One of the first questions people ask when they are new to this surf and wetsuit stuff is: “What should I wear under my wetsuit?“.
A few things should be said here:
1. Extra Layer for More Warmth
First you might want to put something under your wetsuit if you are cold. If your wetsuit is too thin for the water you are throwing yourself into put on a thin wetsuit top, a thermal lycra or neoprene shorts and then your wetsuit. You will get some extra insulation and you will stay warmer.
2. Nothing, Wear Absolutely Nothing Under Your Wetsuit:)!
Usually the “What to wear under your wetsuit?” question is just a polite way of asking “OMG, should I be naked??“. Yes, you should. It’s not like a law or something but most people don’t wear anything under their wetsuits. Some exceptions to this rule would be: changing into your wetsuit in a very public place, you are really shy, clumsy with a towel, don’t have a poncho… In a case like this, put on a normal bathing suit and wear it under your wettie.
Never use boardshorts (however cool they might be to you). They’ll get all wrinkled up and very uncomfortable. Throw on some dickstickers, nuthuggers… Oh, also if you are renting a wetsuit and you don’t like the idea of your private parts rubbing with places where other people’s private parts rubbed before – also use bathing suit.
3. Wetsuit Rash
Third and final reason for wearing something under your wettie is wetsuit rash or wetsuit chafing. In places where there is a lot of movement your skin rubs against the neoprene and after awhile it will get sore. The usual suspects for this are your neck, armpits, behind the knees, ballsack… with neck and armpits being the most common. To prevent this:
- wear a lycra top/shorts,
- wear a bathing suit,
- use anti-chafing gel/cream to lubricate these places so neoprene smoothly slides over them.