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Written by A. Philips
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Monday, 21 July 2008 10:21 |
Buying A Wetsuit
If you are a diver and you don't own a wet suit you are either very fortunate to live in a temperate climate where the water temperature is high enough to forgo the need for a wet suit entirely or, you don't dive very much. If you do dive often and are constantly renting wet suits, you are needlessly raising your stress level. Nothing is more aggravating than trying to find a good fitting wet suit in August on a busy rental weekend. Hundred degree heat and humidity are just not my idea of the start of a perfect weekend. I have been counseling students for years, if they really want to do a lot of diving, wait on the regulator and buy a really good fitting, high quality wet suit.
Wet suit Basics: Wet suits come in a variety of configurations and materials. Some are designed specifically for diving and some are more for surface water sports like waterskiing, surfing, wakeboarding, etc. Short sleeves and short legged farmer johns usually indicate a surface sports suit. There can be differences in the quality of the neoprene material used that make surface suits unsuited for diving applications.
For diving wetsuits come in two basic styles, 1 piece and 2 piece suits. The 2 piece suits consist of a shorty (the top) and a farmer john / or jane (the bottom). A properly fitted 2 piece will almost always be warmer than 1 piece of the same thickness because of the double layer of neoprene you get over the core of your body. Remember, water conducts heat roughly 25 faster than air. You need to minimize water flow in and out of the suit. Good fitting cuffs and neck are a big help in keeping you warm. A two piece wet suit also allows you to adjust the insulation level for varying water temperatures. A 1 piece wetsuit is what it is, with no means of adjusting the amount of insulation short of changing the entire suit.
What are you buying it for?: One question you need to ask yourself is what are you being the wet suit for. Wet suits generally serve two purposes, environmental protection, from barnacles, jelly fish, etc. and thermal protection. If you are buying just for environmental protection then fit is not as critical an issue. You still want a wet suit the fits properly but you might be able to get by with one that is a little loose. One the other hand, if you are looking for thermal protection, regardless of where you buy them and for whatever neoprene thickness and configuration (one or two piece) the first and most important criteria is fit. It doesn't matter if the suit is 10 years old or straight from the manufacturer, if it doesn't fit properly it will not keep you warm and is not worth the money you payed for.
Wetsuit Thickness: One big question to be answered when purchasing a wetsuit for thermal protection is the thickness of the neoprene. The only way to determine what thickness you need in order to be comfortable is to spend some time in the water with different thicknesses to determine your comfort level in the different thicknesses of suit in various water temperatures. After years of diving I have found I prefer many layers of thinner material, usually 3mm, rather than 1 layer of a thick suit. For me there is less of a Michelin Man effect with the thinner layers and it doesn't seem to create the same magnitude of increase buoyancy that a thick suit creates. Multiple layers also, as mentioned previously, gives you a way to adjust your temperature.
Fitting a Wetsuit: As a rule a good fitting wetsuit, regardless of thickness, will be warmer than a poor fitting one. A good fitting wet suit will let the suit work like it should. A wetsuit should fit snuggly over the entire body but not so snuggly that it restricts movement or breathing. In case you didn't know already, a wetsuit keeps you warm by trapping a layer of water between you and the suit. You heat up that water and the suit insulates, kind of like a little personal and portable hot tub. A poorly fitted suit will allow water to circulate in the suit which will constantly chill you. You are going to get cold eventually in any wet suit. A good fitting one just slows down that process and lets you enjoy your time underwater.
What About A Dry Suit?: Dry suits have there place, such as really cold water or long emersion times, but they require additional training to use them safely. If you get one do yourself a favor and get the proper training before taking it in open water.
Other Ways of Staying Warm: Don't forget a hood, good booties and gloves. Your head is the biggest radiator on your body. Cover it and you'll stay considerably warmer. Rather than just a hood, consider a hooded vest. This adds one more layer of neoprene over the core of the body and makes a very good neck seal to keep new cold water out of the suit during a dive.
My Current Wetsuit of Choice: This article stops short of recommending any specific brand of wet suit. I don't sell wet suits so I can only give you my personal opinion. Recently I have comer to prefer the Henderson Hyperstretch. The material is much more flexible than other wetsuit neoprenes which makes a better fit and makes them easier to get in and out of. Before You Buy: If your shop will allow it and has the facilities for it, try some different wet suit brands before you go and buy one. That is the only way you will be able to tell, for certain, which suit is the best for you.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 21 July 2008 22:40 )
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