Wetsuits

A wetsuit does not keep you dry. It admits a thin layer of water, traps it against the skin and lets your body warm it, which is why fit matters more than price. A loose suit flushes cold water through with every movement.

Thickness is written as two numbers, the millimetres at the torso and at the limbs. Irish sea temperature runs from around eight degrees in late winter to the mid teens by September, which puts 5/4 suits in the frame from December to April, 4/3 through spring and autumn, and 3/2 across summer. For one suit used year round, 4/3 is the sensible compromise.

The three types are genuinely different. A surfing suit prioritises warmth and durability. An open water swimming suit uses thinner shoulder panels and adds buoyancy in the legs, and a triathlon suit does the same while being quick to remove.

Sized ranges are split into men’s, women’s and kids’ wetsuits. A suit should feel restrictive on land, with no loose folds behind the knees.