If you’re buying wetsuits online, getting the size right can feel challenging. Luckily we can help you, we have years of experience and know everything when it comes to selecting the right suit. Firstly..
HOW SHOULD A WETSUIT FIT?
A wetsuit should fit like a second skin. It should feel tight but not restrictive, with no gaps like under your arms, or lower back or behind the knees.
CHECK THE LOWER BACK
A good way to tell if your wetsuit fits well is to ensure there is little or no excess neoprene on the lower back. The body of your suit must fit well to your body, with the lower back protecting and keeping your kidneys warm. If your kidneys stay warm, then you will continue to pump warm blood around your body. A little bit of material under the arms is not the end of the world -the actual body is far more critical.
HIGH ON YOUR NECK
The suit shouldn’t tug at your shoulders and neck and instead be high on your neck to create a good seal and prevent flushing in the wetsuit.
LENGTH
The length of the suit is also essential for adults. Ensure a good fit around the torso, especially the shoulders where it is important to maintain maximum flexibility. The length is especially vital for winter wetsuits. When wearing wetsuit gloves and booties, the suit needs to be long enough to fit snuggly over your wrists and ankles to create a seal when boots and gloves are worn underneath.
IN-BETWEEN SIZES
Many respectable wetsuit manufacturers such as O’Neill, Rip Curl and Billabong have made sizing a wetsuit much easier these days by creating in-between sizes. For example, instead of only having the standard sizes of S to XXL, they may have short (S), and tall (T) sizes too. Therefore, your size might fall in-between the standard sizes, such as medium-tall (MT), large-short (LS), 8-short (8S).
BRAND SIZING
Different wetsuit manufacturers can vary in their cut and shape, meaning a MT in Billabong may fit you better than a MT in O’Neill, for example. It is always best to compare the measurements available on a brand’s size guide when buying online. If in doubt, our lovely team at Wetsuit Warehouse are always on hand to help and guide you!
Check out our Size Charts and you will have the confidence to order online after that.
Dakine – https://www.wetsuitwarehouse.co.za/size-charts/dakine-size-chart/
Billabong – https://www.wetsuitwarehouse.co.za/size-charts/billabong-size-chart-2/
Exel – https://www.wetsuitwarehouse.co.za/size-charts/xcel-size-chart/
Quiksilver – https://www.wetsuitwarehouse.co.za/size-charts/quicksilver-size-chart/
Reef – https://www.wetsuitwarehouse.co.za/size-charts/reef-size-chart/
Roxy – https://www.wetsuitwarehouse.co.za/size-charts/roxy-size-chart/