How Thick Should a Wet Suit Be to Wear in Various Water Temperatures?
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Thick Suit for Warmth
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According to the professionals at Dive Careers, a wetsuit that is 2 to 3 millimeters thick is appropriate in tropical waters 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) or warmer. For water temperatures colder than 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius), you should buy a wetsuit that is at least 5 millimeters thick.
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Material Matters
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The experts at Trip Atlas note that the wetsuit does not necessarily need to be thick if it is made of materials designed to hold body heat in the suit. They explain, "Wetsuits are made out of closed-cell, foam neoprene, a synthetic rubber that contains small bubbles of nitrogen gas when made for use as wetsuit material. Nitrogen gas has very low thermal conductivity, so it does not allow heat from the body (or the water trapped between the body and the wetsuit) to be lost to the water outside of the wetsuit." They note that wetsuit manufacturers have incorporated Merino wool and titanium fibers to keep you warm while keeping the thickness of the suit to a minimum.
Bottom Line
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"As a general guideline, a wetsuit will need to be 0.5 to 2 millimeters thick to keep you comfortable in warm air temperatures and cool to warm water (60 degrees Fahrenheit and up)," say experts at the Appalachian Mountain Club. "As temperatures cool into the 50s, a 2 to 3 millimeter suit is preferable. For temperatures below 50, however, a wetsuit needs to be 4 to 5 millimeters or more." They add that, even in warmer temperatures, a thick suit may be preferable to provide you with protection from jellyfish and rocks.
References
- Photo Credit canoe image by Wouter Tolenaars from Fotolia.com
