The no-bs wettie write up by AWSA Board member Kirsty.

I’ll start this by saying, I do not like the cold.
I grew up in Queensland, what can I say, and now that I live in Aotearoa, I own enough neoprene to start my own factory!
I’ve learned to keep myself warm(ish) and kitted out loads of clients through my business, you might say I’m probably a good person to share some thoughts on wetties.

First things first: how do these things work?

Ever noticed how you can wear a thick puffer jacket on the beach and be thinking how cold it is, then pop a wetty on and get into colder-than-air-temp water and somehow be comfortable? So weird, isn’t it.

When you hit the water, wetsuits allow a thin layer of water between you and the neoprene. Your body warms up that water and is then insulated, providing a warm layer between you and our salty mistress. As a bonus, the absorbed water adds flexibility to the suit. Simple and effective.

Does size matter?

Let’s start with the obvious. Ladies’ wetsuits, like any other women’s clothing, varies between brands. I’m 3 different sizes in 3 different brands, so ignore the numbers. Similarly, for some reason, certain brands just won’t work for your body shape, whereas they’re a perfect fit for others. There’s no short cut, like learning to surf you just have to try them on…and it’s a hot, sweaty workout! Trying on 3 wetties is about my changing room limit.
Unless someone hoses you down in the surf shop, you’ll be forgiven for buying a tight suit, then getting in the water and wishing you’d gone slightly smaller. Think tight lycra, (but not tight camel toe-there is a sweet spot).
Top tip: if you can get into it, with no random baggy or wrinkly bits, it’s probably a good fit.
*Photo: Surfing in gumboots, even in the right size, not advised.*

Which brand is best?

No surprise that brands really vary. Although there are different styles within a brand, I’ve found that brands are quite specific to body shape: Billabong and O’Neill tend to fit a fuller figure while Roxy a taller lass. Having said that, I have a Ripcurl 3-2, Sisstr 4-3, Roxy 2mm shorty, men’s O’Neill vest, and a dive brand (?) thermal bra…yep, I have all the neoprene!

Popular brands are popular for a reason, I think.

There are some rad Aotearoa-owned brands in the market (which we simply haven’t tested yet) Seventhwave wetties are made in Christchurch and have an awesome women’s line and they repair your suit when it tears, extending it’s life. Did I mention they’re female owned?

Speaking of numbers…

What does 2mm, 3-2, 4-3, 5-3 mean? Numbers are the thickness of your wetsuit. Generally, a 4-3 means 4mm on the trunk, 3mm on the limbs. Likewise, for a 3-2. Some suits have the thickness all the way down the legs since we spend our time floating about in the water most of the time. You also want freedom for your shoulders since we spend more time paddling then actually surfing (you know it!).

Top tip: for some weird reason we always say big number-little number, 4-3, not the other way round.

What thickness you buy totally depends on water temp where you are, your water tolerance and your budget. It’s not uncommon to have a winter and a spring/autumn suit. And you can layer. Right now, I’m in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland surfing in my 3-2 with a 1.5mm vest underneath, but only because I’m resisting getting into my 4-3 since that signals it’s officially winter brrrr!

Top tip: Grab a 40L flexi tub from your local Bunnings, Mitre10 or the likes — they’re perfect for post-surf changing and keeping your car dry from wet gear. Fill an insulated flask with warm water before you head out.
After your session, pour the warm water into the tub, step in, and enjoy a makeshift foot spa while you peel off your wettie. Bonus: dip those frozen hands too. It’s a game-changer for cold sessions — we promise it’ll take the edge off and make getting changed way less painful.

**What’s a steamer, springy, or shorty?**

Steamers: Not a boat. Steamers are longlegs and long arms; **shorties** (i.e. short wetsuit) are short legs and short or long arms; a shorty is also called a springy or springsuit; a **long Jane/John** is long legs and short arms; there’s ‘boyleg’ or bikini leg…I have a boyleg wetsuit but very feminine legs so whatever!
I use my shorty (long arms) in the summer; 3-2 steamer in autumn; add the vest; then 4-3 mid winter to spring – I think the water temp in spring is cooler than mid winter! I’ve not owned a long Jane but I imagine it’d be good in cold water, warm air settings.
Top tip: my favourite? No wetsuit, not gonna lie. Take me to the tropics!
*From left to right: steamer, vest, steamer creatively drying for the next session.*

Sustainability?

Generally, wetties are not great for our planet. They’re made from petroleum and do not biodegrade. Once old and torn they’re only good for repairs and cutting up into stubby coolers.

Seventhwave wetties made in Christchurch (surely you Cantanbrians know a thing or 2 about the cold), have an awesome women’s line and they repair your suit when it tears, extending it’s life. Did I mention they’re female owned?

Patagonia have also been making neoprene free suits for over a decade and they have some awesome initiatives. Some of the big labels also take back wetsuits for recycling.

Price: What’s it worth?

Is there a difference between a $200 and $600 wetsuit? 100%. Does everyone need to pay top $ for a wetty? Absolutely not!

How much you pay depends on you- your budget, your tolerance for cold, your preference, how long or often you surf.

The best time to shop is - you know it, a sale! End of winter clearances and last season’s stock in spring are good to keep an eye out.

Not surprisingly, the range for women is not as good as for blokes, so shop around. If you’re teeny tiny you might try a kids suit and save a few hundy though I find the bum to lower back shape doesn’t always work for a woman’s body.

The more neoprene, the more spenny. You might be ok with a 3-2 and a vest rather than a 4-3 which could save you some dollars.

Chest or back zip

The chest zip feels like you’re giving birth or double jointing your neck at first, but they do loosen up. The back zip is easier if you have shoulder or neck inflexibility but they also let in more water & I’ve found they rub on your neck, especially as they get older. The chest zip is the more modern style.

Wetsuits wear out, get thin, stiff and holey. Always wash your suit in fresh water after a sesh, and hang it over a hanger (like a pair of pants) in the shade to dry.

Top tip: Get yourself a repair kit and get onto those first tears and holes before they get bigger. If you don’t want to repair yourself, there are plenty of repair services in the regions - check Facebook marketplace and groups.

If your wetsuit is still usable you can donate it to:

Second Suits NZ (Auckland)
Wavewise NZ (surf therapy)
REPLAY with Sport Taranaki

If your wetsuit is not usable anymore and you don’t want to repair it:

Seventhwave NZ (Christchurch) will take your old wetsuit and give you a voucher for it (depending on the condition)
Coastlines (Auckland) will repurpose the neoprene

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