When to Wear Wetsuit Boots, Gloves, and Hoods | The Ultimate Guide
When venturing into cold waters, knowing when to wear wetsuit boots, neoprene gloves, and wetsuit hoods is crucial for maintaining warmth and comfort. These essential accessories help protect against heat loss, allowing you to stay in the water longer while keeping you insulated. Whether surfing, kayaking, diving, or swimming, understanding the right conditions and temperatures for adding these layers ensures maximum performance and enjoyment during your favourite water sports.
At the Wetsuit Centre, we offer one of the largest selections of wetsuit accessories at some of the most competitive prices from leading surf brands like O'Neill, Xcel, Rip Curl and C-Skins. It can be confusing to pick the right gear for your conditions so we have broken it down to guide you in the right direction. This is just a guide so don't forget to ask your locals what they recommend!
Keep Your Toes Toasty: When Boots Are a Must!
Wetsuit boots are essential for surfers, divers, and swimmers when water temperatures dip into the cooler range, typically below 15°C (59°F). A pair of boots provide crucial insulation, helping to retain body heat and prevent numbness in your feet. They also enhance grip and stability during your sessions and offer protection against sharp rocks. Below is a list of the most popular neoprene thicknesses and when they are a MUST!
| 3mm: Best used in mild to cool water conditions, typically ranging from 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F). They are light and maintain a great amount of flexibility. |
| 5mm: Ideal for cold water conditions, typically ranging from 8°C to 15°C (46°F to 59°F). They are designed to maintain flexibility while offering a thicker layer of neoprene for added warmth |
| 7mm: Best used in extremely cold water, typically below 8°C (46°F). They provide maximum insulation, making them ideal for icy winter surf sessions. |
Wetsuit Boot Type
Once you know what wetsuit boot thickness you require you will need to decide what style of boots are best suited to you.
Round Toe Wetsuit Boots: These boots are designed to provide a comfortable, snug fit that helps to retain warmth while keeping your feet protected in cold water. The shape of this boot allows for natural foot movement and flexibility, making them ideal for water sports like surfing, diving, and swimming. |
Split Toe Wetsuit Boots: This style is designed with a separate compartment for the big toe. It offers increased flexibility, better board feel, balance and control while maintaining warmth, making them ideal for surfers and divers. |
Our selection of boots comes in a wide range of different sizes, colourways and styles to suit your needs and if you are ever in doubt feel free to give our team a shout as we are more than happy to guide you in the right direction!
Beat The Chill: When To Wear a Wetsuit Hood For Ultimate Warmth.
A wetsuit hood is ideal for your favourite water sport as a means of extra warmth and protection. It is useful in winter for activities like cold-water surfing, diving in icy environments, cold-water swimming or places where wind is a major factor. Our neoprene hood selection range is huge but our most popular thicknesses are 2mm & 3mm for cooler water. You can also take a look at our selection of wetsuit caps and beanies that are just as great as a wetsuit hood.
A wetsuit cap is typically worn under a wetsuit hood or on its own, depending on the level of warmth needed. A key difference between that cap and a hood is that a cap does not extend down the neck and therefore leaves the neck exposed. Surfers mainly use a cap for protection from the sun and their ears. A wetsuit beanie fits snugly on the head to help retain warmth by insulating against cold temperatures and can also be worn under a wetsuit hood or on its own. It is important to note that a wetsuit beanie's function is only to warm the head and does not have the benefit of a visor on the front like most hoods and caps and will not provide protection for the ears and neck. Below are a couple of factors to consider when choosing a wetsuit hood, cap or beanie.
| Local Water Temperature: Colder waters require thicker neoprene for insulation, while warmer conditions might only need a thinner hood. |
| Weather Conditions: Windy or cold air temperatures may require extra protection from the elements. The combination of wind and cold water is a surfers nightmare as this is what causes Surfers Ear. We HIGHLY recommend you use a wetsuit hood and for those who opt to not wear one do yourself and your ears a solid and get a pair of the epic SurfEars 4.0 Pro Ear Plugs! |
| Reason For Use: Decide what you want protection from and what most benefits your sport. This is a key factor when choosing between the three options. |
When Wetsuit Gloves Are Essential: Stay Warm No Matter The Conditions!
Wetsuit gloves and mittens are essential for keeping your hands warm and comfy during colder water conditions, particularly in winter. When the water temperature drops below 60°F (15°C), wearing one of these options helps protect your hands from numbness and discomfort, ensuring you maintain control and dexterity when paddling or gripping your surfboard. Opt for one of our 3mm and 5mm neoprene thick wetsuit gloves to ensure your fingers and hands maintain heat and prevent loss of paddle power.
Difference Between Gloves and Mittens
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Wetsuit Gloves: Wetsuit gloves feature individual finger compartments for enhanced dexterity, making them ideal for tasks requiring precision like surfing or diving.
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Wetsuit Mittens: Wetsuit mittens provide a more insulated design with the fingers bundled together, offering better warmth but less mobility. Our 7mm mittens are an excellent option for freezing water temperatures to ensure optimal warmth and longer sessions.
Gloves and mittens are essential wetsuit accessories for anyone who surfs cold to freezing waters to ensure your body remains at its optimal temperature for a more enjoyable experience. Don't let those hands and fingers be the reason you miss out on the wave of the day!
FAQ For Wetsuit Boots, Gloves and Hoods
Do Boots Go Under Or Over a Wetsuit?
Wetsuit boots are worn underneath the wetsuit to create a snug, waterproof seal, enhancing insulation and warmth. Wetsuit gloves and hoods should also be worn under your wetsuit to ensure heat retention and prevent water entry.
Do You Need a Wetsuit Hood?
If you are surfing colder waters and the area is known for windy conditions you absolutely should get yourself a hood. When surfing or enjoying warmer more tropical waters opt for something like a surf hat as they are excellent at protecting you from the heat and harsh UV rays.
Do Wetsuit Gloves Keep Your Hands Dry?
Wetsuit gloves are designed to provide insulation for your fingers and hands and protect them from the cold. The gloves are not waterproof, so your hands may still get wet, but the gloves are effective at preventing cold water from directly contacting your skin and the same goes for wetsuit boots and hoods.