Planning a surfing trip this summer? Or going on a water-sports adventure with friends? The first thing you need is a well-fit wetsuit. You can hit the nearest surfing shop to get your perfect fit wetsuit. Do not have a surfing shop nearby? Well, do not worry as there plenty of options that you can find online.
Many would think that buying a wetsuit online is not a wise option because getting the right size is essential, else the wetsuit is of no good. Even though shopping online for a wetsuit might not seem like the brightest option, but desperate times call for desperate measures!
Worrying about shopping online for a wetsuit? Stop worrying and follow this simple guide and get the suit that is just right for you.
Step 1: Understanding the Basics
Before you start the search for the perfect wetsuit, you need to understand the basics of buying a wetsuit. You cannot purchase a wetsuit without knowing about the materials, construction, and size.
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a wetsuit is where you plan to wear it. There is a different wetsuit for different water activities. The wetsuit you wear while scuba diving is not the right option when you are going surfing or swimming. Also, the time when you are going is an essential factor of consideration.
There are four types of construction that you will find in a wetsuit which includes over-lock stitch, flat-stitch or flat-lock, glued-and-blind-stitched (GBS), and GBS with seam tape. All these construction types are ideal for unique conditions. If you are going in warm water with more than 65°F, choosing the over-lock stitch is the right option. For warm water, the temperature of which lies within the range of 62°F to 65°F, you need to choose the flat-stitch or flat-lock. GBS and GBS with seam tape are for cold and extremely cold water respectively, as they are first glued and then stitched, to prevent seepage.
The next factor that requires attention before you buy a wetsuit is the material. The material and thickness are critical factors when choosing the right suit for your watersports. Almost all materials are neoprene variants. For cold water adventures, you will need one that is thick, up to 7/6 mm, and for warm water, 3/2 mm or 2/1 mm will work perfectly.
Step 2: Thorough Research
Buying a wetsuit online is totally different than buying it from a brick-and-mortar store. You can try different options and choose the one that best suits your requirements. However, when making the purchase online, trying the suit is not an option.
The right way to shop online is to do your research beforehand. When you navigate to the catalog on the online store, you must know what brand you need, what size you need, and all other specifications. There are numerous wetsuit reviews that you can find, even videos that talk about the best brands for wetsuits.
You need to go through the reviews and videos to determine the desired thickness, type of zipping, design, color, and the size. After deciding exactly what you want, you need to shortlist the ones that you think are the most suitable option.
Step 3: Measurements and Size
Choosing the right size is not a problem for regular shoppers of wetsuits. Even getting a wetsuit from a brand for the first time is not a challenge for them, because there is not much difference in the size. The first-time wetsuit buyers are in for a challenge, especially if they are buying online.
It is nothing to worry about as all online wetsuit shops provide size charts for first-time buyers. You need to have accurate measurements of your chest, height, waist, low hip, and weight. When you have all these measurements, it becomes easy for you to compare it with the size chart. Whichever brand you choose, you can use the available size chart to choose the right size for you.
One thing that you need to understand that even though getting the right fit is essential, a little variation in the size does not make the wetsuit useless. It is tough to get a wetsuit that fits like it was made for you.
Step 4: The Price
After you have shortlisted all the brands and models of the wetsuits that you think is the best for you, the next step is to look at the price. Every person has a budget when buying a wetsuit, and there is an option for everyone in the stores.
It is smart to discard the options that fall out of your budget. You can get the right wetsuit even at a low price. Therefore, you must not choose an option that exceeds your budget.
Buying a wetsuit online is not that of a big deal. The key is to research your options before you make your choice. The more you know about wetsuits, the higher are the chances of choosing the right one. If you do not have the required knowledge, you may take help from any of your friends who purchase wetsuits regularly!