Getting the right fit for a wetsuit isn’t always an easy task. But it’s certainly an important one. If your new wetsuit turns out too big, it’s essentially rendered completely ineffective. Too small, and you’ll be uncomfortable with a restricted range of movement making whichever water sport your partaking in harder than it needs to be.
The basic rule with wetsuits is to ensure they are skin-tight, but not uncomfortable. To understand why, you need to know how they are designed to keep you warm in the first place.
Why is a good fitting wetsuit so important?
Wetsuits are primarily made from neoprene material, which provides insulation by trapping a thin layer of water between the suit and the wearer. This layer of water is then warmed by your body providing another barrier to stop heat from escaping.
It’s because of the way neoprene works that it is vital the wetsuit is not too big. If there is too much space inside, the suit will allow water to flush in and out preventing that layer of warm water insulation from ever forming. Take it from us, a flush down the neck of your wetsuit mid-winter is not pleasant!
Measuring for size
On each of our wetsuits we have provided a tailored size guide so that you can accurately measure to get the best fit. To do this we have specified three basic measurements which include: chest, neck to crotch and inside leg. These aim to provide a tight fit, as well as the correct length in both the body and legs.
Assessing the fit of your wetsuit
Is your wetsuit too tight? Is it too loose? Or did you choose just right? It can be a little difficult to get to grips with, especially as a new wetsuit often feels tight and of course, you’re testing it out on dry land. But here are our top tips for assessing the fit of your wetsuit.
A well fitting wetsuit should feel tight…
If you can slip into your new suit with absolute ease and it doesn’t feel a little tight, it’s likely it’s too big for you. What you’re looking for is a nice, skin-tight fit that may feel a little uncomfortable at first but doesn’t significantly restrict your movement. This means you shouldn’t see any creases or air pockets, or too much bunching in the arms or legs but you should still be able to move freely. Move around, stretch, swing your arms and get a feel for it.
Bear in mind that your new wetsuit will loosen slightly and become more flexible when wet —because of this we believe its always best to go for a suit that’s slightly tight, rather than slightly loose.
Check the fitting around the crotch
A well-fitting suit shouldn’t have too much space in the crotch area. This is also probably the best indicator that you are wearing your wetsuit correctly. Take your time to make sure all areas of the wetsuit are pulled up as high as they can comfortably go.
Is your wetsuit comfortable on your shoulders?
Once you’re certain you’ve pulled the suit up enough in the crotch area you can properly assess the fit. First of all, shoulder comfort is important and you’ll quickly know once you’ve zipped up whether it suits you. If you find the wetsuit pulling your shoulders down and the collar not sitting at a comfortable height, it’s likely the torso length of the suit isn’t right.
Check the back of your wetsuit
When trying on a wetsuit it often helps to have someone else around to advise and offer a second point of view. This is especially helpful to check the back of your suit.
The neoprene panels on the back of your suit should almost cling to your back, although you’ll almost always have a little room there because of the natural curve of your back. This is perfectly fine as it allows better flexibility. However, if your helper can comfortably grab a handful of neoprene in the centre of your back, there’s too much space and you’ll find it will fill with too much water to effectively keep you warm.
Arms and legs fitting
Admittedly, the length of the arms and legs on your suit is far from the priority when it comes to wetsuit fit.. You have leeway here—arms and legs that come up a little short won’t cause a problem as long as the fit everywhere else is good.If you’re finding the opposite and the legs and arms are too long, you can easily solve the issue by ordering the same size suit but in our ‘Short Leg variation to find the most comfortable fit for you.
Expert wetsuit advice
Here at Two Bare Feet we’ve been designing and developing different types of neoprene wetsuits for years. If you’re still unsure of the best wetsuit size for you, please get in touch and our expert team will be more than happy to help you, or head over to our guide to buying a wetsuit for extra advice.
