How to Select a Women's Wetsuit

Wetsuits are used for a variety of water activities, including surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing, triathlons and more. They are constructed from neoprene material that provides insulation to the body by trapping warm water against the skin. Wetsuits provide protection from jellyfish and other hazardous marine life, helping with buoyancy and hydrodynamics as well. Wetsuits come in a variety of designs and thickness levels, and it's important to match the right wetsuit to the activity for which it will be used.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine the water temperature in which the wetsuit will be used. Wetsuits are evaluated according to their thickness, and thicker suits provide more insulation for colder waters. It's important to choose a wetsuit that is thick enough to provide the necessary amount of warmth, but not so thick as to encumber movement necessary to complete the activity.
2. Select the style of wetsuit you need. Men's and women's wetsuits come in different styles, including "shorties" that have short sleeves for the legs and the arms, "full lengths" that cover all of the arms and legs, "farmer john/janes" that have an overall shape, jackets and vests. For cold-water diving, full coverage is best.
3. Try on the wetsuit for the proper fit. It's important to always choose women's designs because a wetsuit must fit tightly to your body in order to work correctly. Women's wetsuits are cut to fit women's curves snugly, so that water cannot escape from the suit.
4. Choose accessories to complement your wetsuit. Men's and women's hoods, booties and gloves are available to provide extra protection. In cold water or where marine life poses a hazard, these accessories are required.
5. Select a jacket or vest to wear over a wetsuit to provide additional warmth in cold waters. Jackets and vest can also be worn alone.
6. Check the stitching of the wetsuit. Blind stitching is the newest and best way for wetsuits to be constructed because this type of sewing doesn't put holes in the neoprene and break the seal.

Tips & Warnings

• If the water is less than 72 degrees F, a full-length wetsuit is usually required for long-term water activities.
• Check the tag of the wetsuit for the water-temperature rating. Most wetsuits will tell you to what temperature they match.
• Select a wetsuit that has stretch to it for a tighter fit that will last longer.
• A wetsuit will only protect you from hypothermia in water down to a certain temperature. For colder water, get a drysuit.