Winter Wetsuit Buyers Guide 2022

A Winter Wetsuit guide that kicks ass!

Updated with 2022 products!

If you are a kite and/or surf freak, you'll likely want to be out there in the water for as long as possible, even far into the winter.

Winter is well known for offering far better conditions than summer for most watersports, at least for expert riders. Still, some surfers tend to stop their activity in autumn and start again in spring. This is because they think that cold water surfing or kiting is not enjoyable. Well, let me tell you that if you're convinced of this, it's probably because your current wetsuit sucks, is old and full of leaks.

Also, 2020's uncertainity is leading some riders that usually spend winter time snowboarding, to consider to spend their 2021 winter in the water rather than on the snow...

Just because we know that you damn need a new winter wettie, we wrote for you a winter wetsuit buyers guide with useful tips for buying the best wetsuits for winter surfing and kitesurfing and neoprene accessories, and for how to properly wear them.

Dude, do you know how a Wetsuit works?

A wetsuit helps to insulate your skin and keep it warm in the cold by trapping a thin layer of water between your skin and the suit. Your body warmth heats this layer of water. The neoprene that surrounds this layer maintains this warmth, which means that the thicker the neoprene, the better the insulation of course. For a wetsuit to function optimally, the layer of water must be thin, and there should be no leaking points or holes like in your current overused wettie.

Water penetrating your wetsuit is a double loss. Not only do you lose the warmth, but you also lose energy as the body has to reheat the layer of water. Therefore, you must get rid of your old wettie full of holes, you need a wetsuit that has enough neoprene and lining with a tight fit and proper sealing to enjoy a warm winter. Lekker!

Winter Wetsuit Thickness

Most winter wetsuits have a thickness between 5mm to 6mm. The neoprene is usually thinner under and on the arms, and you can determine the thickness of the neoprene on the arms by looking at what comes after the stroke "/" in the measurement. For example, if you see a wetsuit with a 6/4mm label or mark, this means that the thickness of the neoprene is 6mm for the core and 4mm around the arms.
When picking a wetsuit, it is advisable to go for thick but not excessively thick neoprene, because a thicker neoprene will give you more warmth, but it also means less flexibility. This means that your 1cm thick spearfishing wettie won't do for waterports, you got me?

Westsuit Internal Lining

When it comes to winter wetsuits, the insides matter as much as the outside, because both determine the warmth of the wetsuit. Not every wetsuit offers a lining, but those with lining are more expencive of course. However, the extra cost should not discourage you from getting a wetsuit that has a nice internal lining. Your winter wetsuit should at least have lining around the core body parts.

Apart from the fact that it keeps you warmer, the lining also ensures that your wetsuit will dry faster. You don’t want to be wearing a wet wetsuit when it is freezing cold outside, right? Linings materials differ from to brand to brand: thermal fiber lining, fleece, and so on...

Wetsuit Sealing

The seams determine how well fitted the wetsuit will be, but they could also be an area of weakness if not done correctly. This is the first area through which cold water penetrates the wetsuit, so a proper sealing will help maintain the integrity of your wetsuit and you will spend less energy. There are different methods of sealing a wetsuit, the common ones are explained below.

Glued and Blind Stitched Westsuits

Whith this method, also called "GBS", the neoprene panels are first glued to each other, and then the seams are stitched “blind” to one another. Blind means the stitches don’t fully go through the neoprene. This gives your wetsuit a seam that is 95% waterproof. It is done in this manner because the regular stitching will puncture the wetsuit and leave holes in it.

For improving sealing, in some wetsuits a flexible tape is applied to the insides of the seams, to improve the sealing and make the seam stronger and more reliable. The insulation is also improved.

Liquid Seams

Liquid seams result in a completely waterproof wetsuit, making it the best sealing available on the market. Once the neoprene panels have been blind stitched, a liquid seam is applied on the outside where a flexible tape is used on the inside. Lekker!

How should a Wetsuit fit?

This is about your wetsuit being the right size. Let's make it clear: Your wetsuit must fit you tightly, because no matter the quality of your wetsuit, water will enter if it is baggy, and you'll get cold in no time.
Your wetsuit should fit snugly like a second skin. The leg-ends, arm-ends, and neck must be tight.

When buying a winter wetsuit, it is better to go for a wetsuit that has a chest zip instead of a back zip. This is because having a chest zip will amke your thick wetsuit more stretchy on the back with no stiff zipper dividing the back panel. It is also warmer as no water can penetrate through the zipper.

Wetsuit Sizing

The sizing of a wetsuit will vary from brand to brand; therefore, before buying, we recommend to measure your body and refer to the official size charts on the brand's websites. We often include them inside our shop's listings description.

Mystic Dazzled with Fox Fleece lining

Womens Winter Wetsuits

As the girls ot there are often far better riders than guys, a wide choice of womens winter wetsuits is available of course. Guess what? Womens wetsuits have more space on the breast and less on the croch, you don't nees to be a watersports expert to understand why.
Ladies, please keep in mind that womens wetsuits normaly adopt a numeric sizing, opposed to the standard S-M-L-XL sizing for man. So please check official size charts for your favorite brand; when possible we'll make it available tdirectly here on our shop.

Surfing Winter Wetsuits Vs Kite Winter Wetsuits

A kitesurfing wetsuit has a distinct feature of Water Strainer or Aqua Flush. This is a perforated neoprene panel on the lower part of the wetsuit around the ankle. It allows water to come out but not go inside and make kite/windsurfing comfortable.

A surfing wetsuit will be extra flexible on the shoulders for paddling. So, if you are in both kitesurfing and surfing, we recommend to go for a surfing wetsuit.

Neoprene Accessories

Let's now talk about neoprene accessories for warming up your hands, feet and your precious head during winter surfing and kitesurfing sessions:

Neoprene Headwear

You have different neoprene headwear options for protecting your surf freak head from dispersing heat: integrated hoods winter wetsuits, external neoprene hoods and neoprene beanies.

2mm Neoprene Beanie by Mystic

Hooded Winter Wetsuits and Neoprene Hoods

Some winter wetsuits come with an incorporated hood, but if you plan to use your winter wetsuit also in mid-season, or if your wetsuit of choice doesn't have an integrated hood, you can purchase neoprene hoods or hats separately.
The difference between surf and kite hoods are minimal and where the real difference exists is in the comfort and warmth and the process of connecting the hood to the wetsuit. Another important role for warmth is played by the fleece lining on the inside of the hood.
You don't really like Neoprene Hoods? Some riders find in neoprene beanies an easily on and off and more stilish option. They also come handy to wear at the beach in rough conditions.
Neoprene hats are also appreciated in other sports where less wipeouts happen: sailing, rowing, SUP and so on.

Neoprene hood thickness

Hoods generally come in 3mm or 2mm thickness and may have different neck lengths. It is advisable to get hoods with a length that fits perfectly with the wetsuit.
Whether you use a longer or shorter hood may depend on the entry of a wetsuit. A wetsuit with a back zip requires a hood with a longer neck, but a standard length hood will do for a chest zip wetsuit. If you are wearing a chest zip wetsuit, you should wear the hood first before wearing the wetsuit, so it is nicely tucked within it.

Neoprene Boots

Different sport, different kind of boots bro...
Surfing and kitesurfing neoprene boots are different mainly in their soles, with kitesurf having a harder and stiffer sole that ensures that you maintain your balance and have a good foothold while you push into your strap. On the other hand, surfing shoes have softer and thinner soles, for a better board feel.

Shoes also differ in terms of your toe arrangement:

Round Front Neoprene Boots

Round front that gives your toes freedom to move and touch one another while generating more heat.

Split-toe Neoprene Boots

A ninjas favorite, split-toe front neoprene boot keeps the big toe separated from other toes, giving you more stability and reducing slips. No, it's not for wearing flip flops...
Neoprene Boots Thinckness
Thickness of neoprene boots also ranges from 5mm to 7mm. The shoe brands also have a fleece lining, and 5mm boots with lining will give you all the warmth and flexibility you need.

Neoprene Socks

Derived from scubadiving, for fitting fins, neoprene socks are also available for those who just want a thin 2mm protective layer for kiting or to be used together with other gear, like wakeboard boots.

How to wear neoprene boots?

If you have ever worn boots filled with water, then you can imagine how uncomfortable it would be in the cold. This is why most boots have a strap at the top that prevents water from entering through the top. You can further prevent water from entering the shoes by putting it under the wetsuit and pulling the legs of the wetsuit over the boots.

A wetsuit designed for kitesurfing usually has extra straps attached to it, and you can close these around your ankle. If your wetsuit has the aqua flush, the water would normally be flushed out. But if it doesn’t, you are still good to go.

Neoprene Gloves

Probably the last neoprene accessory to be used by the water folks, the gloves come to the game when riding in colder conditions.
Neoprene Gloves differ greatly based on purpose: Surfing gloves are usually thick, as you won’t need to squeeze anything, while Kitesurfing gloves are as thin as possible and often come pre-curved. This ensures that when you don’t have to strain your hand to hold the bar as your fingers are already set in that position.

For the most sensitive riders, or for icy-cold conditions heroes, neoprene mittens are also available for your combat-suit.

If you are planning to use the same glove for kitesurfing and surfing, you should get a thinner glove of about 3mm. However, if you are kitesurfing in freezing weather and need a warmer glove, you can get a pre-curved 5mm glove.

Again you won't be able to enjoy a nice kite session wearing you bro's spear fishing gloves: try to hold on a kite bar wearing a stiff neoprene glove for an hour and let me know...

How to wear neoprene gloves?

Apart from slipping your hands in, just like the neoprene boots, you should wear glowes below the wetsuit, so that it covers the wrists. If you are already wearing a wetsuit, just roll the arms up to wear the gloves and roll it back over the gloves.

Contact Wakestyle kite surf shop!

At Wakestyle we are passionate riders and we are out there in the water all year round, also if the Dutch spots can get pretty cold.
We hope this 2022 Winter Wetsuit Buyers Guide in its updated version is been a fun read, and that it will also help you to find the best wettie for your needs.

If you have any questions regarding fitting options, or need presonalized tips for buying your wetsuit, you can contact us at any time and we will be happy to assist you!

Wakestyle kite surf shop is in Bussum, Noord Holland. Our store is easily reachable in just 20-25 minutes away from many locations in the Netherlands, like: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Almere, Hilversum, Amersfoort, Loosdrecht, Wijde Blik, Ijburg and Strand Horst.