Summer Wetsuits

You might be wondering if you really need a wetsuit in the summer. Unfortunately UK waters can still be pretty cold, even on a hot day, so a wetsuit is a good idea to keep you warm and comfortable. They can help reduce the risk of stiffness and fatigue too after a long day surfing. Although you don't want to overheat on a hot day, so there are a few things to consider when choosing your summer wetsuit.

WHAT IS A SUMMER WETSUIT?

A wetsuit is considered to be a summer wetsuit when the neoprene thickness is 3 mm or thinner. They can range from a commonly used 3/2 mm full suit to a 2/2 shorty and everything in between. And their job is to provide enough thermal protection without making you too hot, while also protecting you from the wind and the sun's harmful UV rays. That's why a good summer wetsuit should be thin and flexible, and suited to the activity you're doing.

LADIES SUMMER WETSUITS

Summer wetsuits come in a range of sizes for men, women, and kids, and in full suit, short arm, long john or shorty styles. When trying on women's wetsuits, you'll notice that they are cut differently to wetsuits for men. Ladies wetsuits will have narrower shoulders and wider hips to suit a woman's shape. And they will have more fabric around the chest (over the breasts), thighs, and hips than around the shoulders.

CHOOSING A SUMMER WETSUIT

The warmest summer wetsuit is a 3/2 mm full suit, which depending on your location, can be worn when the water is still warming up - perfect for late spring with water temperatures of between 15-20°C. And when the water temperature rises to around 18-25°C, use a short arm wetsuit or a shorty with long arms. At Decathlon, we stock wetsuits from the top surf brands including Quiksilver and Roxy. You'll also find Olaian, the Decathlon brand dedicated to surfing, bodyboarding, and skimboarding. We also have surfboards in a range of sizes, for all levels and abilities.