Welcome to the Boardworx wetsuit temperature guide, this guide gives you an idea of which type and thickness of wetsuit will best suit your needs, depending on your sport and time in the water.
6°C below - 6mm hooded winter wetsuit, boots and gloves.
9°C to 13°C - 5/4mm or 5/3mm winter wetsuit, boots and gloves.
11°C to 14°C - 4mm winter wetsuit and boots.
15°C to 17°C - 3mm GBS full summer wetsuit
17°C to 20°C - 3/2mm shorty/spring wetsuit.
18°C + - boardshorts UV rash guard, 1mm neoprene top.
Please note this is only a guide, as water and air temperature, as well as peoples cold tolerance all factor in.
Wetsuit Entries.
This is the way that you will get into your wetsuit, the 3 main styles are:
Back Zip entry the easiest way into a wetsuit but limits the suit stretch, this style of wetsuit is the original way suits are made, the back zip opens up suit giving you the biggest opening to climb into the wetsuit.
Chest Zip or front zip a small zip across the chest of the wetsuit gives the suit more flexibility and less flushing, but does require a technique to get these suit on and off.
Zip Less or zip free has no zip at all, the suit is sealed by a barrier and a cinch cord over the shoulder, same technique to put on a chest zip suit but offers a little more flex, these are the best wetsuits for performance and stretch.
Wetsuit Terms Explained
GBS = glued & blind stitched, a watertight seam construction can be used on all styles of wetsuits.
Flatlock = a strong seam stitching but perforates the neoprene so seam leak, only used on summer and shortie wetsuits.
Taping = an extra layer glued on the inside of the wetsuit seam to keep the suit watertight for longer.
Double lined neoprene, this has a nylon lining on both the inside and outside of the suit making it the most hard wearing neoprene.
Single lined and smooth skin neoprene just has the nylon lining on the inside against you skin, while the exposed rubber on the outside helps prevent wind chill, so warmer neoprene but not as hard wearing, mainly used in triathlon and wind sports wetsuits.
Thermal lined = a layer on the inside of the wetsuit that traps air and heat with quick drying properties, found on higher spec wetsuits normally on the chest and lower back panel's, the more thermal lining inside the suit the warmer the wetsuit will be, but it also adds weight to the suit and is not as stretchy as a non line panel so you will not find thermal arms or shoulders as these areas need to be the most flexible.
Each Manufacturer has their own thermal material which can vary in thickness / warmth and stretch, you will need to consider which is best for you before choosing the right amount in your next wetsuit.