215. Wet Suit and Dry Suit

Job interviews usually require a suit and we wear suits in kitesurfing too! Well, a bit different kind of suit, and we have some options too! Variety of styles and colors (go figure). The main reason to wear either a wetsuit or a drysuit is to keep you warm. Many people like to wear wetsuits even in tropical waters.

“Do I need one?” – This is one frequent question I get from my students. This really depends on where you will kitesurf – the colder the weather the more likely you will enjoy a suit. We all are different when it comes to feeling comfortable in different weather, so, your personal preference plays big here. I have a friend who is comfortable in rash guard when I have my 3/2 on (or at least he says that he is). There are two main styles wetsuits come in: full body and shorties, with many combinations of the two. Wetsuits are made of neoprene layered with very elastic fabric on both sides for durability. Neoprene is like a sponge, has millions of tiny air bubbles, which is very nice for thermal insulation. Wearing wet suit you will get wet, hence the name. The main job of a wetsuit is to reduce the flow of water around your body. Yes, when you enter cold water wearing wetsuit you will get that jolt of refreshing “Aaaah! What am I doing here!!!?” Trust me, it will be okay in a few seconds, just keep on moving! The warmth does not come from the wetsuit, it comes from YOU!  Wetsuits are there not only for thermal protection, the work very nicely as rash guards and as UV protection, so, even if you going to kitesurf in tropics you may still be interested in an extra layer of cushioning around your knees and elbows. I usually wear a short wetsuit while on Caribbeans just to make my session longer, especially when I ride into the sunset.

It may be a good idea to rent a wetsuit to begin with, that is if you are OK wearing someone’s garment next to your skin. Definitely try them on before purchasing one, as they all vary in shapes and sizes and lengths. Wetsuit should fit you. It should fit you well, like a glove. If it is too loose on you too much water will be coming in and out and you will feel colder, if a wetsuit is too tight it will reduce blood flow and you will not be comfortable. So, try them on until you find that fits you well.

Next question: what kind of wetsuit should you buy? There are wetsuits for scuba divers, for triathlonists, and for surfers/windsurfers. The ones for scuba diving may restrict your arm movement when you are reaching up and they do not have wind panels. These are rubber panels on the chest and on the back. Water runs off of those panels to reduce wind-chill effect. After all we only spend a bit of time in the water and most of it riding in the wind. Wetsuits for triathlonists may be a bit more expensive and they are designed for swimmers and extremely active athletes, so, this could be overkill from technological viewpoint. But if already have one — use it! So, what do kitesurfers use? Pretty much the same suits as classical surfers and windsurfers use. These wetsuits are made of very flexible materials that stretch in 4D (whatever that means), they have wind panels on the chest and on the back, and some models are made of closed cell neoprene altogether, which creates smooth surface all around and water does not stick to it minimizing wind-chill effect.

There are different types of stitching used in making wetsuits. Overlock stitching is too bulky and may be uncomfortable when pressed to your skin with that tight harness, so, you’d be better off with more expensive options of flatlock, blindstitch, or welded seams. Welded or glued are also better because they reduce water flow. Here is great guide for selecting the right wetsuit: https://www.kingofwatersports.com/wetsuit-buying-guide

Dry suits will keep you dry on the inside, just like the name implies. There are usually 5 cuffs in a dry suit: on the neck, on the wrists, and on the ankles. Those cuffs are made of a VERY elastic material: even though your head will go through the collar, it will sit snug on your neck. Dry suits are made of much thinner material and they feel like a membrane and cannot work as an impact barrier. They are more delicate and can be easily punctured, and if they are — your dry suit will transform into a wetsuit. What do you wear underneath a wet/dry suit? Well, it’s different for wet and for dry. You can wear your regular underwear underneath a wetsuit, preferably made of synthetic, so it can dry faster when you are out of the water. I would recommend swimwear, since you will likely change in the public place. And please do not wear bulky short under a wetsuit, as they will bulk up in unpredictable places leaving a lot of room for imagination for others. I recommend wearing a rash guard with long sleeves as tight neoprene sleeves slide easier on and off then they would over your skin and it is much easier to laundry that a bulky wetsuit. Speaking of putting a wetsuit on, it’s a lot easier to stick your legs through with socks on and talc (baby powder) works magic too. As to the dry suits, you can wear your regular clothes underneath, just stay away from cotton, wool, and silk. Well, what’s left – synthetic, and here is why: all natural fabrics absorb moisture and retain it, synthetics usually wick moisture much faster, and since dry suits wrap you with plastic (unless you go for Gore-Tex) your perspiration will need some place to stay, and it will be your clothes. So, layer up with fleece and steer clear from bulky Levi’s buttons and adjustment pulleys, as they may pierce that delicate membrane especially when rubbed against that tight harness.