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Wetsuit Video Guides

Buying Your First Wetsuit?

Buying your first wetsuit can be a daunting task especially when you are not familiar with all the tech terminology. This wetsuit video explain the following

  • Wetsuit neoprene thickness
  • Pricing of different wetsuit models
  • Different type of seams
  • Wetsuit Zip Entry


  

Correct Size Wetsuit?

Choosing the correct size wetsuit is one of the most important factors when buying your neoprene friend. If the wetsuit is too loose it won't keep you warm. A wetsuit which is too tight means you won't be able to move freely and you will find the suit really uncomfortable. Our wetsuit sizing video will show you how to distinguish between a wetsuit which fits like a second skin, and a wetsuit which hangs like a monkey. If you have any questions regarding wetsuit fitting, please feel free to contact us.

 
 

Wetsuit Care

Ok, so you have spent a lot of money on your wetsuit and you would like to look after it? Unfortunately urinating in your wetsuit is sometimes a necessity when in the water. The dilemma is how do you wash the pee and salt water off the wetsuit? Salt water and pee will damage the wetsuit and make your wetsuit stink. In this video Jeff gives you a demonstration on how to look after and care for your wetsuit.



A Tour Of Our Showroom

We have been selling wetsuits, surfboards and other surf equipment now since 1999. Way back in the early days we had limited stock, and yearly reinvested in more stock to be where we are today. We are one of the largest stockists in Europe of wetsuits, surfboards and water sports equipment. We also have three retail stores located on the Boscombe sea front. Take a virtual tour around our warehouse and see the massive range we have to offer. If you need advice, please contact us and we will be more than happy to assist you.
We hope our wetsuit video guides will arm you with some helpful information regarding purchasing a wetsuit, and the kind of after care needed to prolong the life your wetsuit . We will be posting more wetsuit guides and in the future, but you can also find reviews on the products we sell.
 
21-06-2012
 
How does a Wetsuit work and how does it keep you warm?

So in answer to the question how does a wetsuit keep you warm we should start with the basics of how a wetsuit works. Wetsuits keep you warm by catching a thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene. Your body heats up this water and keeps you warm. It’s important to get a wetsuit that fits properly, otherwise cold water will constantly flush the warm water out. The neoprene in the wetsuit also acts as insulation against environment, so the thicker the neoprene (and wetsuit) the better the insulation will be. The neoprene contains loads of small air bubbles that provide the insulation.

 

As technology has advanced in the world of wetsuits and neoprene is of such high quality so does the warmth and flexibility. So where-by the basics of how a wetsuit works is important to warmth its not the most important factor anymore. Let's take a look at some of the key features that uses new technology to make the wetsuit warmer.


                                                               Glued & Blindstiched

In terms of construction GBS is where in construction of the wetsuit they join the material together by gluing then stitching to form a bond that reduces water penetration. The less water that enters the wetsuit the warmer your body will remain. GBS seams are in all winter wetsuits (5mm Wetsuits) as not having any water enter the wetsuit is crucial in cold water. Where-by some entry level summer wetsuits (3mm Wetsuits) will have a flatlock construction which is where the material is overlapped and  double stitched, this form of construction can let some water through the seams but is used in water that is generally warmer so having less impact.



          Thermal Lining

As you can see from the photo the red material is the thermal material which is designed to wick water away from your body and act in the same way as thermal underwear. To the touch the thermal material is soft with slight bobbles. This is generally placed on the chest and kidney area of the wetsuit. The reason for this is to keep the blood flow warm in these key areas thus warm blood is pumped around the body keeping you warmer. Thermal ling is far less flexible than neoprene so does reduce flexibility in the areas to where it is added.



                                                              Liquid Seams

 

Technology has played a large part in the advent of liquid seams in wetsuits. Liquid seams are designed the minimize even further the possibility of water entering the wetsuit. The process is to GBS the seams first then add this taping to either or both sides of the seam thus making a seal that cant be penetrated. Even as i write this article technology has meant that these seams are reducing in thickness and width to enable increased flexibility. As the more flexible a wetsuit is the better it will feel and the better it will fit, keeping you warmer. So you should consider this when buying a wetsuit. I personally prefer wetsuits without the liquid sealing as i like the flex you get and feeling of not having any restrictions. The seams on wetsuits nowadays is so good that less and less water is getting through the seams.


Hope that has helped explain a couple of the features of what makes a wetsuit warm. Please feel free to ask us to review any products or answer questions by contacting www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk
 
19-7-12
 
Which Wetsuit Thickness to Buy?
 
If you plan on participating in any water sport which involves being submerged in cold water. Advancements in wetsuit technology have helped watersports users to keep warm in cold water for extended periods. It is now possible to participate in water sports throughout the year with a well made wetsuit, even in winter. If you want to keep warm in the water throughout the winter months it is essential that you purchase a good quality winter wetsuit.
 
Winter wetsuits are made up of thicker neoprene compared to summer wetsuits, this thicker neoprene helps keep in and insulate the body's heat. The neoprene works by trapping a thin layer of water in-between the neoprene and your body. This layer of water conducts the heat from your body and provides warmth within the wetsuit. If you wear a summer wetsuit in the winter it is most likely you would get extremely cold and end up with painful cramps in your muscles. This is because the neoprene is too thin to effectively keep the water inside the wetsuit warm.Making sure the wetsuit fits is just as important as getting the thickness right. If the wetsuit is too baggy it will let in excess water and your body temperature will find it hard to warm the extra surface area of water. A wetsuit really should feel like a second skin and you should be able to move freely within the wetsuit without any pinching or tightness.
 

Winter wetsuits are made with different thickness of neoprene ranging from 4mmto 6mm. Depending on how cold the water is will determine which thickness of wetsuit you should use. Below is a guide which will help you decide which thickness wetsuit you will need to buy.

20C'+  2mm Shorty
19C'20C Short or 3mm
15C'19C 3mm Full
12C'15C 4mm Full
5C-12C 5mm Full with Gloves & Boots on some days a hood will be required.

5 C ' Below 6mm Full with Hood  and Gloves & Boots
 
As you can see if you are the colder the temperature of the water requires a thicker wetsuit and in water below 9c you will need to wear a wetsuit hood and gloves / boots. The wetsuit hood insulates the head and helps stops essential heat escaping, this also applies to wetsuit boots. Also the wetsuit hood prevents 'Ice cream headaches' when being submerged under the cold water. The wetsuit gloves are used to stop the cold water from physically hurting the hands through coldness and to give them warmth.
 
Choosing a winter wetsuit also may depend on how prone to cold you are and if you find yourself getting cold you could wear a thermal rash vest to go underneath your wetsuit. A thermal rash vest is normally made from a material called 'Polypro'. This material is like a close knit fleece and provides and extra layer of insulation underneath a wetsuit.