The #1 consideration: Make sure it Fits

You can buy the warmest, most-expensive wetsuit you can find but if it doesn't fit properly you won't be as warm as you could be. The experts say a wetsuit should fit like a second skin. However, if it's too tight it can cut off circulation and make you colder.

Since finding a proper fit is so crucial, the experts say you should buy wetsuits at a local surf shop with a broad selection staffed with clerks who actually surf. Our experts said a good salesperson will show you the differences in the suits and let you try on several wetsuits to find the one that is right for your body-type.

To double check the fit, you should also ask to look at a size chart that explains what size corresponds to certain heights, weights and body types. This information is also displayed on the tags of some wetsuits.

When you try a suit on you should try to simulate surfing actions to test the flexibility. Try doing squats and arm-circles; if the wetsuit is restricting your ease or range of motion significantly it is probably too tight.

Women's Wetsuits

The women's wetsuit market is only beginning to catch up to women's surfers needs for wetsuits that fit properly and are designed for the most cold conditions. As recently as last year there were no 6-ml. wetsuits with hoods designed for women. This year Xcel, a popular wetsuit brand, introduced a women's hooded 6-mil and several companies have hooded five ml. wetsuits designed for women. According to Ade Utman, a female surfer who works in Storm Surf Shop in Tofino, there are no gloves that fit petit women well.

Ade says another important point is women should buy their wetsuit from a shop that has informed female clerks. This is important because since fit is so important you should be fitted by someone who understands your body and is comfortable talking about hips and breast size.

Taking care of your wet suit

Depending on how often you use your suit and how well you treat it the life of a wetsuit will vary. But if you're surfing every day a suit will only last around 2 years even if you take care of it well by:

Rinsing it out
You should rinse your suit, boots and gloves every time you surf.

Drying it out
After you rinse the suit, you should hang it up to dry out. If you use a clothes hanger, make sure it's plastic since some metal hangers will leave rust marks on the suit if it's wet.

Shampooing it every month
Once a month you should buy a small packet of wetsuit shampoo from your local surf shop and shampoo your suit. These packets only cost a couple dollars but using wetsuit shampoo will make your suit last longer and your car smell better on the drives to the beach.

Store it in the Shade
You shouldn't store or dry your suit in direct sunlight.

Don't leave it crumpled up
You shouldn't leave your suit crumbled up in a ball or folded. Creases will form and compromise the strength of the neoprene.

To pee or not to pee…

Urinating in your wetsuit is universally recognized as an action that is bad for your wetsuit. Surfing Magazine's 2004 wetsuit guide calls urinating in your suit, "waging chemical warfare" with it. It can break down the structure of your suit.

But it's pretty common for cold-water surfers to pee in their suits. It's warm! Plus, if you're in the water, going to shore and taking your wetsuit off can be a pain.

So if you're going to pee in your wetsuit, rinse it out every time you use it and clean it regularly with wetsuit shampoo, available at your local surf shop.

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