A well manufactured, correctly fitted wetsuit goes a long way in making the most of your enjoyment of water sports. Regardless of whether you’re involved in scuba, jet skiing, surfing or triathlons, you can find things you must contemplate prior to investing in high-tech water gear. Begin with these 7 questions:

1. What will be the chief intent for my suit? Is it warmth, coverage from abrasions, buoyancy, or protection from the sun? Purchase gear particularly suited to your sport.
2. What price variety can I afford? Do your homework, and don’t forget to factor in shipping expenses as well as the value of a good warranty. Luxury wetsuits come with additional characteristics. Look for a design you can live with at a price you can afford. A Billabong wetsuit including the Solution Gold 5/4/3 mm Steamer, for example, can be a full bodysuit treated with Dry Max Coating and created with the company’s second generation Superflex neoprene – reportedly “the most advanced stretch material on the market today.” The wetsuit also capabilities Gold Hollow Fiber Brushed Tricot Thermal Material in the back and chest panel. It runs in the $245 variety. You’ll be able to find an O Neill wetsuit with similar functions.
3. Is the wetsuit made of multi-directional fabric that will give in the proper places, allowing ease of movement? Surfers need a wetsuit with super-stretch neoprene (30-100%) to allow for mobility while throwing tricks. A jet ski junkie in New England, however, might be looking for a suit that conserves body heat – something with thicker neoprene specs.
4. Where are stitches put on the wetsuit? Chafing can be a real issue, especially when raw skin and salt water meet. Body gear ideal for windsurfing probably are not comfortable for surfers who have to paddle their boards out to meet waves. Observe seam placement. Also look for terminology like “flat-lock stitching,” that is appropriate for warm water above 62 degrees F. “Glued and blind-stitched seams” are narrower and seal out cold water 55 degrees F or over. “Sealed and taped seams” add increased durability and stop seepage in water below 55 degrees F.
5. Do I will need a warm or a cool-water suit? Would be the material light enough for scorching days at El Martillo or designed for semi-dry protection needed for kayaking Alaska’s waterways in the fall? Check the thickness of the material which usually ranges from 2 millimeters of neoprene for warm-weather suits as much as 4-6 millimeters of material for cold-water environments.
6. Do I need booties, gloves or a hood? They’ll add to the cost.
7. Is the suit loose, snug or tight? Snug is where you want to be. If it’s too tight, your movements will be constrained and you’ll chafe. If it’s too loose, heat conservation will be minimized, as well as the bodysuit may slide around hindering variety of motion. Pay close attention to sizing charts. If possible, go to a store and try the wetsuit on. Many reputable businesses let you test the wetsuit in water and allow size exchanges.