Full Wetsuits: How to Shop for Yours

Full wetsuits are worn to protect your body from the cold water when you are doing water sports by trapping a layer of water between your body and the suit itself. How much water is trapped will determine how well the suit works, which is why getting the right fit is so critically important to the wearer. If you have never worn any style of a full wetsuit, it is best to seek the assistance of a professional to help you find the right type, the right fit and the right thickness.

Most full wetsuits are made of neoprene, a clingy, stretchy and strong type of material; however there are a few that are made of other materials as well. The thickness of the material used for your full wetsuit will depend on the type of water that you will be going into and what you are likely to encounter there. For instance, you might need thicker material for very cold water or you might need the additional protection if you are going to be diving in a coral bed. Some full wetsuits are also good to serve as protection against jellyfish stings in waters where they are a problem.

Full wetsuits must fit correctly, which means that they should conform snugly to the body as much as possible. There are several different models, with some having a number of different zippers to make them easier to get into and out of but still remaining correctly fitted while it is on.

• If the suit is too loose it will allow too much water in and will lose much of its insulation ability.
• If the suit is too tight it can be difficult to move in, painful and in some cases, can be dangerous as it can prevent the wearer from breathing correctly.

These wetsuits are often designed with varying thicknesses of neoprene in various places on the suit not only for comfort and warmth but for the ease of use as well. For instance, a full wetsuit might have thicker material in the chest area but slightly thinner material in the arms and legs so that the wearer can have full range of motion in the limbs. There are also a number of styles with each water sport having a preferred style. The one piece full wetsuits will have more protection than other styles, which may bunch up during a dive, for instance, or may not fit as tightly.