Water sports are great fun. Many people spend their summer vacations enjoying a range of water sports, including scuba diving, swimming, surfing, jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding and more. Besides the fun factor, water sports are a great form of exercise as well. They are advantageous to both the body and mind. Recreational water activities help people to rest and relax. They improve human well-being by reducing any kind of stress or depression. This is why swimming pools, beaches lakes, and rivers are few of the favorite resting spots all over the world. And who doesn’t like getting out in nature and enjoying the great outdoors?
People who like to spend time in the water would know the importance of getting the right gear. The right gear can make you rock your sport, as well as look the part! But do you know what the RIGHT wetsuit or life vest is? We bring you a detailed guide on how to choose the right clothing for water sports. This article discusses some effective tips that can help you choose the right gear, while remaining safe and looking the part. So let’s begin.
Choose your suit as per the activity
The type of activity or the sport you are participating in influences the choice of your suit a lot. For a beginner surfer or a swimmer, basic models of swimwear or a basic rash vest work well. However, if your sport is progressing at a higher level, and advanced performance suit would work the best. It must be flexible, durable, and extra warm to provide an added edge to your activity.
The temperature of the water matters
Temperature is a must consideration while opting for a wetsuit. Wetsuits are designed differently for different temperatures. For instance, if you are swimming or surfing in cold weather, a thicker wetsuit is required (also called a steamer). It will keep you warm in the cold water and lower temperature. A full-length wetsuit can serve this purpose. In hot weather, the temperature of the water normally is normally warmer, so a thin solution may work great.
The thickness of any wetsuits normally ranges between 0.5mm to 5mm. The former works for warm water conditions while the later is good for cold water during winters. Sometimes a wetsuit may be manufactured with a combination of thickness. It tells that different zones of the same wetsuit to have different thicknesses. These are specially designed suits as per the customers’ needs.
Choose the material wisely
Wetsuits are made up of different materials. However, neoprene wetsuits are the best. It is a form of synthetic rubber offering greater flexibility and lower water absorption. Plus, the neoprene wetsuits are overall lighter in weight. Thus, if you’re shopping for a wetsuit, make sure you buy a high-quality neoprene suit. Note, don’t miss out on the thickness of the material.
Chest zip or back zip
Choosing between the chest and the back zip is one of the trickiest decisions while shopping for a wetsuit. Back-zip suits are good for people with past shoulder injuries as a chest zip makes it difficult to enter and exit a suit. However, the chest-zip suits offer greater seal around the collar line and doesn’t allow the water to flush in. Note that the performance difference between the two is minimum and it is up to your personal preference.
Keep your budget in mind
A cheaper suit doesn’t mean that it won’t work well and an expensive one doesn’t guarantee high performance. Thus, keep your budget in mind while choosing a wetsuit. If you are an enthusiastic but a price-conscious water goer, prefer a base model. It will keep you warm and within budget.
If you are looking for quality wetsuits, life vests or rashies, we suggest you have look at Jetpilot. They have the finest range of water wears for men, women, and children! Jetpilot made a name for themselves by creating the most technically advanced wetsuits, vests and apparel for the sport of personal watercraft racing.
