How tight should surfing wetsuit be?

[SurferDude99]

Hello,
I have gotten a wetsuit for surfing. It's a cskins surflite winter suit but I am I sure of how tight it should fit. When I put it on it fits fine lengthwise but it doesn't feel very tight. It is Junior 2xl size. I tried on the size below it, and it was too small, couldn't pull it all the way up no matter how hard I tried. So what is the story? Will it still keep me warm or is it meant to be this way? It doesn't restrict my movement or anything like that. And that is trying it on dry. How loose would it feel in the water?

[waikikikichan]

It is Junior 2xl size. I tried on the size below it, and it was too small,

And how was trying on the size one above ?

[SurferDude99]

I didn't try on the junior size 3xl because i thought if xl was too small and 2xl a bit loose in the wrists how would the 3xl fit better?

[waikikikichan]

You figured it out for yourself then. If out of three, one is too small and one is too big, then the one in the middle should be just right. Goldilocks and the 3 bears theory.

But maybe a different brand would fit just a bit different even though the same size, due to the cut. I found Quiksilvers to been on the skinny side compared to Ripcurl. What other brands did you try on ?

[jaffa1949]

IF your feet hands and head turn Satuma plum purple then it is too tight!
Snug would be a good word.

[RinkyDink]

Unfortunately, I figured this out late in life. My rule of thumb is that if something I try on just doesn't feel like a good fit, then I don't buy it. That goes with clothes or any other apparel. Even if something is the correct size, if it doesn't feel like the cut is right or it's not a perfect fit, then I look for something that does fit right. I always try on about three pieces of the same piece of clothing to find one that fits perfectly. Call me eccentric. So how tight should a wetsuit be? It should be comfortable, flexible, and tight enough to keep water from flushing inside your suit with a huge infusion of cold water. You can't avoid getting flushed, but that cold water that makes it into your suit should warm up about 15 seconds after you get flushed.

[Oldie]

In my shop they told me that if it takes you less than 5 mins to don a 4/3 full suit, it is too loose. Depends where you surf, too. Below 15° C water temperature I would rather have it a bit too tight than too loose.

[dtc]

Eat more.

If you are wearing a junior size, I assume you are a junior. So you will outgrow it within a few months anyway (my kids seem to). If it is too loose then buy a tight 1mm vest or longsleeve and wear it underneath.

Wetsuits do have different 'cuts' - I find it really hard to find one that fits and even within the same brand the different levels of suits fit differently. Which is really annoying

[saltydog]

Eat more.

If you are wearing a junior size, I assume you are a junior. So you will outgrow it within a few months anyway (my kids seem to). If it is too loose then buy a tight 1mm vest or longsleeve and wear it underneath.

Wetsuits do have different 'cuts' - I find it really hard to find one that fits and even within the same brand the different levels of suits fit differently. Which is really annoying

This.

Wetsuits will fit a lot looser in water. And they seem to loosen up a little more after some use. If it's on the looser side it will fit looser yet (but too tight a suit doesn't seem loosen enough to become comfortable ) Having said that this spring I bought my 13 yrs old a 4/3mm in youth size 14 even though it was a bit too big but 12 was too small. And this was after spending 2 hrs at the shop having him try on more than 6 suits(some more like straightjackets.) So the takeaway is 1) if you are still growing a little loose is unavoidable. Hopefully your suit is warm enough even with some excess space. Wear a rash guard or something underneath if needed. And booties, gloves, and/or a hood. 2) every brand has a slightly different fit so next time try on as many as possible before settling on one. I'm in the middle of the wetsuit hunt myself so I feel your pain.

[SurferDude99]

I tried it on the water today and it got even looser like what ye were saying. It wasn't as cold as without a wetsuit but could have been warmer and the wrists kept flushing. I cannot return it now so I just have to hope I will grow I to it because I am 17. I'm very small for my age I know. Will I still grow? I just turned 17 on the 20th of August and I am a boy so I am really worrying I won't grow more and grow into it now.

[dtc]

Who knows if you will grow but probably. Even if not height, usually you 'fill out' a bit between 17-22 or so (and then start work and 'fill out' a lot lot more....).

If you are having issues then consider buying something like a 1mm rash vest (neoprene) or eve a 'thermal rash vest' (which is are usually cheaper - you should be able to get one for US$20 or so) and wear it underneath. Just make sure its not a sun rash vest, which is usually just thin lycra - you want a propylene or neoprene one.

eg: https://surfing-waves.com/Browse/rashguards/warm/

(although you can almost certainly find a non brand name one cheaper)

[SurferDude99]

So I should fill out and then the wetsuit will fit? IIsthere aanything i can do to the wetsuit to make it shrink a bit? I followed the cskins size guide and i match it perfectly so totally confused

[saltydog]

I'm afraid wetsuits usually don't shrink. If it's too long along the limbs or the torso you have to grow taller. If it's too wide then you need to fill out, hopefully by way of gaining mostly muscle 17yrs old male typically has 3-5years left to grow taller, but that's dependent on the individual's genetic makeup and lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, rest, etc.) whereas he'd have a lifetime to grow horizontally, first w/ muscles and then fat(beer gut ) It's your call to keep the suit and wear something underneath, or sell it and buy another one, or keep it as a warm weather suit and look for a cheaper (possibly slightly used) but better fit suit. Each wetsuit brand uses different body shape as its model so even if your measurements match w/ the size chart the suit may not fit perfectly. Say if you are trim and fit you'd be swimming in a suit designed for a weightlifter sort... and still both you and the size chart may have the same height, weight, and waist measurements. Some fit better on people w/ a long torso, or wider shoulders, or a bit of a belly, etc. You've got to try on different brands before buying, that means either going to a well stocked surf shop or order multiple suits online and exchange away.

In the future if your body shape turned out to be hard to fit with off the shelf wetsuits you can save up and go custom.

[dtc]

if you want to put on some pounds to fit your wetsuit, 6 months hard gym work and you will be 5-10 lbs heavier with usual 'beginner' gains. Although its probably less effort to buy something for underneath or a different wetsuit

[SurferDude99]

I got an o neill wetsuit and it fits perfectly. Got a chest zip as well. If I grow it is a very stretchy wetsuit so it will go along with me as well for a while anyway. I am happy with the size now and will be getting o'neill wetsuits from now on. Cskins are too finicky with sizing

[dtc]

Great. Hopefully oneill will be your go to wetsuit guys for a while, making the next purchase a lot easier

[SurferDude99]

Great. Hopefully oneill will be your go to wetsuit guys for a while, making the next purchase a lot easier

Ya they will be definitely I'd say. The wetsuit seems to be much better quality than cskins as well so win win!