The winter wetsuit is a must for any keen surfer in UK waters.

Best for: Suitable for water temperatures suited between 8oC to around 12oC. The winter suit is worn between October through to March in southern areas of England and worn for longer periods of time in the colder north and more exposed areas.

Spec: All winter wetsuits will be within the 5/3mm or 6/4mm range which refers to the thickness of the neoprene in the wetsuit. There are often combinations of these thicknesses.

The numbers refer to the thickness of the neoprene in millimetres featured on the wetsuit. The ‘5’ for example is the millimetre thickness of the neoprene around the torso area. A mid number such as the ‘4’ in a 5/4/3mm suit will refer to the thickness of neoprene in areas such as the thighs, while the lowest number will be the thickness of neoprene in the legs and arms where you need the greatest flexibility of movement.

Brands: O'Neill Rip Curl, Patagonia, C-Skins.

Materials: The majority of wetsuits are made from foamed neoprene, designed to provide thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy.

Thickness: Most winter wetsuits will be around 3 or 4mm in thickness around the leg / arm / shoulder panels, for flexibility and around 5mm in thickness in the torso / chest panel area. Usually the chest panel on the wetsuit will look like shiny rubber. This is known as ‘single lined neoprene’. Single lined neoprene creates a greater barrier against wind, so it is ideal around the torso area where you would need the extra warmth. Through the arms and legs, the wetsuit is usually made of double lined neoprene, which is surrounded on both sides by a layer of nylon, protecting the neoprene from damage. Thenylon layer also prevents the neoprene from sticking to your skin.

Seams: All winter wetsuits will offer the ‘Glued and Blindstitched’ (GBS) seam or a ‘Fluid Seam Weld’ (FSW). The ‘GBS’ seam glues the neoprene together and then applies a stitch over the top to lock in the neoprene. This outer stitch can also add to the durability of the suit.

On an ‘FSW’ seam the neoprene is glued together and then a rubber strip (fluid seam weld) is applied over the top. The advantage of this is that the wetsuit will be more flexible as when the suit is stretched the seam will stretch with it. The second advantage to this is that it makes the suit airtight.

A single FSW will have the rubber strip applied to one side of the seam, while a double fluid seam weld with have the rubber strip applied to both sides of the seam.

What should I consider when buying a wetsuit?

Flexibility, Quality & Stretch

Each brand tends to have a couple of different grades of neoprene that they use to provide a range of wetsuits to suit all needs and budgets. O’Neill wetsuits have different grades of flexibility in their suits, from basic stretch to extreme flexibility. Billabong wetsuits offer Japanese neoprene, which favours an air light neoprene construction. Rip Curl have their own version which is Elastomax or E3.

The main thing to consider here is the percentage of stretch with each manufacturer’s unique neoprene. The stretch if the neoprene is important. The more flexible the wetsuit = less strain on your muscles!

The Seams

There are various types of seam and each type has its advantages and disadvantages. The different types of wetsuit seam are:

Flatlock Stitch:

More comfortable and very flexible, but leak. The flatlock stitch looks like a miniature railroad and can easily be distinguished from its zig-zag close stitched seams. This type of seam allows for water to move in and out of the seam and keeping the body at an average temperature. The flat-lock seam is perfect for summer months in the UK.

Glued & Blindstitched (GBS):

Used in warm wetsuits. It's called ‘blind’ because needle never penetrates the neoprene completely so there are no holes. The ‘GBS’ seam glues the neoprene together and then applies a stitch over the top to lock in the neoprene. This offers greater warmth as it traps the water in the suit, which warms against the core body temperature. The GBS style wetsuit is better suited for cool to cold-water temperatures. Glued and blindstitched wetsuits are usually more expensive than flatlock stitch suits.

Liquid Taped Seams / Fluid Seam Weld:

A few names exist for this type of seam. On an ‘FSW’ seam the neoprene is glued together and then a rubber strip (fluid seam weld) is applied over the top. The advantage of this is that the wetsuit will be more flexible as when the suit is stretched the seam will stretch with it. The second advantage to this is that it makes the suit airtight. You can test this by blowing into the arm of an FSW suit – you’ll find it blows up like a balloon and will not release the air, confirming the suit is airtight, which means water cannot pass between the seams at all.

A single (or 1x) FSW will have the rubber strip applied to one side of the seam, while a double (or 2x) fluid seam weld with have the rubber strip applied to both sides of the seam.

 
Durability

With proper wetsuit maintenance your suit will last you a very long time. Howeve, if mistreated your wetsuit may fall apart. If you would like some pointers on how to look after your wetsuit then please look at our wetsuit care guide

Fewer Panels / Less Stitching

You’ll find higher end suits like the O’Neill Psychofreak
or Rip Curl F-Bomb promote seamless areas and less panels. It makes sense that the less seams in the suit the better, as you are allowing greater stretch from the neoprene alone (without restriction from the seam). It also means less
irritation to the skin, as some surfers can find the seams on suits rub against their skin.

The Zip

The zipper is another area that can let cold water through so a good zipper that blocks out water will keep you warmer. Zippers are not
watertight so to solve that winter wetsuits have shorter zippers and special size and shape of the teeth. Or you can go for a neck entry / chest zip suit.

What is the difference between a chest zip and back zip
wetsuit?

In short, the difference is how you get into the wetsuit. A back zip suit is the more traditional entry system, with a long zipper down the
back of the suit. This zipper has a cord attached so you are able to fasten / unfasten yourself when in the wetsuit. The advantage of this type of entry system is they are easier to get into. If you consider a wetsuit is intended to be skin tight, they are not always the easiest to get in and out of. If you
find this a struggle, a back zip wetsuit would be your best choice. The down side to a back zip is that water can get through the seams, and once in the suit some surfers find the zip down your back can restrict their movement
slightly, and prefer the comfort of a chest zip suit.

The chest zip wetsuit option has a zipper on the chest area allowing you to get in and out of the wetsuit. When unzipped you climb in through the neck area of the suit. This can be slightly trickier to get into than a back zip suit. Often it just takes a little getting used to and the chest zip suit has the advantage of no water flushing through the zip on your back and without a plastic zip running down your back it can
be much more comfortable to wear.

Fireskin / FireCore / Firewall Insulated Panels

This means that your wetsuit is lined inside with fabric that additionally keeps you warm. The fabric will wick away moisture from the skin and keep you warmer. In high end wetsuits this is usually added to the chest and back panels to keep your vital organs protected.

Looking inside a wetsuit, you'll usually notice if it has a Fireskin / Firecore lining as they tend to be coloured red, orange or bright blue.

Batwing or Barrier System

This is a flap of neoprene that sits under the back zipper of the wetsuit. The ‘batwing’ or ‘barrier’ system on a wetsuit has been developed to combat the problem of cold water flushes when wearing back zip wetsuits. The different names for this system come from the different wetsuit brands. O’Neill call this a ‘Barrier 1’ or ‘Barrier 2’ system, while Rip Curl refer to it as the ‘batwing’. They provide an extra barrier between your body and any water that might get through the seams.

There are 2 types of ‘barrier’ or ‘batwing’ system. One is a simple patch of neoprene under the zipper that finishes at the top of your neck. The other type is a larger patch of neoprene with a hole in it – you pull this over your head and the barrier is held up like a collar around your neck.

Reinforced Knees

Most wetsuits come with reinforced knees of some type, which increase the longevity of your suit.