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| ==== Expense/Quality/Value ==== | ==== Expense/Quality/Value ==== | ||
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| "//**Buy Cheap, Buy Twice**// " | "//**Buy Cheap, Buy Twice**// " | ||
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| * [[:buying_wetsuits|Buying Wetsuits 2021]] article written for surfers with a lot of good information for anyone looking at wetsuits, including important variables that affect expense and quality. | * [[:buying_wetsuits|Buying Wetsuits 2021]] article written for surfers with a lot of good information for anyone looking at wetsuits, including important variables that affect expense and quality. | ||
| + | * [[https://www.theinertia.com/surf/best-wetsuits-surfing/|Best Wetsuit 2024]] Notice this is also based on surfing so you will not see wetsuits made specifically for paddling. Also they probably only considered major brands. But it may still be informative in terms of what improvements/state of the art they mention. | ||
| * [[https://youtu.be/6tO8_PPcSF0|Cheap vs. Expensive video]] | * [[https://youtu.be/6tO8_PPcSF0|Cheap vs. Expensive video]] | ||
| * One of the **most important lessons** about neoprene and wetsuit quality: | * One of the **most important lessons** about neoprene and wetsuit quality: | ||
| * If you only know how inexpensive neoprene tops, bottoms, and wetsuits perform, you will tend to rely on that performance to tell you when and how long you can be comfortable with colder weather and water. You will probably use your cold water gear less often, for shorter periods of time, and during a smaller portion of the year. Wetsuits with good neoprene and quality construction can be an eye-opener in terms of how much more time you can spend enjoying your favorite water sports each day and each year. | * If you only know how inexpensive neoprene tops, bottoms, and wetsuits perform, you will tend to rely on that performance to tell you when and how long you can be comfortable with colder weather and water. You will probably use your cold water gear less often, for shorter periods of time, and during a smaller portion of the year. Wetsuits with good neoprene and quality construction can be an eye-opener in terms of how much more time you can spend enjoying your favorite water sports each day and each year. | ||
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| ==== Construction Material ==== | ==== Construction Material ==== | ||
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| - | * [[https://www.seventhwave.co.nz/blogs/library/neoprene-the-inside-story|Some Neoprene History]] | ||
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| + | [[https://www.seventhwave.co.nz/blogs/library/neoprene-the-inside-story|Some Neoprene History]] | ||
| === Neoprene === | === Neoprene === | ||
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| * **Yamamoto #45** | * **Yamamoto #45** | ||
| * Super soft and stretchy, but more easily damaged | * Super soft and stretchy, but more easily damaged | ||
| - | * **Limestone Alternative - Oysterprene** | + | * **Calcium Carbonate Alternatives to Limestone Base** |
| - | * As of 2020 **Sooruz** now offers "Oysterprene" their newest take on improving neoprene made from calcium carbonate (first made from limestone). Limestone neoprene is made from fossil limestone that comes from quarries. It limits the use of petrochemical materials but requires a very energy-intensive and non-renewable extraction process. In 2018, Sooruz carried out their first tests for crushing oyster shells. This research led to the creation of 2 new materials: "Bioprene" mainly biobased (composed of a mix of oyster powder, natural rubber, sugar canes & non-food vegetable oil) used in their new Green Line suits (marketed since March 2020) and "Oysterprene" available in shops since the end of July 2020 in their Guru Pro suits. Sooruz is also now collecting and recycling old neoprene into a product for other uses. Their collection sites are currently (2021) only in France. | + | * **Bioprene & Oysterprene** |
| + | * As of 2020 **Sooruz** offers | ||
| + | * "Bioprene" & "Oysterprene" their newest take on improving neoprene made from calcium carbonate (first made from limestone). Limestone neoprene is made from fossil limestone that comes from quarries. It limits the use of petrochemical materials but requires a very energy-intensive and non-renewable extraction process. In 2018, Sooruz carried out their first tests for crushing oyster shells. This research led to the creation of 2 new materials: "**Bioprene**" mainly biobased (composed of a mix of oyster powder, natural rubber, sugar canes & non-food vegetable oil) used in their new Green Line suits (marketed since March 2020) and "**Oysterprene**" available in shops since the end of July 2020 in their Guru Pro suits. Sooruz is also now collecting and recycling old neoprene into a product for other uses. Their collection sites are currently (2021) only in France. | ||
| + | * **Eicoprene ** | ||
| + | * **Picture **of France offers "[[https://news.picture-organic-clothing.com/en/eicoprene-wetsuits/|Eicoprene]]" a non-petroleum based synthetic foam derived from a mix of oyster shell powder, limestone, and recycled tires | ||
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| * [[https://www.vissla.com/shop/wetsuits-lycra/|Vissla]] US recycled rubber, limestone neoprene, other green manufacturing aspects | * [[https://www.vissla.com/shop/wetsuits-lycra/|Vissla]] US recycled rubber, limestone neoprene, other green manufacturing aspects | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </WRAP></WRAP> |
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| - | === Built-in Liners === | + | ==== Built-in Liners ==== |
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| can contribute to comfort, ease of getting on and off, and faster drying although some have been known to rub some folks the wrong way. If liners become more brittle over time (as some reportedly do), they **may contribute to rubbing and chafing** problems. It can be less problematic and less expensive to layer with your own separate lining layers that you have tried and trust. | can contribute to comfort, ease of getting on and off, and faster drying although some have been known to rub some folks the wrong way. If liners become more brittle over time (as some reportedly do), they **may contribute to rubbing and chafing** problems. It can be less problematic and less expensive to layer with your own separate lining layers that you have tried and trust. | ||
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| ==== Warmth ==== | ==== Warmth ==== | ||
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| === Primary Function - Reduce Conductive and Convective Heat Loss === | === Primary Function - Reduce Conductive and Convective Heat Loss === | ||
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| Typically you get a measure of wetsuit thickness in millimeters. If this is more than one number like **3/2** or **4/3** - the **first number** is the **thickness for the body trunk or some portion of the body core** which is most critical for heat retention, the **second number is the thickness for legs and arms**. **Three numbers (5/4/3 etc.) means Torso/Legs/Arms thickness**. However wetsuits vary widely in terms of how much coverage the torso or core gets with the thickest material - make sure you get good torso coverage and not just your chest. Full body wetsuits on the warmer end of the warmth spectrum are sometimes called "steamers". Also consider if you are a surfskier that you may want some more thickness in your legs where you get and stay wetter in rough conditions - wetsuit configurations may not serve this and you might want to look at some kind of layering with some additional liner leggings or stretchy shorts??…. | Typically you get a measure of wetsuit thickness in millimeters. If this is more than one number like **3/2** or **4/3** - the **first number** is the **thickness for the body trunk or some portion of the body core** which is most critical for heat retention, the **second number is the thickness for legs and arms**. **Three numbers (5/4/3 etc.) means Torso/Legs/Arms thickness**. However wetsuits vary widely in terms of how much coverage the torso or core gets with the thickest material - make sure you get good torso coverage and not just your chest. Full body wetsuits on the warmer end of the warmth spectrum are sometimes called "steamers". Also consider if you are a surfskier that you may want some more thickness in your legs where you get and stay wetter in rough conditions - wetsuit configurations may not serve this and you might want to look at some kind of layering with some additional liner leggings or stretchy shorts??…. | ||
| - | Better suits go to more expense to make [[https://surfing-waves.com/equipment/wetsuit-stitching.htm|seams]] more waterproof (and therefore **warmer** with immersions) **with blind-stitching, double blind stitching, tape, or liquid tape**. **Overlock and flatlock stitching are** most commonly used in **cheaper** wetsuits **and** **do not prevent water entry** very well. **Overlock stitching** also often **can create rubbing** spots. | + | Better suits go to more expense to make [[https://surfing-waves.com/equipment/wetsuit-stitching.htm|seams]] more waterproof (and therefore **warmer** with immersions) **with blind-stitching, double blind stitching, tape, or liquid tape ** ([[https://www.facebook.com/reel/1352388286332624|liquid tape application video]] (facebook)). **Overlock and flatlock stitching are** most commonly used in **cheaper** wetsuits **and** **do not prevent water entry** very well. **Overlock stitching** also often **can create rubbing** spots. |
| Body warmth can be retained by the insulation provided from wetsuits. However, that retention via reduced heat conduction can be overwhelmed by the heat loss that can occur from water that flushes through a wetsuit. **If a wetsuit is too loose, or allows water to pass freely through holes or seams** that are not sealed, **far more body heat can be lost** when you are in the water than can be saved via insulation. | Body warmth can be retained by the insulation provided from wetsuits. However, that retention via reduced heat conduction can be overwhelmed by the heat loss that can occur from water that flushes through a wetsuit. **If a wetsuit is too loose, or allows water to pass freely through holes or seams** that are not sealed, **far more body heat can be lost** when you are in the water than can be saved via insulation. | ||
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| <WRAP center round info 100%> \\ To test if a seam is sealed, tightly hold the arm of a wetsuit at the elbow. Blow into the wrist like a balloon and trap the air with your other hand. If it remains inflated, it’s a sealed suit. \\ </WRAP></WRAP> | <WRAP center round info 100%> \\ To test if a seam is sealed, tightly hold the arm of a wetsuit at the elbow. Blow into the wrist like a balloon and trap the air with your other hand. If it remains inflated, it’s a sealed suit. \\ </WRAP></WRAP> | ||
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| ==== Options ==== | ==== Options ==== | ||
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| You may be able to give yourself a greater range of comfort with just one wetsuit through the addition of accessories, such as a separate wetsuit hat or hood, or a wetsuit vest that will add another couple of millimeters of insulation for your trunk so that a 3/2 wetsuit with a 2 mm vest added inside becomes a 5/2 for colder weather/water. The great advantage of a separate hat or hood is that you can put it on (** __Conditions and skill allowing__ **) if you get colder or wind up swimming or take it off as you warm up from exertion. Wearing a hat or hood that covers your ears can interfere with hearing. | You may be able to give yourself a greater range of comfort with just one wetsuit through the addition of accessories, such as a separate wetsuit hat or hood, or a wetsuit vest that will add another couple of millimeters of insulation for your trunk so that a 3/2 wetsuit with a 2 mm vest added inside becomes a 5/2 for colder weather/water. The great advantage of a separate hat or hood is that you can put it on (** __Conditions and skill allowing__ **) if you get colder or wind up swimming or take it off as you warm up from exertion. Wearing a hat or hood that covers your ears can interfere with hearing. | ||
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> | ||
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| ==== Usability ==== | ==== Usability ==== | ||
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| * **Entry and Closures** Back zip wetsuits are considered by some to be somewhat easier to get in and out of than chest zip and no zip. But chest zip can be somewhat more flexible in the shoulders and back. Chest zips also tend to permit less water entry. Practice and technique can definitely help in getting in and out of a wetsuit. Your mileage may vary - try the different options and see which work better for you. A zipperless wetsuit should be the most waterproof in the entry area of a suit, but there are very large differences in ease of entry and exit in zipperless suits. You really should try one on before you buy. | * **Entry and Closures** Back zip wetsuits are considered by some to be somewhat easier to get in and out of than chest zip and no zip. But chest zip can be somewhat more flexible in the shoulders and back. Chest zips also tend to permit less water entry. Practice and technique can definitely help in getting in and out of a wetsuit. Your mileage may vary - try the different options and see which work better for you. A zipperless wetsuit should be the most waterproof in the entry area of a suit, but there are very large differences in ease of entry and exit in zipperless suits. You really should try one on before you buy. | ||
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| * **Personal Variables** - Comfort, fit, individual preferences (pay attention to manufacturer's advice on fit as well as information you can get from reviews - but be careful with reviews because subjective bias is hard to avoid. | * **Personal Variables** - Comfort, fit, individual preferences (pay attention to manufacturer's advice on fit as well as information you can get from reviews - but be careful with reviews because subjective bias is hard to avoid. | ||
| * **Fit** - It is much better if you can try on in store to determine your specific fit variables. The general advice that the suit needs to be snug and without bagginess is accurate if you want your wetsuit to really slow down waterflow through your wetsuit and provide its advertised warmth properties during immersion. The good news is that quality wetsuits of recent vintage are much stretchier - so they can still be comfortable and unrestrictive when sized properly and fitting snugly. | * **Fit** - It is much better if you can try on in store to determine your specific fit variables. The general advice that the suit needs to be snug and without bagginess is accurate if you want your wetsuit to really slow down waterflow through your wetsuit and provide its advertised warmth properties during immersion. The good news is that quality wetsuits of recent vintage are much stretchier - so they can still be comfortable and unrestrictive when sized properly and fitting snugly. | ||
| - | * [[https://www.cleanlinesurf.com/theshop/surf/womens-wetsuit-fit-guide/|Women's Wetsuit Fit Guide]] | + | * [[https://www.cleanlinesurf.com/blogs/surf/womens-wetsuit-fit-guide|Women's Wetsuit Fit Guide]] |
| - | * **Suit Break-in **- some users of higher end suits that seem initially less stretchy than the most touted "stretchy" suits, report that their suits adjust with use and become more stretchy and easier to get on and off than they were in the beginning. | + | * **Suit Break-in **- some users of higher end suits that seem initially less stretchy than the most touted "stretchy" suits, report that their suits adjust with use and become more stretchy and easier to get on and off than they were in the beginning. One problem with this is that it is probably not universal for all wetsuits, so it is not wise to count on break-in stretch of a tight wetsuit unless you or a trusted source has experienced this with the particular wetsuit model you are interested in. |
| * **Rotation **- some surfskiers wear board shorts or paddle shorts over their wetsuits to provide more slide in their seat and allow for the hip rotation that should accompany leg extension in the surfski stroke. Board shorts, paddle shorts or some other slicker shorts with thin or minimal seams will also reduce wear on your wetsuit seat and possibly reduce/eliminate any chafing that might occur with wetsuit seats that do not slide adequately with hip rotation. Surfskiers who are racing or want to be most efficient in their downwinding typically opt for snug fitting paddle shorts instead of board shorts because board shorts can catch a fair amout of water when surfskis dive, potentially causing drag. | * **Rotation **- some surfskiers wear board shorts or paddle shorts over their wetsuits to provide more slide in their seat and allow for the hip rotation that should accompany leg extension in the surfski stroke. Board shorts, paddle shorts or some other slicker shorts with thin or minimal seams will also reduce wear on your wetsuit seat and possibly reduce/eliminate any chafing that might occur with wetsuit seats that do not slide adequately with hip rotation. Surfskiers who are racing or want to be most efficient in their downwinding typically opt for snug fitting paddle shorts instead of board shorts because board shorts can catch a fair amout of water when surfskis dive, potentially causing drag. | ||
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| (pay particular attention to proper care - see below) | (pay particular attention to proper care - see below) | ||
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| ==== Wetsuits ==== | ==== Wetsuits ==== | ||
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| - | </WRAP></WRAP> | + | </WRAP> |
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| + | ===== Repair ===== | ||
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| + | * **Leaks** | ||
| + | * **Finding Holes** | ||
| + | * General leakage can be found by treating arms, legs like balloons - blowing air into them and seeing how fast they deflate. | ||
| + | * Specific leaks like along seams can be located by shining a flashlight along a seam and looking for spots where more light shines through | ||
| + | * [[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JhH5YDxjq/|Wingfoilers Discussion Dec. 2024]] (facebook) | ||
| + | * **Seam Leakage** | ||
| + | * **Neoprene Glues** | ||
| + | * Camaro, Aquaseal | ||
| + | * **Tears** | ||
| + | * **Repair Tape** | ||
| + | * Gear Aid Tenacious Tape | ||
| + | * … | ||
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| + | </WRAP> | ||
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