How to choose your perfect wetsuit
12 january 2018
OK. I want a wetsuit. And, now...?
FLEXIBILITY OF YOUR WETSUIT: NEOPRENE
Depending on your favorite type of watersport, you should decide how flexible your wetsuit must be. Riding your PWC requires less flexibility than performing a back roll to revert on your wakeboard. Jobe wetsuits are all constructed out of flexible neoprene but we do divide them in three levels: Full stretch and regular stretch.
For normal, day-to-day watersports activities go regular. Normal flexible neoprene are perfect for day-to-day watersports that do not require a lot of flexy moves. This wetsuits are medium-flexible and very strong, though, and are therefore perfect for rental locations, where there is continuous pressure on the wetsuit.
Full stretch wetsuit are perfect for flex leg-in-neck moves, like with wakeboarding and other watersports that require lots of movement. We use supreme stretch neoprene in our 'colder weather' wetsuits - most brands do - so you don't have to compromise on flexibility when going thicker.
CHOOSE YOUR WETSUIT MM
5/3 mm watertemperature - 8-10C | 46 - 50 F
4/3 mm watertemperature - 10-12C | 50-54 F
3/2 mm watertemperature - 12 - 18C | 54-64F
2 mm watertemperature - 18 - 22C | 64 - 72F
1.5mm watertemperature - 22 - 25C | 72 - 77F
CHOOSE YOUR STYLE
Do you want a full suit or a shorty (has short arms and legs and ends above the knee)? Or do you want a long john (usually one suit with short arms) or a two piece suit. A shorty will work for diving, when temperature is right. Surfers and suppers tend to prefer shorties and colder water sporters like fullsuit.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT FIT
Wetsuits feel snug on you and you will probably feel that you have a reduced range of motion. This is normal.Of course, the wetsuit fit shouldn't be so tight that you have trouble breathing or your movements are overly restricted. You also don't want your wetsuit fit to be too loose. This would let water flow freely through the suit and you would loose all the benefits of the trapped water being warmed by your body. For a correct wetsuit fit, your wrists and ankles should be snug. This is an area where water can easily seep in so these should not have gaps. The neck should also be snug but remember, you need to breathe! There should not be any large gaps in the underarm or crotch area.