![]() The fit was surprisingly good – laid flat the suit looked somewhat boxy (which usually doesn’t bode well for my lanky frame), but it fit like a glove. While sitting in the lineup, I noticed it wasn’t quite as warm as the O’Neill Hyperfreak Fire. However, that doesn’t do much while waiting for waves. ![]() The lining is said to generate heat while you paddle, which I’m pretty sure I could actually feel. Pulling it on for the first time was an experience in luxury, with a super-cozy fleece lining throughout the entire suit, and very stretchy neoprene. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice Best Overall Wetsuitįeatures: Full fuzz lining, zip-free entry, key pocket on left calf. The Rip Curl E7 Flashbomb Heatseeker ranked as the best all-around wetsuit. Want to avoid getting your ears drilled? Read our earplugs review here. Read our review of women’s wetsuits here. Most Durable Wetsuits: Manera X10D/ Dakine Cycloneįor booties, check out our guide to the best booties. Warmest Wetsuit/Steamer (Value Option): Vissla North Seas Most Sustainable Wetsuit: Patagonia R-Series Warmest Wetsuit/Best Steamer: O’Neill Hyperfreak Fireīest High-Performance (Stretchiest) Wetsuit: Quiksilver Highline The Best Wetsuits for Surfing of 2023īest All-Around Best Wetsuit: Rip Curl E7 Heatseeker Flashbomb ![]() Read on for our top picks, and scroll to the bottom of the article for info on how we tested, as well as buying advice. I asked the top wetsuit makers in the biz to send me their warmest and stretchiest 4/3 wetsuit (no manufacturer paid for placement in this review), and I put them all to the test in the chilly waters at my home break of Ocean Beach, San Francisco. They’ve even come a long way in the past couple years as new technologies and stretchier, eco-friendly materials have become a priority for wetsuit manufacturers.Īfter a couple of hard years of supply chain disruptions wreaking havoc on the wetsuit supply, the time was finally right for a full-blown, no-bs, apples-to-apples wetsuit test. If it hurts to do basic movements or you feel like your range of motion is limited while trying on a wetsuit, it is not a good fit.Wetsuits have come a long way since they replaced the wool sweater in the 1950s and ’60s as an inventive way for surfers to keep warm in cold water. ![]() Simple stretches you learned in school, like arm circles and touching your toes, should be easy to complete without causing any rubbing or friction between your skin and the suit. Once you find a diving wetsuit that is tight enough, stretch your arms and legs. Don’t forget to check your lower back and crotch to make sure there is no saggy fabric that can leave air bubbles or folds. There should be no folds, lumps, bumps, or pockets of loose fabric. Smooth fabric : Put on the wetsuit and run your hand around your entire body to feel how the suit forms around your physique.The sleeves should end at your wrist bone and the legs just above the ankle bone. Sleeve and pant length : A wetsuit won’t keep you insulated if it doesn’t cover your body.When you try on a diving wetsuit, keep an eye out for: Wetsuits can vary slightly in design and cut by different designers, so it’s important to try them on. How Tight Should Your Scuba Wetsuit Be? A good suit should feel snug, but it shouldn’t be so tight that it restricts your movement or makes you uncomfortable. But which one should you choose? It’s usually good to use a 5mm fabric for 65-70 degree water, while 3/2 mm wetsuits are better for 75-82 degree water. Single-number measurements: Wetsuits that feature just one number, like 5mm, have a uniform thickness throughout the suit.įor most newer divers, it’s a good call to start with a 5mm or a 3/2mm wetsuit.This means that a 3/2mm scuba diving wetsuit is 3mm thick in the torso and 2mm thick in the arms and legs. Two-number measurements: Wetsuits that feature two numbers mean there is a varied thickness between the torso and the appendages, with the first number referring to the body and the second referring to arms and legs.Here is a quick guide on how to read those measurements: Wetsuits are measured by the thickness of the materials used to make them. The colder the water, the more insulation you’ll need. Scuba diving off the coast of Hawaii in summer is very different than in a lake fed by a mountain’s spring thaw. Does the Water Temperature Matter When Choosing a Wetsuit? The water you are diving into directly impacts what type of scuba wetsuit you should wear.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |