Size charts for the three wetsuit brands we stock — O'Neill, C-Skins and Rip Curl. We carry one of the most extensive wetsuit ranges in Kent, and you're welcome to come and try before you buy at the shop on Beach Walk in Whitstable.
Read this before you read the charts
A size chart gets you close. It doesn't get you fitted.
Every brand cuts to a different block, so a medium in one is not a medium in another — that's the single most common reason a suit bought online goes back. The chart tells you where to start; your body shape decides the rest.
What a good fit feels like:
- Snug everywhere, like a second skin. A wetsuit that's comfortable to put on dry is almost certainly too big.
- No gap at the lower back. If you can pinch a handful of loose neoprene there, water will pool in it and you'll be cold all session.
- No slack pockets under the arms or at the backs of the knees.
- The neck seal should sit flat against your skin without choking you.
- You should be able to lift both arms above your head and squat down without the suit pulling you back.
Cold water gets in through gaps, not through neoprene. That's why fit matters more than thickness for most people most of the year — and why it's worth twenty minutes in a changing room.
How to measure yourself
If you can't get to the shop, measure in light clothing and have someone else hold the tape:
- Chest — around the fullest part, under the armpits, tape level all the way round
- Waist — at your natural waistline, not on your hips
- Hips — around the widest point
- Height and weight — most wetsuit charts lean on these more than clothing sizes do
- Inside leg — useful if you're notably tall or short for your chest size
If you land between two sizes, or your measurements point at different sizes on different rows, ring us on 01227 276566. That's exactly the situation where a chart stops helping.
O'Neill wetsuit size charts
Men's
Women's
O'Neill's own reference: O'Neill size charts.
C-Skins wetsuit size chart
Rip Curl wetsuit sizing
Rip Curl publish their own charts for men's, women's and kids' suits on the UK site, and they keep them current as the ranges change: Rip Curl UK size guides.
Rip Curl tend to run a little longer in the body than C-Skins at the same chest size, so if you're between sizes it's worth trying both — we keep them side by side on the rail for exactly that reason.
A note on other brands
O'Neill, C-Skins and Rip Curl are what we actively stock. You'll occasionally find a handful of end-of-line suits on the rail from other brands — leftovers from previous seasons that we're clearing. If one of those fits you it's usually a bargain, but we can't order more in your size, so it's very much a come-and-try-it job.
What thickness do I need?
Sizing is one half of the decision; thickness is the other. Sea temperatures on the North Kent coast swing a long way between August and February, and the right suit depends on when you're going in, what you're doing and how long you're out for.
We've set that out separately in our wetsuit temperature guide. Worth reading alongside this: how wetsuits actually work, and how to look after one so it lasts more than a season.
Come and try one on
Board-Worx, Beach Walk, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2BP — 01227 276566. Free parking, and we're fifteen minutes from Canterbury. More about the wetsuit shop, or browse wetsuits online.
Common questions
Are wetsuit sizes the same across brands?
No. Every brand cuts to a different block, so a medium in O'Neill is not necessarily a medium in C-Skins or Rip Curl. Use each brand's own chart as a starting point, and try the suit on if you possibly can.
How tight should a wetsuit be?
Snug all over, like a second skin. It should be hard work to get on when you're dry. The key check is your lower back: if you can pinch a handful of loose neoprene there, the suit is too big and water will pool in the gap.
What if I'm between two sizes?
Try both. Different brands will resolve it differently, and the answer often depends on whether you're long in the body or long in the leg. Ring us on 01227 276566 or come in and we'll work it out with you.
How do I measure myself for a wetsuit?
Measure chest at the fullest part under the armpits, waist at your natural waistline, and hips at the widest point, in light clothing with the tape level. Note your height and weight too, as wetsuit charts rely on those more heavily than clothing sizes do.
Which wetsuit brands do you stock?
O'Neill, C-Skins and Rip Curl, in men's, women's and children's sizes, from summer shorties through to winter steamers. There are usually a few end-of-line suits from other brands on the rail as well.