This Californian invention ( some say Jack O'Neill, and
others Meistrell Bob Body Glove ), which began selling between 1950 and 1960,
has been one of the great surf enhancers and thanks to him longer seasonal and
geographically limited sport to be practiced in any power station year and virtually
any part of the planet.
The wetsuit is made of a synthetic rubber -filled micro -
bubbles of nitrogen gas has a great capacity to maintain the temperature.
Thanks to these micro - bubbles is achieved that is a light and highly elastic
material, which makes it comfortable for surfing, swimming, etc..
The suit largely prevents the ingress of water into its
interior, and in case that it is rapidly heated by the body heat by itself,
thus maintaining a constant temperature for long time.
type
Wetsuits can be found with different combinations of sleeves
and legs, the most common is with long arms and legs, but there are also those
with short arms and legs ( shorty ), with short legs and long arms and legs
long and short arms.
Neoprene Thickness
An important feature in wetsuits is the thickness of the
plates that comprise neoprene, which is usually between 1 and 6 mm according to
the suit. A difference of 1 mm in thickness neoprene can make a big difference
in the water as more millimeters better protected from the cold, but also eye
will be uncomfortable and hard to move with it.
The costumes are usually made by combining sheets of
different thicknesses of neoprene. For example, in the chest, back and legs can
use a 3mm neoprene and shoulders and arms 2 mm neoprene, so the suit will be
more comfortable for paddling, and hot areas of the body most needed.
The following table can serve you as a guide to know what
type of dress suits you depending on the water temperature.
23 º C or more ---
Suit and shirt or lycra.
21 º C to 23 º C
--- Swimsuit and bib neoprene 1mm or more.
18 º C to 21 º C
--- Shorty 2mm
17 º C to 18 º C
--- Suit 2 mm can have sleeves or short legs.
14 º C to 17 º C
--- Long Suit 3/2 mm
12 º C to 14 º C
--- Long Suit 3/2 mm or 4/3 mm with socks.
10 º C to 12 º C
--- Long Suit 4/3 mm, with boots and gloves.
8 º C to 10 º C
--- 5/4/3 mm long suit with booties, neoprene gloves and hat.
8 º C or less ---
6/5/4 mm long suit with booties, neoprene gloves and hat.
seams
An important fact to keep in mind when choosing a neoprene
seams are, since they depend that the more or less water inside. The basic
wetsuits are usually made with flat seams, which let enough water into the
suit. Neoprenes medium to high range is manufactured with an attachment system
and blind seams, namely first edges of the sheets of neoprene stick and then
sewn on one side without seams come to traverse the plate neoprene thus water
entry through the seams is avoided. The suits also carry high-end seams sealed
with a special rubber which further sealing is achieved.
Sizes
The wetsuit should be completely tight to the body to be
effective, without any wrinkle or crease, but should also be comfortable and
easy to put on and remove. Before buying try on different sizes until you find
one with whom you feel comfortable and you body is tight. There are special
suits for boys and girls, with features that best meet the body of man and
woman. Girl costumes are usually wider at the hips and chest.
The carvings on the generally manufactured wetsuits are:
--- XS Extra Small
Size
S --- Small Size
MS --- Size Medium
wide and small high
--- Size Medium M
MT --- Medium Size
Large wide and high
--- LS Size Large
wide and medium high
L --- Large size
LT --- wide and
extra large size large high
XLS --- king -size
width and medium high
--- Size XL Extra
Large
--- XXL super king
size
Without zipper or without zipper cremalleraCon
There are two systems at the time of placement and removal
of neoprene. The system zip back (the most common) and the system of
"neck" or without zipper. In the latter suit is brought into the open
body neoprene neck, made of a
material that stretches superflexible enough for this pass without
difficulty. The advantage of this system is that not having zip back less water
enters, the downside is that it is uncomfortable to insert and remove.
Accessories
In addition to suits, neoprene accessories exist to protect
the feet, hands, head and chest cold. The boots are neoprene boots also protect
from the cold are very useful for walking on rocky or volcanic funds. There are
also neoprene gloves and hats to protect themselves from the bitter cold. And
breastplates, which are like neoprene shirts that protect from the cold when
the water is not cold enough to wear a suit.