There are neoprene suits for all kinds of sports: surfing, windsurfing, kiting, diving, swimming, etc. Wave riding places the highest demands on the neoprene suit, so the suits used for surfing are extremely high quality. Unlike other sports, freedom of movement must not be hindered, and the suit should protect the body from the cold. In principle, the wetsuit can be used for surfing for all other sports - but diving suits are constructed differently once they reach a certain level of insulation. Since the local waters in Switzerland are subject to large temperature fluctuations, it is worth checking which neoprene is the right one. We are happy to assist you by email, telephone or in-store.

Wetsuit Types FOR SURFING

Depending on the water and outside temperature, different types of wetsuits are suitable. For water temperatures above 24 degrees, you don't need a wetsuit. We recommend wearing a neoprene suit for everything underneath. The colder the water, the more body surface area you want to cover. Which suit you need depends on the location and the season. It is often a personal preference that some surfers wear a fullsuit even in “shorty” temperatures.

	NEOPRENE SHIRT OR LYCRA The neoprene shirt only covers the chest and back area, the rest is made of Lycra. There are also neo-vests that are made entirely of neoprene. These shirts are suitable for water temperatures above 20 degrees, where without neoprene you start to cool down despite the warm temperature		SHORTY Neoprene covers the entire upper body and the bases of the arms and legs.
	SPRINGSUIT Neoprene covers the entire upper body, legs and upper arms. The combination of short legs/long sleeves is also possible		FULLSUIT This suit covers the entire body down to the wrists and ankles. Suits for extremely cold water sometimes have a hood.

How a wetsuit works: The idea is to protect the body from cooling down. The wetsuit achieves this by storing a thin layer of water between the suit and the skin. This layer of water is warmed up by our own body heat and protects us from the cold water outside the wetsuit. However, this requires that the wetsuit fits exactly. When we fall, duck dive, or rinse, some of the water is replaced, so we start to freeze.

In addition to the layer of water heated by the body, the neoprene itself also insulates from the cold environment. This ultimately depends on the thickness of the neoprene.

Wetsuit thickness - the most important information at a glance

The thickness is indicated using pairs/trios of numbers. For example, 3/2, 4/3, 5/4/3 represent the thickness of the neoprene in millimeters at different points. The thickest part is around the body (and on the legs in winter suits) and the thinnest part is in the arm/armpit area. The reason for the different structure is that the suit should offer as much freedom of movement as possible. This is particularly essential for surfers when paddling - you can do without it when diving, for example. 3/2mm suits are standard for summer, while 4/3 and thicker suits are more suitable for winter temperatures. There are surfers who spend time in waters that are just above freezing. The right equipment makes it possible, but of course there are certain limitations in terms of comfort.

Try on neoprene: In order to avoid constant rinsing with cold water, the wetsuits have to fit really well. It is also important to ensure that the neck, hands and feet are tightly sealed. The best suit is of no use if it is worn too big. The material has developed extremely over the last few decades and thanks to its extreme stretchability, everyone can find a suitable suit. A dry suit feels tighter than a wet one. When trying on, make sure that the material fits all over your body. But if it restricts breathing and movement too much, it is too small.

The seams in the wetsuit

In addition to the obvious openings, the cold water has other ways of getting into the suit. One of them is at the seams. Here are different types of seams used in wetsuits:

• Over Lock Stitch: This type of seam is almost no longer available from well-known manufacturers. You can recognize them because the seams are also visible on the inside. Although the seams are extremely robust, they also allow a lot of water to come through the seam holes.
• Flat Lock Stitch: The successor seam to the “Over Lock Stitch”. Increases comfort, but does not offer perfect protection against water exchange due to the continuous seam holes.
• Blind Stitch: Seam variant for warm suits. Increases comfort and has no continuous seam holes, so water entry can be avoided.
• Basic Blind Stitch and Glued: Seam is the same as the "Blind Stitch", there is no seam visible on the inside, just the neoprene panels glued together. Since the neoprene is more elastic than the glue, the seams may not last indefinitely (combined with salt water and sun).
• Blind stitch, glued and spot taped: In addition to the “blind stitch and glue”, particularly stressed areas are taped in this variant. These suits are super elastic, but again at the expense of durability.
• Double Blind Stitch and Glued: The same procedure as “Blind Stitch”, but it is used on both sides. The suits are also flexible, but the seam holes may be continuous in some places (because they are on both sides), which in turn allows water to enter.
• Blind Stitch, Glued and fully Taped: All seams on the inside are additionally sealed with tape. However, production is very expensive, but it is dense and robust.
• Blind Stitch, Glued and fully Neoprene Taped: For this purpose, tape is not used on the inside, but neoprene strips. This has the advantage that the elasticity is more homogeneous.
• Liquid Taping: Latest method of seam sealing. A special rubber is attached over the seams on the inside and outside so that they are 100% waterproof. Depending on the manufacturer, there are different names for it (e.g. Super Seal)

As described, there are countless variations of seams. Suits with seams that prevent water from entering are called steamers. There is a lot of research and development going on in this area in particular. Almost every year there is a “new, revolutionary, definitive, ultimate” invention. Suits in the upper segment therefore cost up to 2000 CHF. The question of the purpose of such expensive suits remains open. Since the neoprene loses its elasticity over time, it's a shame if you can no longer dry 2,000-franc suits in the sun, because otherwise you would shorten the lifespan of the suit.

WHICH WETSUIT DO I NEED IN SWITZERLAND?

This really depends on what sport you do and in what months. River surfers are sometimes exposed to water temperatures below 10 grayd. For standup paddling we recommend neo-tops in summer and perhaps a 3/2 size in autumn. In winter there is no way around the drysuit.

Many surfers with Switzerland as their home base get away with a good 3/2, as the Atlantic rarely falls below the temperature at which it would be too cold with a sealed 3/2. The rule of thumb with this suit is that you should put on gloves, hood and boots before you need a thicker wetsuit.