History of Wetsuits / Surf Clothing
Executive summary about surf clothing by Clement.C
Surf Clothes
Many people in the wetsuit-wearing community don’t know how wetsuits came to be. The person we probably should credit for the modern wetsuit is the eye-patch wearing Jack O’Neill, founder of O’Neill sports equipment and a giant in wetsuit history. His creation stemmed from the need to prevent himself from freezing to death whenever he surfed in the cold waters of San Francisco.
Jack’s life-changing moment was when he was going over blueprints of a building during a surfing break. The pinnacle (or the starting, for that matter) of wetsuit history began when Jack found neoprene, a lightweight and easily manipulated material. Back then, the material used was raw, unprocessed neoprene, which was rather uncomfortable to the skin. Many modifications later, the modern wetsuit with various types (fullsuit, longjohns, shorties, two-piece) were made.
Why Should You Wear a Wetsuit / Surf Clothes?
A lightweight and skintight surf Clothing that most water sports professionals wear will not only protect you from cold, but also help you swim better. Here are some reasons why you should wear wetsuit:
1) Prevent Hypothermia. It’s due to the fact that water is 25 times more heat-conducting than air, making you lose your body heat. So, the longer you stay in the water, the more body heat you will lose.
Wearing a wetsuit can prevent that. Made of lightweight closed-cell neoprene, it allows a film of water to exist between your body and the suit. And since water is heat conducting, the water draws away the heat from your body but is not released to the surroundings, due to being trapped by the suit.
2) Protection. Wearing a wetsuit protects your body skin.
3) Buoyancy. It will help you float better. It is not a life-vest, but it’ll help.
Choosing a wetsuit / Surf Clothes
Executive summary about surf clothing by Chris Warner,Clement.C
For those who are used to surfing, kite-surfing or swimming in the ocean wearing nothing but swimming trunks, you should really think of getting a wetsuit
Not all of us are blessed with warm water to surf year round we require the use of a cold water wetsuit. Fortunately, wetsuit technology has come a long way and there are wetsuits available to keep surfers comfortable in just about any water temperature.
Cold water as defined here is any water temperature of 65 degrees or below. This means than any cold water wetsuit will be a fullsuit. A fullsuit covers a surfers body ankles to wrists. Fullsuit thickness is described in millimeters. A 3/2, for example, has a thickness of 3mm around the torso and 2mm around the arms and legs. The thickness of the wetsuit you choose depends primarily on the water temperature your surfing in as well as your tolerance/comfort level. In general, a 3/2 will work in water temps of 65-55 degrees, a 4/3 in 54-49 degrees, and a 5/4 in 48-43 degrees. Below that requires a 6/5 wetsuit or possibly a drysuit.
Popular brands of cold water wetsuits include Billabong, Oneill, Rip Curl, and Quicksilver.Most cold water wetsuit companies will have a sizing chart for you to consult.
For the first-time wetsuit buyers, here are a few tips on choosing wetsuits:
1) First of all, make sure you got the right place. A wetsuit isn’t exactly the type of clothing you will get at a bargain bin. Go to the appropriate store to get the wetsuit for your own individual sport. If you’re getting a wetsuit for surfing, go to the surf store. If you want to go scuba-diving, go to the diving store.
2) Next, choosing the brands. Now, you don’t have to buy the most expensive brand to be assured of quality. It’s better to do checking up the brands on Internet forums and neutral third-party review sites.
3) Now; trying it on. You will have to make sure that the wetsuit you choose fit you comfortably around your body. Also, the sleeve and leg openings should close down tight against your skin to prevent water flushing. Sagging suits will be extremely uncomfortable and if you choose your wetsuit right, you’ll feel as though it’s a bit tight. Don’t worry, that’s normal.
Taking Care of Your Wetsuit / Surf Clothes
A wetsuit is a piece of skintight and lightweight clothing that are mostly worn by water sports athletes. Made of a special material called neoprene, it helps divers, swimmers and surfers retain their body heat by creating a layer of water between their body and the suit. Buying a wetsuit will benefit you, since it is said to boost your performance greatly.
Here are some tips on wetsuit maintenance:
1) Storage. If possible, always hang your suit, instead of folding it.
2) Soiling it. It’s the ultimate question asked by every first-time diver; can you relieve yourself in the wetsuit while you’re diving? The answer will delight those with small bladders. Yes, you can pee in a wetsuit while you’re underwater.
3) Cleaning it. Most surf shops should sell a special shampoo that can be used for wetsuit maintenance. If you want to keep it from smelling, spray on some wetsuit deodorizer to disinfect it.
Wetsuit maintenance is a very important aspect of owning a wetsuit.
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