Wetsuits are essential if you plan on participating in any water sport which involves being submerged in cold water. Advancements in wetsuit technology have helped water sports users to keep warm in cold water for extended periods. It is now possible to participate in water sports throughout the year with a well made wetsuit, even in winter. If you want to keep warm in the water throughout the winter months it is essential that you purchase a good quality winter wetsuit.

Winter wetsuits are made up of thicker neoprene compared to summer wetsuits, this thicker neoprene helps keep in and insulate the body’s heat. The wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of water in-between the neoprene and your body. This layer of water conducts the heat from your body and provides warmth within the wetsuit. If you wear a summer wetsuit in the winter it is most likely you would get extremely cold and end up with painful cramps in your muscles. This is because the neoprene is too thin to effectively keep the water inside the wetsuit warm.

Winter wetsuits are made with different thickness of neoprene ranging from 4mm to 6mm. Depending on how cold the water is will determine which thickness of wetsuit you should use. Below is a guide which will help you decide which thickness wetsuit you will need to buy.

20C–22C 2mm Shorty Wetsuit

18C–20C Short Wetsuit or 3mm Full Wetsuit

15C–18C 3mm Full Wetsuit

12C–15C 4mm Full Wetsuit

9C-12C 5mm Full Wetsuit

9 C – Below 6mm Full Wetsuit with Wetsuit Hood and Gloves

As you can see if you are the colder the temperature of the water requires a thicker wetsuit and in water below 9c you will need to wear a wetsuit hood and gloves. The wetsuit hood insulates the head and helps stops essential heat escaping. Also the wetsuit hood prevents ‘Ice cream headaches’ when being submerged under the cold water. The wetsuit gloves are used to stop the cold water from physically hurting the hands through coldness and to give them warmth.

Choosing a winter wetsuit also may depend on how prone to cold you are and if you find yourself getting cold you could wear a thermal rash vest to go underneath your wetsuit. A thermal rash vest is normally made from a material called ‘Polypro’. This material is like a close knit fleece and provides and extra layer of insulation underneath a wetsuit.