The Power of a Wetsuit

• Posted on 1 October 2022
• By Julia Peet
• 0

Wetsuits extend your water sport season. They work because they trap a layer of water against your skin. Your natural body heat warms up that layer and then insulates you against the cold water outside of the wetsuit. Consider these different elements before you purchase a wetsuit.

The Power of a Wetsuit:

Wetsuits extend your water sport season. They work because they trap a layer of water against your skin. Your natural body heat warms up that layer and then insulates you against the cold water outside of the wetsuit. Consider these different elements before you purchase a wetsuit. There are different thicknesses, styles, lengths, and more. The power of a wetsuit is such that it can extend your season by an entire month or two. But don't let all these different elements intimidate you. So, let's delve into it.

How does a wetsuit work?

A wetsuit is a neoprene suit made for warmth, insulation, and protection during water sports. Furthermore, wetsuits trap a thin layer of water between your body and the suit. This layer of water is warmed by your natural body heat. This prevents you from losing too much heat while in the water. Wetsuits are not meant to keep you entirely dry. Neoprene is made of small closed cells that are filled with air which provide insulation against cold water by trapping heat in. The thicker the suit's neoprene, the warmer the suit will be because it has more heat-trapping insulation.

If the temperatures are cold enough to make your fingers and toes go numb, think about using boots, gloves and hoods too.

How Should my wetsuit fit?

A wetsuit should fit like a second skin. This means that it is tight and snug. Most people are uncomfortable the first time they try on a wetsuit because they are not used to it and the suit is stiff on dry land. Once you get into the water, it will expand a little and feel more comfortable.  If your wetsuit does not fit properly it will not be able to keep you warm or allow you the mobility you need for your sport.

After you have your wetsuit on and zipped, there shouldn’t be any excess room in the areas around your torso, crotch, shoulders, arm pits, or knees. Look for ripples in the neoprene. If you can grab the fabric in your hands and pull it away from your body, it is probably too large. Try lifting your hands over your head and stretch out your shoulders. This should feel slightly restricting, but you should still have a full range of motion. You should be able to squat down and move about easily, while only feeling the pressure of the suit. The power of a wetsuit is dependent upon how well it fits. If you get the perfect fit, you'll have no trouble getting into the lake in April or October.

What kind of wetsuit should I get?

We sell full wetsuits, shorties, wetsuit tops, shorts, hoods, and booties at Sun Sports+.  The water is colder in the spring than in the fall. Now is the time that you will benefit most from a full-length wetsuit. We sell O’Neill Reactor wetsuit, the Epic, the Bahia, and the new Ninja. The reactor is a 3/2mm suit. The Epic and the Ninja are 4/3mm wetsuits. The Bahia is a Women's specific wetsuit and is a 3/2mm. (Ask our store manager all about the Bahia - she's a huge fan!)

The Reactor Wetsuit

The first suit you should look at is the Reactor wetsuit. It's a great all-around suit. Featuring a back zipper with easy access to make getting the suit on and off easier. The reactor is a perfect combination of stretch and durability. Fresh colors and graphics with style that's built to last. Keep your skin safe from UV exposure and it'll keep you warm both in and out of the water. The reactor is designed to be the perfect fit, just like a glove for a great price point.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="295"] The O'Neill Reactor Wetsuit[/caption]

The Epic Wetsuit

The second suit you should look at is the Epic. It takes the reactor one step further. It including 100% UltraFlex Neoprene, double seal neck closure, LSD (lumbar seamless design) and re-engineered covert blackout zip. Clean graphics and sharp style lines make the Epic the best value in the industry.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="259"] The O'Neill Epic Wetsuit[/caption]

The Ninja Wetsuit

The third suit you should look at is the Ninja. New for us at Sun Sports+, it's basically a dry suit that zips in the front, so that you don’t need a buddy to help you get into it. Internal ultraflex taped seams throughout most of the suit for better seal. Chest zip wetsuits are entered through a zippered cutout around the neck and you drop down into the suit through the neckline before pulling the neck cut over your head and zipping closed at the chest.

Chest zips are the trickier of the two types to both enter and exit. The chest zip is superior at keeping water from penetrating the suit through the seams and the neckline. The chest zip may also be a more comfortable fit once on with a snug neck that is less likely to cause rashes and the zipperless back yields a greater level of flexibility.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="285"] O'Neill Ninja Wetsuit[/caption]

Extend your summer with Sun Sports

Whatever you need to keep the summer rolling and the sun shining, you'll find it at Sun Sports. The power of a wetsuit fights off any cold water in Maine. Got questions about wetsuits? Call us at 207-603-3867. Email us at [email protected]. Read our blog! Like us on Facebook and follow us on instagram! Visit us in the shop 7 days a week. We are here to help you make this summer the best summer ever.