Whether you’re searching for mens wetsuits, ladies wetsuits or children’s wetsuits, a good place to start is with some good, old fashioned buying advice before you part with your heard earned cash.

Wetsuits are primarily made from neoprene because of it’s excellent insulating properties. They are made up of several panels which are either welded or stitched together. In most cases the panels are different thicknesses; thicker around the torso to protect your major organs, thinner on your limbs to allow you freedom of movement. The thickness of the material is described in millimeters, and where there are different thicknesses, usually described just by the numbers e.g. a 3/2 wetsuit will have 3 mm material on the torso and 2 mm material on the limbs.

Neoprene is expensive so many manufacturers will use other, cheaper materials for some of the panels of your wetsuit. Other materials can also be used to add additional insulating properties (e.g. merino wool linings).

Choosing the right suit for the right conditions
For warm water (above 75ºF / 24ºC) 
the ideal choice is a Shorty wetsuit. They’re usually made from fairly thin material 3/2 or 2/1
Shorties are ideal for active sports like surfing, where a good range of movement is required. They are also suitable for diving in warm water.

For spring conditions (65ºF – 75ºF / 18ºC – 24ºC)
 a three quarters suit “Spring suit” is ideal. These wetsuits have three quarter length sleeves and legs. They’re usually available in 3/2 or 2/1 thickness.

For winter / cold water conditions (less that 60ºF / 15.5ºC) you’re almost certain to require a Full wetsuit “steamer”. Full wetsuits have full length sleeves and legs. They come in thicknesses between 3/2 and 7mm. Some modern winter suits are available with attached hoods which pull over your head and zip at the front, for extra warmth.

Layering can be used as a way of getting more warmth from your wetsuit. A good option is a rash vest, a thin, tight t-shirt which can be worn beneath your wetsuit for additional insulation. Wetsuit boots can be warm to keep your feet warm. If your wetsuit doesn’t have a hood built in you can add a separate one.

Choosing the right wetsuit for your sport
Each sport has its own set of distinct requirements from a wetsuit.

Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing and Surfing – All require a wetsuit that allows good freedom of movement. Stretchy neoprene and thinner panels are a likely choice (unless you plan to be in very cold water). Welded seams will be better than stitched seams, as they help to prevent you losing too much insulating water out through the seams.

SCUBA Diving – When choosing a diving wetsuit, just ensure you have the correct thickness / style for the water temperature you plan to dive in. Some diving suits also have extra padding on the back where the bottle goes, to protect your back.

Triathlon – Triathlon wetsuits are extremely specialized. They require maximum buoyancy and slick surfaces to speed your passage through the water. They’re also cut differently to improve your range of movement.

There are other influencing factors that may affect your choice for each of these sports, that are beyond the scope of this article. We’ll cover those in more detail in another post.

To sum up
a) Decide on the temperature of the water that you’ll be using the wetsuit in. If you’re only going to be using the wetsuit in the warmest temperatures you’ll want a shorty. If you want a bit more temperature range, you might want to consider a spring suit. You can use a 3/2 full length suit for all but the extremes of hot and cold water, and if you’re planning to mainly operate in cold water you’re going to be looking for a thicker full length suit 5/3 or thicker.

b) Budget – More expensive suits will use better materials and will give you more flexibility, but they will usually wear out faster. If you’re on a budget, bear this in mind. If you want to use your suit really often and you don’t want to have to keep replacing it, you might to choose a more durable but less comfortable wetsuit. If your wallet is bulging and you perhaps don’t plan to use the wetsuit as often (or you can afford to replace the suit every year) you can go for the best quality, most comfortable wetsuit.

c) Choose a wetsuit suitable for your sport.

Happy purchasing, from all at Mens wetsuits dot com