Wetsuits

    Whether you catch morning waves or winter waves, your going to be really cold out on break with just a swimsuit. Wetsuits are really common. Almost every surfer will be wearing one. Without a wetsuit, your skin can get very irritated from your wax and just your board rubbing against you. 

    There are so many different types of wetsuits.  Thickness is a very important asset to your. wetsuit. Most common is the 4mm and 2mm. A 4mm wetsuit is very thick and warm, but not very flexible. On the other hand, 2mm is a bit thinner and colder, but much more flexible. 

    The most common wetsuit is a full suit. This covers everything besides hands, feet, and head. It keeps you very warm. You can wear this in almost any surf condition.

    Another type is a full suit with short arms. It is very flexible but does not keep you nearly as warm as a full suit. These often come in 2mm. 

    The next one is called a long john. These are completely sleeveless, but have legs. These are  generally worn in warmer conditions due to water flowing into the wetsuit.

    The next type is a spring suit. These vary with sleeve length, but only cover down to your mid-thigh.  They offer a very medium warmth for warmer waters. They are definitely one of the most flexible. 

    When waters get very cold, you can find your hands and feet begin to numb in the water. Also, your ears get very cold. To fix this, surf shops offer hoods, boots, and gloves made of wetsuit material to keep you as warm as possible from wind chill.

    A wide variety of brands sell wetsuits. This includes billabong, rip curl, Roxy, O'Neill, Vissla, Patagonia, etc.