

After the wetsuit is installed on your body :) try crouching, bending over, jumping, moving your arms (and sweating up the wetsuit) to see if there are any restrictions of movement and if the sleeves are long enough.

A good test for the size of the wetsuit is this: pull the neoprene on your back just above your backside away from our body. There should not be to big of a gap between your body and the wetsuit. Because of the curve of your back this is the first place where you can see if the wetsuit is to big. Then again, we are all built different so it is hard to find a perfect fit. New more elastic neoprene makes choosing the right wetsuit size much easier.

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1 Comment

  1. says: mj11111

    Hello,

    With a heavy heart I write this to inform you of the latest loss to the surfing world. O’Neill wetsuits has decided to pull their size XXXL wetsuits
    from there product line leaving us larger men unable to purchase there fine suits and to be comfortable in colder climates. It was explained
    to me that the XXXL suits were not profitable enough to continue there production. In addition to that it is sick that you would be willing to make custom colors for $100 more but not a larger suit?

    I am not fat nor abnormally formed and arms are not large. I am 6’3″ tall 220. An XXXL is less restrictive in the chest and shoulders, the O’Neill XXXL
    has more stomach pooch material though annoying is worth the ability to actually paddle. I have surfed for thirty two years and have purchased
    new suits just about every year. A 3/2mm and 4/3mm for the winter and a spring and vest in the summer. Two growing boys too close together
    in age to hand me down and growing fast need full’s, springs, and vests each year and one full and spring for the wife every couple of years.
    That’s just about seven to ten rubber products a year.

    Industry needs to realize that the younger generation that is moving product faster are not the buyers, the older or larger guy is, he is the one that
    forks out the cash. If my loyalty to a company is repaid by the removal of a product that I need to continue the sport I love then what left to be said
    about that company. I intend on taking my business, my entire business , suits, apparel accessories on down the road to a manufacturer that values
    my business enough to realize that I am the one that is there key buyer and I am encouraging my friends to follow.

    If you can supply a suit that will get me back in the water I want to hear from you. You will get my business, my families business, and every person
    within screaming distance of every surf break I go to around the world will know that you did not sell out their key buyer and person that helped
    build there company to what it is today.

    I would appreciate if you would forward this to the USA operations there is no email site available to contact them.

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