Hart Beach Ultimate Wetsuit Guide

Need help choosing the right wetsuit? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make the best choice. To understand exactly what a wetsuit does, it's helpful to know what it's made of and how it works. Additionally, there are different thicknesses, brands, and a lot of jargon involved.

Neoprene and the first wetsuit

In 1930, American scientists experimented with different types of rubber. Neoprene was one of these synthetic rubbers, which proved to have many advantages compared to natural rubber. Among other things, it is water and oil repellent and insulates better. Initially, neoprene was only used as a building material for cars and for the American army.

In the 1960s, Neoprene entered the commercial market. Researchers designed neoprene foam, adding air to the rubber. This gave the material its thermal function; neoprene foam allows a small amount of water to pass through. This water forms a thin layer between the fabric and, for example, your body. The water is quickly heated to body temperature by the air pockets.

Jack O’Neill was looking for a material he could wear while surfing so he could stay out longer than five minutes. He learned about neoprene and designed the first wetsuit. The brand O’Neill is still one of the largest wetsuit brands in the world today. A wetsuit is called a wetsuit because it is not meant to keep you dry. It is meant to keep a thin layer of water between the suit and your body so that your body warms up. A wetsuit has one clear goal: to keep you warm in the water.

Single lined vs. double lined

We know two types of neoprene: Single lined (synthetic rubber) & Double lined neoprene (synthetic rubber foam).

Single Lined Neoprene: Single lined neoprene often feels like smooth rubber on the outside. This neoprene blocks wind and water. The two most important areas on your body to keep warm are your back and chest. Your back and chest retain the most heat this way. However, it is less flexible and more delicate material. You need to handle it carefully as it can tear more easily.

Double Lined Neoprene: This neoprene (foam) is most commonly used for wetsuits. It is more comfortable and flexible than single-lined neoprene, making it ideal for watersports. There are new developments every year with double-lined neoprene, making it even warmer and more flexible. Each brand has its own technology to achieve this. For example, check out the Flashbomb from Rip Curl or the eco-friendly neoprene from Vissla.

What thickness do I need?

The thickness of neoprene is adjusted to the sea temperature. Some wetsuits are 6 mm thick, while others are only two. The table below shows what thickness you need for a given water temperature.

This table is 'Matty approved'*

The thicknesses come with two numbers. The first number is the mm thickness on the torso, and the second number is the mm thickness on the arms and legs. The neoprene on the arms and legs is often thinner to maintain maximum flexibility, as it is more important to keep your chest and back warm.

In the Netherlands, a 3/2 will serve you well in summer. For spring and autumn, you will need a 4/3. For real winter sessions on the North Sea, you'll need a 5/4 or 6/5/4 wetsuit. You will also need a cap, booties, and gloves for this, but more on that later.

Winter surfing

In Dutch winters, we recommend a minimum of a 5 mm wetsuit. If you go surfing in Scandinavia, even 6 mm. Some surfers find a 4 mm wetsuit sufficient, but for most, this will be cold. Most winter wetsuits also have good lining and seams that keep you warm.

Most heat leaves the body through the hands, feet, and head. It is therefore useful to ensure that the least heat is lost here. Some winter wetsuits have a hood attached to the wetsuit. The advantage of this is that little water can now enter the wetsuit. You can also choose to purchase a separate cap for your winter wetsuit.

What size do I need?

Wetsuit sizes are generally the same as clothing sizes. These are therefore width sizes. If you are a man with size M, you will often also have size M for a wetsuit. Women with size 36 often have wetsuit size 6. And with size 38, you often have size 8.

Each brand can have a different fit. So, it's possible that an M from Rip Curl might not fit as well as an M from C-Skins. Therefore, it's always a matter of finding out which brand best suits your body type first.

Some brands also have intermediate sizes. These intermediate sizes are often for short or tall people. These are indicated with "Small" or "Tall". The size M/S is then Medium in width and S in length. An 8/T is then size 8 in width and longer in length.

Trying on wetsuits

It is important that a wetsuit fits snugly against your body and is not too big. This prevents water from flowing in and the wetsuit from losing its function. The wetsuit should also not be too tight. This will restrict your freedom of movement and make paddling more difficult. When you try on a wetsuit, first make sure the wetsuit is positioned correctly. First pull the knee pads up properly over your knees, then pull the wetsuit further on. Once the wetsuit is on, squat down. This ensures that the wetsuit also sits correctly on your upper body.

You can recognize a wetsuit that is too small by the following:

You feel your shoulders being pushed down.
The neoprene 'shines'. The shine means the neoprene is stretched, which is also an indication of a wetsuit that is too small.

Please note! New wetsuits often fit very tightly. We call it 'Factory Standard'. The beauty of neoprene is that it stretches when it gets wet. The wetsuit will conform to your body once you enter the water with it. Don't immediately assume the wetsuit is too small if it feels very tight.

You can tell if a wetsuit is too big by the following:

You have excess length in the arms and legs.
You have a lot of space in the lower back.
You can easily fit your fingers between your neck and the wetsuit.
If you try to grab the wetsuit, for example, on the arms, you immediately grab a lot of neoprene.

If you can't figure it out at home, come visit our surf shop. We'd be happy to help you try on a new wetsuit!

What are the key differences?

Wetsuits come in many different sizes, shapes, and designs. It is difficult to say what the best wetsuit on the market is. This depends on your body shape, the fit of the wetsuit, and especially personal preference. However, there are differences in wetsuits that make them warmer and more comfortable. Here are the most important differences:

The closure.
The type of seam.
The lining inside the wetsuit.
The quality and insulation of the neoprene.
The stretch of the neoprene.

The latter two, however, are highly dependent on the technologies per brand.

Most brands have different segments in wetsuits. These segments differ in the warmth, comfort, and flexibility of the wetsuit. The rule of thumb is: you pay for warmth and comfort! So you will see that an entry-level segment is cheaper than a wetsuit in a high-end/performance segment.

The Closure

The closure, also known as the 'Zip', is the most noticeable difference in wetsuits. The larger the zip, the easier it is to get into. Below, we explain the three most common zips.

Back Zip
The Backzip is probably the oldest and most well-known closure for wetsuits. The closure is a zipper on the back that runs up to the neck. This makes it easy to step into your suit. The back-zip is currently widely used in the entry-level segment. However, a back-zip is also the coldest option. Due to the long zipper on the back, most cold and water are allowed into the wetsuit.

Chest Zip
With this closure, you have a zipper on your chest. With a Chest Zip, you pull a flap of neoprene over your head and zip it up on your chest. A Chest Zip, instead of a back-zip, provides more flexibility while surfing, because you don't lose freedom of movement due to a stiff zipper on the back. Also, because it fits better around the neck, less water enters the wetsuit, making it warmer.

No Zip / Zip Less
The latest developments in wetsuits are suits without zippers. This means no water can enter anywhere, and they are very comfortable. This is perfect for longer surf sessions.

The Seams

With a wetsuit, water can enter in several places, as we discussed above with the zips. But water also enters the wetsuit through the seams. There are different ways in which the pieces of neoprene are attached to each other, also known as 'stitched'. Below are the types of seams (stitching) you will encounter.

Flatlock Stitch
The pieces of neoprene are cut at an angle and laid tightly together. They are then sewn together to create a flat seam. You can see the stitch on both the inside and outside of the wetsuit. The Flat Lock is the most basic method of stitching. This is most commonly seen in summer wetsuits to allow water to pass through and keep the wetsuit at a comfortable temperature.

Glued and Blind Stitched (GBS)
The pieces of neoprene are glued together. They are sewn on one side of the neoprene. The stitch only goes to the middle of the neoprene, so it doesn't create holes through the neoprene. This ensures that less water enters the wetsuit. GBS is one of the most common methods of stitching.

Taped Seam
With this technique, the pieces of neoprene are sewn together and 'taped' on the inside. This means that stretchy neoprene is attached over the seam. This can be at critical points, the areas where there is the most tensile force in a wetsuit, or along the entire length of the seams. Taped seams are more common in higher-end wetsuits or winter suits.

Sealed Seam
Sealed seams are immediately recognizable on the outside of the wetsuit. The neoprene pieces are sewn together, and the seams on the outside are covered with liquid neoprene. It also happens that the seams are sealed on the inside of the wetsuit. The liquid neoprene keeps water out. This makes it warm and ideal for real winter surf sessions. The disadvantage of sealed seams is that they are less flexible than the rest of the wetsuit, reducing flexibility.