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Step 1
Understand the relationship between suit thickness, designated in millimeters, and body warmth. A 4-3 full suit is 4 mm thick in the body and 3 mm thick in the arms and legs, and is the best choice for water that's 50 to 60 degrees F (10 to 16 C). For even colder water, get a 5-mm hooded suit. If you rarely see temperatures this low, consider one that's 1 or 2 mm thick.
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Step 2
Decide what kind you need. A suit with cut-off arms and legs is called a shorty and is good whenever maximum freedom of movement is needed. A full suit extends to your wrists and ankles, and is necessary for colder water. A farmer john has full legs and no arms. It's favored by paddlers and is the bottom layer for scuba divers.
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Step 3
Inspect the seams. The better the construction, the warmer the suit. In a high-quality seam, the edges of the material meet flush, are glued and sewn into place, and are then covered by a strip of cloth. Cheaper seams can leave a small hump and exposed stitching.
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Step 4
Try on different brands. You want a snug fit that doesn't constrict your movement or breathing. All suits enlarge slightly with use. Avoid suits that bag around your waist or ankles.
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Step 5
Set your budget according to how often you'll use your wet suit. An inexpensive shorty costs about $60, while a better-quality one may be $100. An inexpensive full suit is about $150 to $200. A top-quality full suit is $250 to $350.
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Step 6
Choose a wet suit for children based on the same criteria. Pint-sized wet suits range from $50 to $100. Keep in mind that kids often grow out of a wet suit before they wear it out, which makes finding a good used one a smart move. As they grow, kids want to spend more time in the water, which requires buying a better suit.
