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This is probably going to be fairly obvious but everyone has to learn everything they know. With that philosophical bombshell I’ll move on to the subject of the different types of wetsuit that you will commonly come across.
The variety of wetsuits for sale can now be daunting. Some of this is due to improvements in technology and the more varied sports and activities that use wetsuits. Some of course, like everything else, is due to branding and image. A basic understanding of the types of wetsuits may make choosing the perfect wetsuit a little simpler.
Types of Wetsuits
Spring suit (or shorty) : These are very popular and provide coverage for the torso and upper arms and legs. Just to keep things interesting though there are variations that have longer arms or legs.
Long John (or farmer john and farmer jane) : I now have a Neil Young song in my head which will only make sense if you are familiar with his music. Anyway, these are basically wetsuit dungarees, so if you imagine the Waltons but underwater you probably know what I mean.
Full suit : Sometimes called a steamer, this logically enough covers the torso and all of your arms and legs.
Wetsuit Vest : These just cover the upper torso and would normally be worn over or under a wetsuits to provide a bit more protection. Would have to be an exhibitionist to just wear this on its own.
Wetsuit Jacket: These cover the upper torso and arms, sometimes only short sleeved (as in a shorty). Sometimes they include leg holes which keeps everything where it ought to be.
Wetsuits Hoods and Wetsuits Boots are also available to increase the amount of heat insulation.
Wetsuit Thickness
It may be obvious but the thickness of a wetsuit determines how warm it will be. Only small changes in thickness, which is measure in millimeters, can make a big difference. Beyond that I’m afraid that things get a bit more complicated.
For some people warmth is not an issue and the wetsuit is mainly worn for protection from jellyfish and scrapes. For most of us some form of insulation is required. There is a constant balance between warmth and flexibility. Ideally we want to be comfortable heat wise, but have the required flexibility to enjoy using our wetsuit. Wetsuits therefore have developed into more complex arrangements of thicknesses.
Some common variations are 4/3 and 5/3 wetsuits where the first number indicates the torso thickness, where warmth is most important, and the second number shows the thickness for the limbs, where additional flexibility is useful. You will also come across other examples, e.g. 5/4/3 which indicates 5mm in the torso, 4mm for the legs and 3mm in the arms.
Wetsuit Seams
Wetsuit construction has evolved a lot since their invention in the 1950s. Although the type of wetsuit and the wetsuit thickness are important, the stitching also plays a significant role in the insulation provided by the wetsuit.
Some of the common stitching that you will come across are:
Overlocked
This is less common now and is more commonly found on cheaper suits aimed at warmer conditions. This method results in ridges along the seams, which allow water in and reduce the insulation qualities. On the positive side overlocked seams are pretty tough and are less likely to tear.
Flatlocked
This is much more comfortable as it avoids the ridges that overlocked seams produce. Not ideal for colder conditions as the stitching allows water though, but fairly reliable.
Blindstitched
Things start to get more complicated here as a combination of glue and more complex stitching is used which results in a better insulated, initially waterproof seam. Requires some maintenance due to wear and tear caused in part by salt water reducing the effectiveness of the waterproof seams.
Blindstitched & Taped
Sometimes taping is also used with blindstitching to provide additional protection for the seam and to increase insulation. Different types of ‘tape’ are used including neoprene tape, fabric tape and liquid tape.
I hope that the above provides a little insight into the humble wetsuit. There is more to them than meets the eye. In the end though the main thing is to enjoy using them. Feel free to check out our range of cheap wetsuits or our wetsuits store.
This is probably going to be fairly obvious but everyone has to learn everything they know. With that philosophical bombshell I’ll move on to the subject of the different types of wetsuit that you will commonly come across.
The variety of wetsuits can now be daunting. Some of this is due to improvements in technology and the more varied sports and activities that use wetsuits. Some of course, like everything else, is due to branding and image. A basic understanding of the types of wetsuits may make choosing the perfect wetsuit a little simpler.
Types of Wetsuits
Spring suit (or shorty) : These are very popular and provide coverage for the torso and upper arms and legs. Just to keep things interesting though there are variations that have longer arms or legs.
Long John (or farmer john and farmer jane) : I now have a Neil Young song in my head which will only make sense if you are familiar with his music. Anyway, these are basically wetsuit dungarees, so if you imagine the Waltons but underwater you probably know what I mean.
Full suit : Sometimes called a steamer, this logically enough covers the torso and all of your arms and legs.
Wetsuit Vest : These just cover the upper torso and would normally be worn over or under a wetsuits to provide a bit more protection. Would have to be an exhibitionist to just wear this on its own.
Wetsuit Jacket: These cover the upper torso and arms, sometimes only short sleeved (as in a shorty). Sometimes they include leg holes which keeps everything where it ought to be.
Wetsuits Hoods and Wetsuits Boots are also available to increase the amount of heat insulation.
Wetsuit Thickness
It may be obvious but the thickness of a wetsuit determines how warm it will be. Only small changes in thickness, which is measure in millimeters, can make a big difference. Beyond that I’m afraid that things get a bit more complicated.
For some people warmth is not an issue and the wetsuit is mainly worn for protection from jellyfish and scrapes. For most of us some form of insulation is required. There is a constant balance between warmth and flexibility. Ideally we want to be comfortable heat wise, but have the required flexibility to enjoy using our wetsuit. Wetsuits therefore have developed into more complex arrangements of thicknesses.
Some common variations are 4/3 and 5/3 wetsuits where the first number indicates the torso thickness, where warmth is most important, and the second number shows the thickness for the limbs, where additional flexibility is useful. You will also come across other examples, e.g. 5/4/3 which indicates 5mm in the torso, 4mm for the legs and 3mm in the arms.
Wetsuit Seams
Wetsuit construction has evolved a lot since their invention in the 1950s. Although the type of wetsuit and the wetsuit thickness are important, the stitching also plays a significant role in the insulation provided by the wetsuit.
Some of the common stitching that you will come across are:
Overlocked
This is less common now and is more commonly found on cheaper suits aimed at warmer conditions. This method results in ridges along the seams, which allow water in and reduce the insulation qualities. On the positive side overlocked seams are pretty tough and are less likely to tear.
Flatlocked
This is much more comfortable as it avoids the ridges that overlocked seams produce. Not ideal for colder conditions as the stitching allows water though, but fairly reliable.
Blindstitched
Things start to get more complicated here as a combination of glue and more complex stitching is used which results in a better insulated, initially waterproof seam. Requires some maintenance due to wear and tear caused in part by salt water reducing the effectiveness of the waterproof seams.
Blindstitched & Taped
Sometimes taping is also used with blindstitching to provide additional protection for the seam and to increase insulation. Different types of ‘tape’ are used including neoprene tape, fabric tape and liquid tape.
I hope that the above provides a little insight into the humble wetsuit. There is more to them than meets the eye. In the end though the main thing is to enjoy using them.
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