A wetsuit is worn to preserve body heat while participating in scuba diving, surfing, water-skiing, or other water sports. Most modern wetsuits are made from a close-fitting, foam rubber-like material called neoprene.
The neoprene of the wetsuit contains small bubbles of
nitrogen gas.Nitrogen gas has a very
low thermal conductivity.This prevents
the heat inside the wetsuit from escaping to the water outside of the wetsuit.If you were in the water without a wetsuit
on, the heat from your body would escape to the water because the water has a very
high thermal conductivity.
The wetsuit does not prevent all of the water from getting inside the wetsuit.There is a thin layer of water that is
allowed to get between the suit and the skin of the diver.The skin of the diver will warm the water.The water and the wetsuit will then serve as
insulation against the cold water.
The warmth you get from the wetsuit will also be determined by the thickness of
the neoprene.The suit will keep you
warmer if the neoprene is thicker.The
thickness is measured in millimeters.The
largest size is 6 millimeters.Some
manufacturers will use different thickness for different parts of the suit.
Another consideration that you might have, if you are concerned about staying
warm, is how well your wetsuit fits on your body.If the wetsuit is too loose of a fit on your body, then the thin
layer of water between your skin and the wetsuit might escape, along with some
body heat.If the suit is not a close
fit then cold water might rush into the suit, which prevents the water already
inside the suit from warming up.If you
use flexible seals around the openings near the feet, hands and neck, this
might help keep the cold water out and the warm water in.You should choose a wetsuit that fits your
body as tightly as possible, but it should not be so tight that it prevents you
from having your full range of movement.You do not have to worry about the wetsuit shrinking when you get into
the water, because they stay close to their original size.
There are neoprene wetsuits that have nylon fabric on the inside and a smooth
surface on the outside.This is known
as smooth skin neoprene.This type of
wetsuit will keep you warmer because the smooth surface will absorb less water.
There is another type of neoprene wetsuit that has nylon fabric on both sides.This is known as nylon 2.The nylon 2 wetsuit is more durable than the
smooth skin neoprene wetsuit.The nylon
fabric will strengthen the wetsuit and make it easier to slip on and off.Neoprene wetsuits can be made using either
one of two processes: chemical blown or gas blown.A chemical blown wetsuit feels softer and nicer.A gas blown wetsuit is more durable but it
is also more expensive.
In the last several years, wetsuits containing merino wool and titanium thread
have become popular.These suits are
meant to help retain more body heat.These
wetsuits are also more expensive than the neoprene wetsuits.There also are wetsuits that have no
coatings and these are called skins.They
fit very well and are very comfortable.They are hard to slip on and off, because they are very fragile.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
