Wetsuit advice

[Avocet]

I was wondering if someone could give me a few pointers on the purchase of a wetsuit, please? I've never worn one before and know nothing about them, but as the weather starts to turn Autumnal, my thought was that I might be able to extend my dinghy season a little, here in the Lakes.

I'm a middle-aged bloke with a "fuller figure", (as the euphemism goes). Fashion is less important than comfort and warmth!

 

[Clancy Moped]

Don't piss in it?

 

[dom]

You should also consider a drysuit as an alternative but breathable ones are pricey.

If going the cheaper wetsuit route, you'll have to decide thickness depending on the weather you are planning to sail in and you will need one with an anti-abrasion outer layer as plain rubber will rip far too easily.

Oh, and you can indeed piss in a wetsuit as it will be washed away quite quickly -- most divers do it. Being slightly acidic -- pH 5.5 - 7 -- urine is slightly corrosive so might reduce wetsuit life a tad!

 

[Skylark]

I loathe wet suits with a passion. Nothing worse than trying to get into a cold, damp, smelly wet suit. Plastic bags help to slide arms and legs in place. I've never worn one in a dinghy but imagine that something windproof would need to be worn over it to prevent chill. Not my idea of fun.

A thousand times better is to buy a dry suit. Warm, dry, comfortable.

A middle aged, fuller figure bloke brings images of a beached whale to mind.

 

[ronsurf]

Wetsuits can be quite specific to the sport you're using them for. A wetsuit for surfing would be different to one for diving, or sailing f'rinstance.

A suit with glued, blindstitched and taped seams would be warmer than one with overlocked or flat locked seams. And generally more expensive. A backzip is easiest to get in and out of - check there is something to restrict the flow of water in the zip. Anything that reduces the amount of water into the suit makes it warmer (hence CM's comment about not pissing in it).

a 3mm thick suit would be suitable for summer, a 4mm/3mm (described as 4/3) is good for autumn and summer, and 5mm is typical for winter. 5mm suits with 3 or 4mm arms and 3mm under arms would be most comfortable if you're doing anything that requires a lot of movement.

Forget about the brand and model. Fit is all important, It should fit comfortably, not dig in the crotch or under the arms. Bend and touch your toes - you should still be able to breath without being strangled. There shouldn't be a loud of spare material at the small of your back either. Make sure the arms and legs are not too long.

A tip for trying them on is to use a polythene carrier bag. Put your foot in the bag and pull the suit on as high as it will go. Pull the bag off and repeat with the other foot. You shouldn't need it for your arms.

Don't use talc. Wash it in fresh water after every use, and hang it right side out to dry on a hanger

 

[andsarkit]

Wet suits are by definition 'wet' and let water in. Your body has to warm this water and so it is essential to have a good close fit with minimum room for the cold water. You really need to try some on and make sure your circulation is not restricted by it being too tight. You can get 3mm and 5mm thickness depending on how cold the water is likely to be.

 

[V1701]

Neoprene is neoprene which means you don't need to spend a fortune unless you want to pay for big name brands or a tailor made one for your specific body shape. A thin one (3mm/2mm) that doesn't restrict your movement too much, possibly a shortie rather than a full suit and give it a good soaking before you put it on. Ideally should fit snugly everywhere...

 

[ronsurf]

PS Ms ronsurf has been looking for a wetsuit this year and there seems to be very little choice around.

 

[Daydream believer]

When wearing a wet suit wear a rash vest under it.
My last 2 winter wetsuits for winter have been purpose made by Second Skin but it was some years ago. They had thicknesses varying 3mm for arms. 4mm legs & 5m body. The quality of material is important. the more elastic the better. the neck & cuff seals should be nice & flexible.
A couple of years ago I bought an O'neil 3mm suit without arms . It had a titanium lining & a fly zip ( which at 70+ years of age I find a bonus). It is flexible enough not to need a zip & only covers 75% of the chest. I wear a musto base layer over the rash vest.
I have a musto water proof splash vest with a good seal to arms & neck. It has the bonus of a front pocket. This keeps the wind off & i wear it over a buoyancy aid. I also wear a set of padde racing pants- not sure what make- which protects the suit. I have a good pair of sailing wet shoes & for gloves & wear fingerless hanson ones which just about last a season if I am lucky.This all seems to add to more than enough insulation for sailing up to the end of November. Until last year I sailed a Phantom & did Rescue boat duty for the last 18 years for the polar series, so sitting in a safety boat for 4 hours having been up to the waist in water means one has to keep warm.
So basically I recommend
the upper ranges of O,neil wetsuits based on my last one 3 or 4mm with the titanium lining.
a rash vest,
Additional base layer if really cold
Good fitting buoyancy aid , not too bulky but match your size & swimming capability
a decent lightweight waterproof top,
Protective shorts
Decent sailing boots
Fingerless gloves

 

[Moodysailor]

Wetsuit will only keep you warm once 'wet', so you will need something windproof over the top otherwise windchill will still be a factor. Depending on your personal propensity to generate heat, this may or may not be fine - for me a wetsuit and windproof layer is great for spring & autumn (and for short blasts in winter). The feet will more often than not go before any other part of me.

For dinghy sailing, you don't need anything special, if you are on the warmer side and will be staying relatively dry, a 3mm suit will probably be OK. If you "run cold", will be using it in wetter/colder conditions, or just want extra comfort then a 5mm (steamer) is the way to go.

As mentioned above, get a rash vest too - unless you have a very flexible (read: expensive) wetsuit then chafe is an issue when moving around in a dinghy. I also like to wear swimming "jammers" (the same long shorts that olympic swimmers wear) for the bottom half for comfort and movement.

We all look ridiculous in a wetsuit (unless you are blessed with an adonis physique), but wearing some slightly looser fitting clothing over the top (windproof) helps mitigate that. As i've aged i'm definitely packing a few extra lbs, so I wear board shorts over my wetsuit shorts when I go out on the SUP....

If you are planning to go out in winter, have Reynaud's or get very cold, I recommend a drysuit as others have also done above - but then your extremities are likely to be the issue, so other time limiting factors will come into play. I know someone with bad Reynaud's, but loves to wild swim - it's quite funny watching her swim in a beanie hat, wetsuit gloves and booties but a swimsuit!

 

[ryanroberts]

If you have megabucks there's sharkskin, which is much more comfy and dries quicker TITANIUM Chillproof Long Sleeve Full Zip - Mens

 

[dunedin]

I loathe wet suits with a passion. Nothing worse than trying to get into a cold, damp, smelly wet suit. Plastic bags help to slide arms and legs in place. I've never worn one in a dinghy but imagine that something windproof would need to be worn over it to prevent chill. Not my idea of fun.

A thousand times better is to buy a dry suit. Warm, dry, comfortable.

A middle aged, fuller figure bloke brings images of a beached whale to mind.

If you have never worn a wetsuit for dinghy sailing, perhaps don’t criticise what you don’t know about.
And cared for properly (often rinsed in the shower, and always dried after use) there is no need for a wetsuit to be cold, damp or smelly.

Dry suits also have their uses, but unless got the right one (often expensive) they can be less agile in some dinghy sailing situations. Wet suit or dry suit needs to be chosen carefully to match the type of water activity.

 

[dom]

Wetsuit will only keep you warm once 'wet', ......

Golly, this myth just seems to go around and around - wetsuits work by trapping a thin layer of water around you and all that jazz!! Water has a high thermal conductivity and is therefore a lousy insulator. Hence a bone dry wetsuit will be warmer than one which is wet inside. Same applies to wetting its exterior.

After which I agree with basically everything you say:

Windchill is of course a factor. What loads of dinghy sailors do -- inc. yours truly -- is to wear a non-absorbent thermal underlayer beneath the wetsuit, then a buoyancy aid, and then a waterproof smock over the lot. As of course you say.

Thermal shock is still a problem falling into very cold water at which point a suitably specced -- and priced! -- drysuit becomes imperative.

Dunedin will no doubt be able to expand on this as he "overwinters" on the Clyde ? ?

 

[Skylark]

If you have never worn a wetsuit for dinghy sailing, perhaps don’t criticise what you don’t know about.
And cared for properly (often rinsed in the shower, and always dried after use) there is no need for a wetsuit to be cold, damp or smelly.

Dry suits also have their uses, but unless got the right one (often expensive) they can be less agile in some dinghy sailing situations. Wet suit or dry suit needs to be chosen carefully to match the type of water activity.

Ouch ?
Many people chose to wear wetsuits at the sailing club that I used to be a member of and I’ve worn wet suits for other water activities including in hot ambient so I’ll stick to my informed view of them, thanks.
Why don’t you simply express your view instead of wanting to criticise others for theirs?

 

[Thistle]

Consider a 2-piece wetsuit. Generally easier to get into/out of and gives you 2 layers over your torso. You can also wear just part of it depending on the season/weather/activity. A windproof top is pretty much essential. I find windproof trousers are a pest in a dinghy so I go for a wetsuit with reinforced knees and wear shorts to protect the seat.

 

[LadyInBed]

I might be able to extend my dinghy season a little, here in the Lakes

How long do you go out for and how often do you end up in the water?
Spending hours at a time in a wetsuit and only going in the lake on say 1 in 6 outings, the wearing might be more uncomfortable than the dunking!

 

[jwilson]

I have in the past regularly worn wetsuits for dinghy sailing, until I moved to the tropics where you capsized deliberately to cool down. They give pretty good insulation when dry, but in the sort of dinghy sailing where you may capsize from time to time, or get very wet from spray, or if you have to wade out to launch, starting with a bucket of warm water poured down the neck or standing in a warm shower is a good start.

Pre-wetsuit in the early 1960s I have been on the definite edge of serious hypothermia winter dinghy sailing with capsizes. And if you sail dinghies and NEVER capsize you are either sailing a boring slow boat or never enjoy planing in a blow. I no longer sail dinghies here in the UK though, warm water completely spoilt me....

 

[Moodysailor]

Hence a bone dry wetsuit will be warmer than one which is wet inside

Sorry, that's just wrong. I have a pretty extensive background in kayaking, open water swimming and triathlon, so I'm fairly confident I understand the theory and reality of how a wetsuit works - from both my own experience, from manufacturers, and other people I would refer to as experts. Wetsuits insulate by the air trapped in the neoprene, but the warmth is generated by the moist layer between the suit and skin. This is also why it is necessary to wear a windproof outer layer as they are susceptible to windchill out of the water.

Most wetsuits fail when they are chilled from the outside, or when ill-fitting, so trap too much water inside, or worse, let water "flush" through the wetsuit. In the latter case you might as well not be wearing one.

Even in moderate to climates, the moisture from your body that would normally evaporate will create enough of a thermal layer for a wetsuit to work, but I know first hand that I have always been a) warmer and b) more comfortable when I have allowed water into my wetsuit prior to activity (swimming in this case, to high arm articulation and shoulder flexibility needed).

 

[dom]

Sorry, that's just wrong. I have a pretty extensive background in kayaking, open water swimming and triathlon, so I'm fairly confident I understand the theory and reality of how a wetsuit works - from both my own experience, from manufacturers, and other people I would refer to as experts. Wetsuits insulate by the air trapped in the neoprene, but the warmth is generated by the moist layer between the suit and skin. This is also why it is necessary to wear a windproof outer layer as they are susceptible to windchill out of the water.

Most wetsuits fail when they are chilled from the outside, or when ill-fitting, so trap too much water inside, or worse, let water "flush" through the wetsuit. In the latter case you might as well not be wearing one.

Even in moderate to climates, the moisture from your body that would normally evaporate will create enough of a thermal layer for a wetsuit to work, but I know first hand that I have always been a) warmer and b) more comfortable when I have allowed water into my wetsuit prior to activity (swimming in this case, to high arm articulation and shoulder flexibility needed).

The physics is perfectly clear: air has a lower thermal conductivity than water, period.

I whacked it into Google and the first link that came up was this which explains it in simple terms (You can find more scholarly articles if you wish):
Debunking a Common Wetsuit Myth – Appalachian Mountain Club

Your second sentence is also wrong, "Wetsuits insulate by the air trapped in the neoprene, but the warmth is generated by the moist layer between the suit and skin."

Better manufacturers only use nitrogen-cell neoprene for its thermal (secondary) and other physical properties.

 

[Avocet]

You should also consider a drysuit as an alternative but breathable ones are pricey.

If going the cheaper wetsuit route, you'll have to decide thickness depending on the weather you are planning to sail in and you will need one with an anti-abrasion outer layer as plain rubber will rip far too easily.

Oh, and you can indeed piss in a wetsuit as it will be washed away quite quickly -- most divers do it. Being slightly acidic -- pH 5.5 - 7 -- urine is slightly corrosive so might reduce wetsuit life a tad!

That's as much information as I ever wanted on the topic - ta...