- Always, always try your wetsuit on before you buy it. Always.
- Buy fat, surf warm:
- A wetsuit that is slightly on the big side will last longer and keep you warmer. Wetsuits are fragile, and stretching the shit out of it will bust the seams. A tight wetsuit will leak much faster from stress. And getting in and out of it will be like crawling back into the womb.
- Ideally a wetsuit should fit relaxed. A small bit of extra space around the arms and shoulders will make paddling a 1000000 times easier. Seriously.
- Stitching is not enough, you must have glued seams. The more glue the better.
- Bright colors means it’s OK to drop in on you.
- Your feet will freeze first. Buy the thickest booties you can find.
- If you must buy second hand here’s what to look for:
- Turn it inside out. Bend the seams and look for splits. Key areas are lower legs, armpits and waist.
- If it is a neck entry suit (no back zip) look at the material around the neck hole. Is it frayed and split? This is indicative of heavy use and poor care.
- If the hood is not built in, don’t bother.
- Ignore the brand name. Too many people will only buy one brand of suit because it’s ‘the best’. Load of crap. Almost every wetsuit manufacturer makes a good suit. An open mind will lead to a fuller wallet: Confucius.
- Backzip wetsuits aren’t warm enough. Yet.
- Putting your wetsuit in the drier is illegal, and immoral. You will be caught.
- Your booties stink. Wash them.
- It is OK to pee in your suit, just like it is OK to take a dump in your jeans.
