Buying the Perfect Wetsuit
When it comes to choosing surfing equipment, naturally your board is going to take priority. However, in a close second, and by no means any less important, is your wetsuit. Your wetsuit is essential for protecting you from often chilly temperatures of the water, so it’s a vitally important piece of equipment.
Wearing a suit also dramatically increases how streamlined you are in the water, which is something that all surfers should strive for. After all, the faster you go, the more waves you’ll catch!
Here’s what you should look for when you’re buying a wetsuit:
- Comfort – As much as we love our chosen pursuit, being in the chilly British waters for hours on end can get a tad uncomfortable. Opt for a wetsuit that’s made from coated, smooth materials, which is going to keep you as comfortable as possible.
- Flexibilty – This ties in with the previous point. The last thing you want is to be restricted in your wetsuit. Suits which incorporate shoulder and underarm panels will increase your flexibility, allowing you to power through the water more effectively.
It’s also extremely important to make sure you’re wearing the correct size wetsuit, as wearing the wrong size can also have a big impact on how well you can manoeuvre yourself. If you’re confused as to what size suit you should be wearing, take a look at this really handy video, which provides some great tips on how a wetsuit should fit.
- Buoyancy – It stands to reason that the less work you have to do in keeping yourself afloat when you’re in the water, the more you’ll have to put into chasing the waves. That’s why you should look for suits that use materials like neoprene, which are full of air pockets.
- Streamlined design – You want as little resistance as possible when you’re in the water, so look for a streamlined design which is essential for speed.
When you’re searching for a new wetsuit, it’s a good move to think outside the box by considering designs that aren’t necessarily advertised as being designed for surfers and bodyboarders. Triathlon wetsuits, like the range at ActivInstict, are perfect for surfers, so it’s worth taking a look.
(Triathlon wetsuits are designed for flexibility, speed in the water and comfort, so they’re perfect for surfers and boarders!)
If you think about it in terms of purpose, a triathlon athlete wants exactly the same things from a wetsuit as a boarder does; a streamlined design for speed, effective buoyancy and high-tech materials to regulate body temperature.
Follow this simple guide and you can’t go wrong when you choose your wetsuit. It’s worth putting the effort and time in to choosing a good design, as this can make all the difference to your surfing and boarding.
